Best Spring Hikes if you live in Tacoma, WA
One of our favorite things about living in Tacoma is how easy it is to get out of the city and into the mountains, forests and trails that make Western Washington so special.
Spring hiking around Tacoma can be a little tricky. While Tacoma might be full of cherry blossoms and finally starting to feel like spring, many of our favorite mountain hikes are still covered in snow. The good news is that there are plenty of lower-elevation hikes that are perfect for this time of year.
If you're moving to Tacoma or relocating to Pierce County from somewhere else, this is one of the biggest perks of living here. Within a couple of hours, you can be hiking through old-growth forest, alongside a waterfall, around a mountain lake or into the Olympic Peninsula.
Here are five spring hikes near Tacoma to add to your list.
1. Packwood Lake
Distance: 8 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: approximately 600 feet
Location: Packwood / Goat Rocks Wilderness
Packwood Lake might be one of our favorite options for that point in spring when you're ready for a "real" hike, but the higher-elevation trails aren't ready for you yet.
The trail winds through beautiful old-growth forest before eventually reaching Packwood Lake, surrounded by mountain views. At around eight miles roundtrip, it's long enough to feel like you've accomplished something without having a ton of elevation gain.
This is also a great excuse to spend some time in Packwood before or after your hike.
If you're new to Tacoma, Packwood is roughly two hours away and gives you a taste of just how quickly the scenery changes once you head toward the mountains.
Pass required: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass.
2. Mima Falls
Distance: approximately 5.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: approximately 600 feet
Location: Capitol State Forest
Mima Falls is a great choice when the mountains are still snowy but you're itching to get back on the trail.
Located in Capitol State Forest outside Olympia, the trail takes you through a mix of forest, wetlands and fern-covered scenery before reaching Mima Falls.
The waterfall is especially fitting for spring, when all that Washington rain actually works in your favor.
This isn't a hike you're doing for huge mountain views. It's more about getting into the woods, stretching your legs and enjoying an extremely Pacific Northwest kind of day.
Because Capitol State Forest has an extensive network of trails, make sure you have your route downloaded before heading out.
Pass required: Discover Pass.
3. Staircase Rapids
Distance: 2.1 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: approximately 574 feet
Location: Olympic National Park / Lake Cushman area
If you want maximum Pacific Northwest scenery without committing to an all-day hike, Staircase Rapids is hard to beat.
The trail follows the North Fork Skokomish River through an absolutely gorgeous old-growth forest filled with moss, ferns, huge trees and rushing water. There's also a suspension bridge across the river.
At just over two miles, this is an easier option than many of the hikes we usually recommend, but that's exactly why we like it for spring. Sometimes you want to get outside without turning your first hike of the year into a test of survival.
The drive from Tacoma also takes you toward Hood Canal and Lake Cushman, so this is an easy one to turn into a full spring day trip.
Pass required: America the Beautiful Pass.
4. Federation Forest State Park
Distance: Up to approximately 5 miles, depending on your route
Elevation gain: approximately 150 feet
Location: Highway 410 near Greenwater
Federation Forest is another good reminder that a hike doesn't have to involve climbing thousands of feet to be worth doing.
The state park has more than 12 miles of trails winding through old-growth forest along the White River, so you can put together a route based on how far you actually feel like walking that day.
This is an especially good option for someone who has recently moved to Tacoma and wants to start exploring the Highway 410 corridor toward Mount Rainier without dealing with the snow you'll encounter at higher elevations.
Federation Forest typically reopens for the season April 1, so this is better for mid-to-late spring than an early March hike. Always check current trail conditions before heading out.
Pass required: Discover Pass.
5. Make Spring the Season You Start Exploring
If you're moving to Tacoma from another part of the country, you might be surprised by how many completely different outdoor areas you can reach from here.
Head south and you're on your way toward Mount Rainier and Packwood. Drive southwest and you can explore Capitol State Forest. Head across the Narrows Bridge and you're on your way toward Hood Canal and the Olympic Peninsula.
That access to nature is one of the things we love most about living in Tacoma.
Spring does require a little more planning. Trail conditions can change quickly, snow can linger much later than you'd expect and Washington weather doesn't always care what the forecast said that morning. Check recent trip reports before leaving, download your route, carry the Ten Essentials and be prepared to turn around if conditions aren't what you expected.
Moving to Tacoma or Pierce County?
If you're researching what it's like to live in Tacoma, our local guides cover much more than real estate. We're Tacoma locals and real estate brokers who help people moving to Tacoma and relocating to Pierce County understand the neighborhoods, housing market and everyday lifestyle that make this part of Washington such a great place to call home.
Check out our Tacoma Neighborhood Guide, Moving to Tacoma Guide and other Living in Tacoma articles for more ideas on what to do, where to eat and how to start getting to know the area.