The trail immediately takes hikers, walkers and non-bikers (they’re not allowed on this part) underneath a steel bridge. All lead to the lower and upper campgrounds if you don’t mind walking alongside pavement and passing Highway 509 (Dash Point Road). ![]() There’s also Picnic Point Trail, Heartbreak Hill and Raven Beach Trail, however. From the parking lot, the most obvious trailhead is the Thames Creek (Beach) Trail, which begins on the south side. Restless to get some Fitbit steps in, we set off to look for the nearest trail. The island seems incredibly close despite the 3.36 miles it would take to swim there. If you’re into photography, the beach offers an excellent view of Poverty Bay and Vashon Island. Fishing is allowed, however, with the proper license, of course. According to Washington State Parks, clamming is not recommended. The beach has 3,301 feet of shoreline and is home to bullhead, clams, cod, crabs, red snapper, sea birds, shellfish and starfish. Some park-goers were out with their children, flipping over rocks, presumably so they could see little crabs scurry out – a rite of passage in oceanic education. Various sand dollars and shells sprinkle the sandy saltwater shoreline. While, of course, sand was on that beach, so was a trail of seaweed leading to a stream of water called Thames Creek, which would eventually turn into Kate’s Creek. Note to self: Bring sunglasses.Īn expansive sandy beach was on the other side. Light scorched our retinas on the other side. ![]() Like children who can’t wait to eat dinner before dessert, we hit the beach first.Īfter passing a picnic table in a grassy area, we were greeted with a muddy walk through a small, dark tunnel. With my trusty annual Discover Pass in hand, my hiking partner and I drove down to the main parking lot. On a sunny Saturday morning, I woke up at an ungodly hour of 7 a.m. The quiet solitude this hidden gem provides is worth every Discovery Pass day charge, annual pass investment or camping fee. I’ve crossed rivers, climbed cliffs and felt the descent in my knees (it feels like Jell-O).īut the trails of Dash Point State Park are special. I’ve summited Washington peaks and one in Montana, and I’ve peered across more alpine lakes than I care to count. The park’s 11 miles of hiking trails, eight of which are available to bicyclists, are a haven from a growing suburban city that’s cut through by Pacific Highway and Interstate 5.Īs a hiker in my second year, I no longer consider myself a novice. Entrances to the trail network can be found along many parts of the park in Federal Way and North East Tacoma.Dash Point State Park’s 398 acres of forest creep up to a sandy beach on Puget Sound. The trails in the park are popular with runners. There is a yearly competition held by Dash Boards each summer. It is common to see skim boarders on the beach. Due to the tide patterns on the point, low tides reveal large areas of beach providing ample space for people to enjoy. Recreational Activities ĭash Point State Park is a popular destination for residents of Federal Way during the summer months. The park was dedicated and developed in 1962 for the Seattle World's Fair. The land was sold by the McLeod family to the State of Washington in the late 1940s for use as a park. The area was named Dash Point on official maps by 1877. The origin of the name Dash Point is unclear. Prior to being known as Dash Point the area was known as lson Landing, Fairview Beach, and Woodstock Beach. The park has over 3,300 feet (1,000 m) of shoreline, 140 campsites, 11 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and offers beachcombing, fishing, swimming, birdwatching, windsurfing, skimboarding, and wildlife viewing. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commissionĭash Point State Park is a 398-acre (161 ha) Washington state park on Puget Sound that straddles the line between King and Pierce counties.
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