Top 10 Nature & Parks in Olympia, Washington (WA)

August 29, 2021 Randal Brittian

Birthplace of riot grrl music and home to an energetic independent art and music scene, Olympia is a hub of innovative cultural movements. The nontraditional Evergreen State College draws young pioneers and artists while the surrounding landscape of Puget Sound beckons the environmentally aware to its embrace. With 40 city parks incorporating 963 acres as well as a vast, municipally-funded public art collection, the city is a study in inventive and ecological civil design.
Restaurants in Olympia

1. Puget Sound Estuarium

309 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501-1133 +1 360-915-0773 [email protected] http://www.sseacenter.org
Excellent
91%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 11 reviews

Puget Sound Estuarium

2. Nisqually Reach Nature Center

4949 D Milluhr Dr NE, Olympia, WA 98516-2311 +1 360-459-0387 [email protected] http://www.nisquallyestuary.org/
Excellent
75%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 53 reviews

Nisqually Reach Nature Center

Reviewed By Q503AXjohnl - Olympia, United States

Back when this was a boat rental place. Folks rested row boats to go out onto the Nisqually reach, generally to fish for salmon or to hunt ducks. Now it is a nature preserve. There is a boat ramp which is busy during salmon runs and a nature interpretive center. The center is very nice with many displays and things live and preserved that you can touch. It is a wonderful place for kids. There are volunteers who are knowledgeable and informative in the center. Lots of folks come here to watch birds, mostly waterfowl and bald eagles and herons. And there is some beach combing but watch the bottom as some areas are muddy. Tides can run over fifteen feet from high to low and this are is totally different at the flood than at the ebb. Flood tide is right up against the bulkhead and the ramp is pretty much covered. The lone tide mark is maybe a mile out. It is amazing. If you intend to launch a boat, watch the tide! Good view of Mt. Rainier. Always a fun place to visit. Stop by!

3. Kettle View Park

1250 Eagle Bend Dr SE, Olympia, WA 98501-8300 http://olympiawa.gov/en/community/parks/parks-and-trails/Kettle%20View%20Park.aspx
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Kettle View Park

4. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516-2302 +1 360-753-9467 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Billy_Frank_Jr_Nisqually/visit/plan_your_visit.html
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 602 reviews

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the Nisqually River Delta in Southern Puget Sound, this refuge consists of three thousand acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands and mixed forest habitats that provide a resting and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory birds.

Reviewed By finley-n-miley - Medford, United States

The paths take you into various ecosystems, each with some diversity of birds, vegetation, and other woodland creatures. Lots of enthusiastic bird watchers - all of whom were friendly and excited to show you what they have seen.

5. Priest Point Park

2600 East Bay Drive Northeast, Olympia, WA +1 360-753-8380 http://olympiawa.gov/community/parks/parks-and-trails/priest-point-park
Excellent
58%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 201 reviews

Priest Point Park

This 314-acre park offers hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities only minutes from downtown Olympia.

Reviewed By HighPriestessSusan - Olympia, United States

Priest Point has many trails packed into a beautiful area. Lots of steps and bridges. A couple of trails lead to the inlet, which was still and glass-like on the day we visited. Good for walking, trail-running and dog-walking. Peaceful and not crowded on an autumn weekday.

6. East Bay Public Plaza

325 Marine Drive NE, Olympia, WA
Excellent
46%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 26 reviews

East Bay Public Plaza

7. Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area

Henderson Bay, Olympia, WA https://www.dnr.wa.gov/WoodardBay
Excellent
73%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 44 reviews

Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area

Reviewed By Jotum - Knoxville, United States

Small parking area and then a paved walkway of about a mile through the woods to the end. Some uphill and downhill. This area is where rail lines used to end and logging trains drive out on the trussell where the logs were dumped in the sound to float 69 miles north to the mill. It is a pleasant walk with opportunity to see various birds, seals and other animals.

8. Monarch Sculpture Park

8431 Waldrick Rd SE, Olympia, WA 98501 +1 360-264-2408 [email protected] http://www.monarchsculpturepark.org
Excellent
50%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 48 reviews

Monarch Sculpture Park

Monarch Sculpture Park is a contemporary outdoor sculpture park and center for the arts. The grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Located in the heart of the Thurston County prairie lands just a few miles south of Olympia, near Tenino, Washington, the park is designated as a primitive park with walk in, bike in, access from the Chehalis Western Trail. The park will continue its legacy of fine art and sculpture in nature. Monarch is a part of the Thurston County Bountiful Byways project. Its neighbors include the internationally renowned Wolf Haven and the new Great Wolf Lodge. Pets are welcome but must be leashed at and cleaned up after.

Reviewed By SandraL68 - Maidstone, United Kingdom

I just love this quirky sculpture park and I would have loved to have visited with children because many of the sculptures are musical ... bells being predominant... and you are encouraged to ring them. What child (or adult!) could resist! The one I liked best was a series of pipes which were 'played' by an old flipflop sandal! Although here are many weird/quirky (even disturbing) sculptures, the park itself is very peaceful (at least it was when we visited) and even spiritual (The Sacred Grove). There is walk in /bike in access from the Chehalis Western Trail. It is amazing that this park is free entry (donations welcomed) and the sculptures are donated by their artists. I will return.

9. Percival Landing

217 Thurston Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501-1171 http://olympiawa.gov/community/parks/percival-landing.aspx
Excellent
57%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 231 reviews

Percival Landing

Reviewed By ecstrozyk

What a great place to view Olympia from. From Percival Landing, if you look south you can see the state capital building and if you look to the north, the Olympic Mountains are usually in clear view. Beside the view, there are plenty of place to shop and eat on the waterfront. A perfect place to familiarize yourself with Olympia.

10. West Bay Park

700 W Bay Dr NW, Olympia, WA 98502
Excellent
38%
Good
54%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 13 reviews

West Bay Park

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.