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Tolmie State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,634 Google reviews · Running trail in Olympia, Washington · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Tolmie State Park'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.
State park with a beach & saltwater marsh, popular for scuba diving, swimming, fishing & hikes.
What runners say about Tolmie State Park
“Trails were well maintained with plenty of benches along them to rest if needed.”
“The short (very short) forest trail opens up to a beautiful beach with driftwood, calm water, and peaceful Puget Sound views.”
“Even though you are minutes from I-5 and City of lacey, its very quiet and secluded.”
“Nice place to picnic on a hot afternoon or go explore some easy trails with the kids.”
Great place to hang out with small kids and family. The water is very clear and pretty shallow. Kids enjoy throwing stones and pebbles as there is a lot of it. If you walk towards the left side from the lower parking location, you can get to a small sand dune.
Tolmie is a little gem with a lovely pebble beach, plenty of parking (go to the upper parking lot if you can't find any by the beach), and a nice trail (Four Cedars). Definitely gets busy in the summer, but early mornings or weekdays work great. There's plenty of benches and barbecues for picnics.
Awesome beach park, great views of the sound with a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Nice place to picnic on a hot afternoon or go explore some easy trails with the kids. A bit of a drive to get here but there was signs helping direct you where to go.
Tolmie State Park is a quiet, underrated gem. The short (very short) forest trail opens up to a beautiful beach with driftwood, calm water, and peaceful Puget Sound views. Great for tide pooling, walking, or just unwinding. Clean, well-maintained, and not overly crowded. Simple, scenic, and worth the quick visit.
Trail conditions & character
“Tolmie is a little gem with a lovely pebble beach, plenty of parking (go to the upper parking lot if you can't find any by the beach), and a nice trail (Four Cedars).”
“Hang out by the water if the tide is in, look for baby crabs or take a hike on one of the few trails they have that are kid and dog friendly or maybe relax and take on the view.”
“Even though you are minutes from I-5 and City of lacey, its very quiet and secluded.”
“Hiking trails, picnic bbq area, clean bathrooms with multiple stalls.”
“Trails are a little harder walking due to tree roots and hills but still manageable.”
“Trails are a little harder walking due to tree roots and hills but still manageable.”
“Hang out by the water if the tide is in, look for baby crabs or take a hike on one of the few trails they have that are kid and dog friendly or maybe relax and take on the view.”
Plan your run at Tolmie State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- 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, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteparks.state.wa.us
- Phone(360) 456-6464
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
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