Priest Point Park─Make it your mission to hike this park
Quick Facts:
Location: Olympia, Washington
Land Agency: City of Olympia Parks and Recreation
Roundtrip: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
Notes: Dogs must be on a leash.
Access: From Lacey, follow I-5 south to Olympia taking Exit 105B to Plum Street. From Tumwater, follow I-5 north to Olympia taking Exit 105. Turn right onto Henderson Boulevard and follow to Plum Street. Continue north on Plum Street for 0.6 mile to junction with State Avenue. Then continue north now on East Bay Drive for 1.5 miles turning right into Priest Point Park. Proceed .2 mile and turn left crossing a bridge and reaching a parking lot and trailhead shortly afterward.
Contact: City of Olympia Parks and Trails
Good to Know: Kid-friendly, dog-friendly, historic, beach access, snow free winter hike, practice Leave No Trace principles
The Ellis Cove Trail begins a short distance north of the parking lot. Follow a sidewalk to the trailhead kiosk. While this hike is fairly short, you can easily spend all day roaming this 300-plus acre park. Rife with history and natural beauty, you’ll want to linger at its interpretive displays, old growth forests and quiet Budd Inlet beaches.
In 1848, Father Pascal Ricard built a mission near Ellis Cove, just north of what is now the city of Olympia. His aim was to convert the Squaxin people to Christianity. Many of the Squaxin people succumbed to disease and were forced to relocate to an island farther up Budd Inlet. Father Ricard’s mission succumbed to obscurity, yielding to a new metropolis to be named for the fabled home of the Greek Gods.
Ironically, the point of land now named for Father Ricard, still bears some semblance to the way it appeared over 160 years ago. Long after Father Ricard left the area and long before the reaches of Olympia extended beyond West Bay, some far-sighted people convinced the city to establish a park at this historic point. In 1905 Priest Point became Olympia’s first city park, and I would add its finest. With limited development and an emphasis on preservation, Priest Point resembles a state park more than a city park. It consists primarily of forest containing huge 100-plus year-old maples, cedars and firs and stately madronas. The understory is lush. Today, Priest Point is a green swath of natural beauty on the fringe of urban sprawl.
There are several miles of trails within the park. This lollipop loop is a great way to begin your explorations. Follow the trail down into a deep ravine and then back up coming to a viewpoint and a junction shortly afterwards. Continue straight, dropping down to round Ellis Cove on a big boardwalk. At .6 miles reach a junction with a mossy bear-carved sign pointing directions. You’ll be returning on the right, so continue left soon coming to a nice beach on Ellis Cove.
Explore the beach or continue—climbing up a bluff and staying left at the next junction. Meander through stately forest and come to another junction. The spur left drops down to the beach. Take the second trail right and once again descend into a cool ravine. Here you’ll come upon another junction. The trail left provides yet another access point to the beach. Explore it if you desire or continue right to complete the loop. At a junction stay straight and reach the main trail by the bear sign a little way beyond. Turn left to return to your vehicle.
For detailed information on this trail and many more in the region, pick up a copy of my NEW Urban Trails Olympia (Mountaineers books). This wonderful guide includes trails throughout Thurston County, in Shelton, on Harstine Island, and in the Capitol State Forest. Pick up your copy today!
For information on other things to do in the area and on where to stay, consult Northwest TripFinder.
