Combining Washington State’s environmental beauty with its rich history, the 300+ acres of Priest Point Park provide visitors with a lovely spot for a picnic or hike. There is recorded history of the park as far back as 1848, and it is known that the land played an important part in trading and relationships with the numerous indigenous tribes of the area.

The entire area was donated to the city of Olympia in 1905. Guests will enjoy walks among the parks ravines, cliffs, and streams. The park features areas for picnics, including tables and shelters, a number of nature trails, and a playground that includes a basketball court. Nestled inside the 300+acre park of Priest Point is one mile of saltwater shore and the Ellis Cove Trail. This trail takes hikers through the well preserved original forests of the area and offers beautiful views of downtown Olympia and State Capitol buildings.

Visitors can descend into a deep ravine and enjoy the rocky beach, as well as the century-old forests of vibrant green and carpeted with mosses and ferns. Shorebirds, including great blue herons, frequent this area, and on clear days the Olympic Mountains rise up beyond the opposite shore to the west.

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