South Puget Sound Wildlife Area (WDFW)

Directions:
From Tacoma, go S on I-5 to Bridgeport Way exit, go W on Bridgeport Way and turn left onto Steilacoom Blvd. Turn right onto Phillips Rd to wildlife area. (7723 Phillips Rd SW.)

Features:
This area is being converted from a pheasant farm to an urban wildlife interpretive center.

Other Info:
Restroom is in interpretive building, asphalt trail, designated parking

Foothills Trail

Directions:

McMillin and Orting trailheads - From State Highway 167 and/or 512 take the State Highway 410 exit, then take the Orting/Sumner exit which is Route 162. Turn right towards Orting.

The McMillin trailhead - on the right directly after the cement bridge at the confluence of the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers.

Orting trailhead - 2.2 miles further on the right located in the Orting City Park.

Buckley Traihead : From State Highway 167 and/or 512 take the State Highway 410 exit. Take the Park Avenue exit and turn right heading east. Turn at the first left onto North River Avenue. Go straight to the National Guard parking.

See Pierce County Web page on the Foothills Trail Sections and Trailheads.

Features:
The Foothills Trail is a 12-foot wide rails-to-trails corridor that extends 26 miles from Buckley through the Town of South Prairie, City of Orting and into the City of Puyallup. It is an on-going project. Completed paved sections include 15 miles from Meeker to the South Prairie Creek in South Prairie and a 1.8 mile section in Buckley.

The Orting to South Prairie section is very picturesque. From the trail you can view a cattle farm and a buffalo ranch plus the Carbon River, South Prairie Creek, and the railroad trestles crossing them. Along the Carbon River at "Bernie's Place" you can rest on a bench and a picnic table named for the late Bernie Dixon, a long-time Rails-to-Trails member. The trail also crosses Voights Creek and Roush Creek that are both salmon bearing streams. There are 8 bridges on this section, four of them are former railroad trestles that were converted for trail use.

See more photos and coverage about the Foothills trail in Emerald City Wanderers review of the Orting section.

Other Info:

See Pierce County Foothills Trail Map.

The trail will also branch from Cascade Junction to Wilkeson and Carbonado. Also see Foothills Rails-to-Trails Organization website.

Spanaway Lake Park

Directions:
Take I-5 exit 127 (follow the Puyallup/Mt. Rainier signs). Drive east for 2 miles on SR 512 and take the second exit (Parkland/Spanaway). Turn right onto Pacific Avenue (SR 7). Travel approximately 3 miles and turn right on Old Military Rd (152nd St). Go 1/2 mile and entrance to the Park's main gate is on the left.

Features:
Three miles of paved trails provide access to both the shore of the lake, the woods and various play areas.

Other Info:
See the Pierce County Parks & Recreation Website. There are ADA restrooms.

There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier, however access to the pier itself can be problematic. Depending on the route chosen, the incline can be well in excess of 5%, especially if one takes the direct line from the closest parking lot. There is a drop off area next to the boathouse where one can drop off folks with disabilities and avoid this incline.

South Hill Park

Directions:
From I-5, take Exit 127. Following the Mt. Rainier/Puyallup signs to Highway 512 going east. From Highway 512, take the 94th Avenue Exit. At the stop light turn right onto 94th Avenue. Head south on 94th for about 2 miles. Turn right on 144th Street East (4 way stop) Turn right on 86th Ave. East Entrance to South Hill Park is on the right (paved parking lot).

Features:
The South Hill Community Park is a 40-acre site with several acres of manmade wetlands and two paved, accessible trails.The two trails connect to provide 2.7 miles of gently graded (3%) trails.

The South Hill Park Loop Trail starts at the children's playground and circles South Hill Community Park and wetlands for a one-mile loop.

The paved Nathan Chapman Memorial trail goes 1.6 miles alongside large trees and beautiful scenary to connect South Hill Community Park with the Heritage Recreation Center (athletic fields).

Other Info:
See the Pierce County Parks & Recreation Website.

Northwest Trek

Directions:
Northwest Trek is located at 11610 Trek Drive East in Eatonville, Washington. It is is along State Route 161 and U.S. Highway 7, 33 miles SE of Tacoma.

Features:
Northwest Trek is a Wildlife Park. A great feature of the park is that it is almost 100% accessible with 5 miles of nature trails. (The Aspen loop is paved.) The trails allow views of the animals, which are northwest natives. Before you leave, be sure to take the tram ride. Leaving periodically through the day, the tram takes visitors on a 55 minute naturalist-narrated tour of the park's 435 acre free roaming area where you will see bison, elk herds and maybe even a moose!

Other Info:
The park is open every day at 9:30 a.m. from April through October. Visit Cheney Discovery Center with its exhibits, animals, and games. From November to March
the park opens at 9:30 a.m. only from Friday to Sunday and certain holidays. Visit the Northwest Trek website.

The roads to the park will take you through some beautiful countryside with views of majestic Mt. Rainier.

Accessible camping in the area includes: DNR's Pleasant Valley (Alder Lake) Campground. Start in Elbe at intersection of SR 7 and SR 706 cross bridge and follow SR 7 for 2 mi. Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road, keep left 3.5 mi to site. Camping in a wooded, lake setting with accessible restrooms, water, and picnic tables. Usually a camp host on duty. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Another spot is Tacoma Power's Alder Lake Park Campground that includes some RV sites with water, electricity and sewer hookups, restrooms with showers, and a dump station.