Point Defiance Park

10/16/2026

We've got TWO exciting Tots on the Trail adventures coming up with Park Guide Jen!

🏖️ October 23 | Beach Day!
We're trading the trails for the shoreline! Join us for a beach adventure at Owen Beach. Please note we'll be meeting at Owen Beach instead of the Fort Nisqually Picnic Shelter for this session.

🎃 October 30 | Costumes + a Birthday Celebration!
Tots on the Trail is turning TWO! We're celebrating two years of outdoor adventures, curious little minds and muddy boots with a Halloween twist. Little explorers (and their parents, of course) are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes for the occasion!

Here's to two years of discovering the outdoors together, one tiny step at a time 🌲💚

10/16/2026

Anyone else need a cozy sweater and a pumpkin spiced beverage? ☕️ 🎃 🍁

10/15/2026

Thanks to the Tacoma Parks Foundation and the Tacoma Sister Cities, a new Shinto shrine was placed last week in the Japanese Garden. It was created in Tacoma's sister city Kitakyushu in Japan by Mr. Kondo, a master carpenter from Kitakyushu. It serves as a cultural work of art, spiritual symbol and memento of lasting friendship.

The 5-foot-tall wooden shrine is a replacement for the original gifted to Tacoma in 1961 by Sister City Kitakyushu. It will be on display for about two weeks and then brought inside for the winter to protect it from inclement weather.

10/14/2026

Golden mushrooms aren’t just found in Super Mario Brothers, but in our own backyards! Youth ages 10 and up are invited to join us on a Youth Mushroom Hike and discover the world of fungi in the old growth forest of Point Defiance.

Park Guide Jenn will lead the hike on Saturday, November 7 from 10 am-1 pm. The Youth Mushroom Hike begins at the Fort Nisqually picnic shelter and goes on rain or shine.

This event is free but pre-registration is required. Sign up at the link in the first comment.

One adult must accompany each registered child. Adult does not need to register. for the event.

10/13/2026

It’s called having high standards, literally 🏔️ ☕️ 🤌

10/11/2026

There's no need to guess, we've calculated the mileage for you! Here are the stats for a few main trails:

🌲Circle Trail: 2.6 miles
🌲Square Trail: 4.3 miles
🌲Triangle Trail: 3.6 miles

You can view and download a map on our website using the link below:

Visit our website to download and print trail maps.

10/11/2026

Bee aware!🐝 Bees have been reported on the outer loop trail between the Narrows and Gig Harbor Viewpoints. The exact location of the nest isn't known at this time and the general area of concern is marked with caution tape. Best strategy for trail users is to stay on trail, veering even a foot or two off the trail will disturb and irritate any bees in the area.

If you're on the trail and discover the actual nest feel free to message us with the location so we can alert maintenance staff.

[Note: The image is a random spot on the outer loop trail and not necessarily the actual location described in the post]

10/08/2026

One of the less glamorous projects at Point Defiance during the 1930s was improving water drainage. Along with rebuilding the pond at the entrance of the park, WPA teams created channels to direct runoff away from the roads.

Three small culverts can be found on the outer loop of File Mile Drive, tucked down among the foliage. Next time you walk past them take a look closely, two of the three are inlaid with white pebbles that spell out "W.P.A." in the center, and the date "1936" on either side.

10/06/2026

1910 image of a roadway winding through the park. It appears to be in the rose garden area near the park entrance.

10/05/2026

Happy from Dune Peninsula 🌄