Tolmie State Park

Tolmie State Park is a public recreation area and state park covering 154 acres (62 ha) on Nisqually Beach on Puget Sound, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Olympia, Washington.

Tolmie State Park
Location in the state of Washington Show map of Washington (state) Tolmie State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Thurston, Washington, United States
Coordinates	47°07′04″N 122°46′41″W[1]
Area	154 acres (62 ha)
Elevation	75 ft (23 m)[1]
Established	1962
Operator	Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Website	Tolmie State Park

History

The park was named after William Fraser Tolmie, a Hudson's Bay Company officer.^[2] The state began acquiring land for the state park in 1962.^[3][4]

An artificial reef made of tires that was located off the shores of Tolmie State Park and the Nisqually River delta was begun to be removed in late 2024. Approximately 2,500 tires were initially removed. The attempted reef was part of an overall effort within the Puget Sound during the 1970s and 1980s to increase aquatic wildlife in the waters as a means to strengthen recreational fishing. The tires spread after polypropylene twine holding the tire bundles in place dissolved, becoming a damaging, negative environmental impact.^[5]

Geography and features

Tolmie State Park includes 1,800 ft (550 m) of saltwater shoreline at the mouth of a creek known as Big Slough as well as forest lands, a saltwater marsh, and an underwater park with artificial reef for scuba diving.^[3]

Activities and amenities

Park activities include hiking on three miles of trails, boating, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, crabbing, and bird watching.^[3]