More than two miles of saltwater coastline, expansive parkland, and trails through forests and wetlands shape some of Pierce’s discoveries. Chambers Creek Regional Park brings this coastal landscape together with public beaches and trails, meadows, and an area where dogs can run off leash. You can also play golf at Chambers Bay. The park covers 930 acres, with its various areas offering different ways to spend time outdoors.

Coast, Views and Protected Landscapes

The trails at Chambers Creek Regional Park are paved and accessible. For a scenic viewpoint, Grandview Trail offers a special vantage point: It follows the crest of a 200-foot bluff and provides wide views of the Chambers Bay golf course, Puget Sound, and the surrounding islands. For planning your visit, note that public areas generally open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset. Since these operating hours can change seasonally, it’s best to check them before your visit.

A different landscape awaits at North Lake Tapps Park. This 135-acre, largely undeveloped area has approximately 10,000 feet of shoreline access and a sandy swimming area; water conditions can vary. A walking trail on a peninsula leads to a viewpoint overlooking Mount Rainier. This makes shoreline access and a specific walking destination two of the park’s main attractions.

Riverside Park, a 50-acre park on the Puyallup River, is ideal for walks, picnics, and wildlife viewing. Its boat slide is designed for hand-launching and retrieving kayaks, drift boats, and inflatable rafts; permits are required. Spanaway Park also offers a range of activities by the water and on the trails. Its facilities include two swimming beaches, a boat launch, a fishing pier, and a three-mile trail. Temporary closures or construction may affect park facilities, so check current conditions before your visit.

Trails with Different Highlights

At Naches Trail Preserve, education is an important focus alongside wildlife conservation. The preserve covers 50 acres. As part of the Naches Trail, it has cultural and historical significance: The trail was once used by Indigenous peoples, the military, and early settlers. Short nature trails through a quiet urban forest can be found at Chambers Creek Canyon. Both places combine nature with their own distinctive history or landscape, without requiring a long hike.

Those looking to compare bike trails and other nonmotorized routes will find a range of options. The Trek at Tehaleh is a 204-acre mountain bike park in unincorporated Pierce County. More than six miles of mountain bike trails accommodate different experience and skill levels, including a beginner cross-country loop. By contrast, the Foothills Trail is a 12-foot-wide, nonmotorized paved trail and linear park for biking, walking, inline skating, and wheelchair use; an unpaved shoulder is designated for horseback riding.

The Pipeline Trail offers another point of reference: It currently runs 5.8 miles from downtown Tacoma to Orangegate Park in the Summit-Waller community. Its length and endpoints may change with future extensions. These descriptions distinguish a mountain bike trail network with varying difficulty levels from a paved trail for a variety of uses and a route with currently specified endpoints.

Ashford County Park also brings together several trail and landscape features. It encompasses 80 acres of quiet wetlands and has two scenic walking trails. There is also a 1.2-mile loop trail and ADA-compliant trails within the park. Located on SR706, the park makes a good stop on the way to or from Mount Rainier National Park.

Local Produce and Practical Information

Farmers markets in Pierce County communities offer fresh fruits and vegetables, other produce, and locally made arts and crafts. Since market dates change seasonally and from year to year, it’s worth checking the latest schedule. In Puyallup, Cockrell Cider makes small-batch cider from locally sourced fruit and apples and has its own tasting room. Visitor information there can change, so check ahead if you’re planning a visit.

Pierce Transit routes connect communities throughout Pierce County and make it easier to reach local attractions. Since routes and service areas can change, check the transit agency’s latest information before you travel. If your trip includes a departure from Ketron Island, you must reserve the ferry at least 60 minutes in advance; also check the schedule and reservation rules ahead of time.

You can tailor your hotel search to the experiences you’re most interested in during your stay.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Sumner, South Hill, Tacoma, Fife, Puyallup, Ashford, Gig Harbor, Fox Island, Lakewood, Dupont, Graham, Buckley, University Place, Lake Tapps, Eatonville, Lakebay, Greenwater.

For the regional travel overview: Washington.