Home › Washington › Federal Way › Dumas Bay Sanctuary
Dumas Bay Sanctuary
4.6 ★★★★★ 363 Google reviews · Running trail in Federal Way, Washington · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 9 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Dumas Bay Sanctuary's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Dumas Bay Sanctuary
“The girlfriend and I were driving down highway 99 when this gorgeous pup was darting in and out of traffic.”
“It's a small area relative to other locations, but that makes it a nice, calm, and relaxing place to go.”
This is an excellent sanctuary. There is a paved parking lot for about 12 cars. There is a stone path through a forest down to the beach. There are interpretive signs about Blue Heron nesting. The trail is well groomed and there are great open views. A real hidden gem tucked away in a residential neighborhood.
Easy to find by GPS. Good parking lot, entrance just past the house. It might be difficult to get through the gate with a bicycle or stroller, with its turnstile like structure. Short path to bay. At low tide, you will smell the pungent seaweed smell. Lots of sandbars though to walk out on.
Very easy wide short trail down to the water with benches along the way. I'd say even accessible for wheelchairs. Small rocky beach with lots of logs for sitting or kids to run across. At low tide is best, that way you can wade out into the sound.
Overlooked gem of a park. Nice place to take dogs. At low tide you can walk for miles down towards Dash Point Park and beyond.
Trail conditions & character
“The girlfriend and I were driving down highway 99 when this gorgeous pup was darting in and out of traffic.”
“Super quiet, entrance is in a residential area and theres a smaller parking lot.”
“We kept him on a long leash and surprisingly we had the whole beach to ourselves!”
“It might be difficult to get through the gate with a bicycle or stroller, with its turnstile like structure.”
“Super quiet, entrance is in a residential area and theres a smaller parking lot.”
“Small rocky beach with lots of logs for sitting or kids to run across.”
Plan your run at Dumas Bay Sanctuary
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance9 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitefederalwaywa.gov
- Phone+1 253-835-6960
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–6 pm |
Running trails near Federal Way
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Dash Point State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 3,921 reviews
Park offering 400 acres on Puget Sound for swimming, camping, hiking, biking & hand-launched boats.
