Hiking & Biking

Millersylvania State Park has 8.6 miles of hiking trails and 7.6 miles of bike trails, about 20 minutes south of Olympia. The trails wind through old-growth fir and cedar, past wetlands and along a boardwalk and past the 1930s log shelters the Civilian Conservation Corps built. Leashed dogs are welcome, and horses are not allowed.

What Hiking Here Is Like

Washington State Parks calls Millersylvania an old-growth forest camping park, and that is the main reason to walk it. The brochure describes wide stands of old fir and cedar. The agency's tip for a dry day: explore the meandering trails through old-growth forest and wetlands, and look for the historic CCC kitchen shelters along the way.

On the park map, the trails run between Deep Lake, Spruce Creek and the campground, so most walks start a few minutes from where you park or camp.

The Named Trails

The agency's park map (PDF) names these trails. It doesn't give a mileage for each one, so this guide doesn't either.

• Perimeter Trail.
• Orchard Trail. The Miller family planted an orchard of 179 pear, apple and plum trees here after buying the homestead in 1882.
• Bentley Trail.
• Old Growth Lane.
• The Loop.
• Maple Hollow Loop.
• Fen Way Boardwalk. The map marks it as a trail with boardwalk.

See the trail map for how they connect.

Logging History on the Trail

Before it was a park, these woods were logged. The brochure says remnants of a narrow-gauge railroad and several skid roads from the 1800s are still in the park, and some old stumps still carry the notches where loggers stood on springboards to saw. Look closely at the biggest stumps. See about the park.

Biking

The park has 7.6 miles of bike trails, and the brochure lists mountain biking among its activities. If you ride in from outside the park, you don't need a Discover Pass.

Wildlife and Wildflowers

The park page lists bird watching, wildlife viewing, seasonal wildflowers, a creek and a wetland. Stay on the trail and the boardwalk, and don't pick plants: everything in the park is protected.

Trail Closures

Because of the boardwalk's disrepair, the trail near campsite 31 is closed indefinitely, according to the park page. Check the agency's alerts page before you go for any new closures or storm damage.

Rules on the Trail

• Dogs must stay on a leash no longer than eight feet. Clean up after them.
• No horses.
• Don't collect firewood, even fallen branches: downed wood is left as ground cover.
• Day users leave by dusk. See hours.

More Hikes Near Olympia

Tolmie State Park, about 20 minutes from Olympia, has a three-mile trail lined with cedar trees that winds over wetlands. See state parks near Olympia.