Along Henderson Boulevard at Olympia Watershed Park (six miles north of Olympia on Boston Harbor Rd.), there is a two-mile hiking trail through woods, marsh, and streams.

Go to Priest Point Park to explore the three-mile loop that circles Ellis Cove through marsh and wooded land.

A six-mile paved cycling and walking trail leads from Martin Way in town north to Woodard Bay along an old railroad track. At Woodard Bay, the Dept. of Natural Resources has purchased 190 acres of land, managed as the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Area.

The McLane Creek Nature Trail (360/902-1234 or 800/527-3305 for directions) is a mile-long route that circles a beaver pond and meadow. To get a panoramic view of the area, follow the marked dirt road from Waddell Creek Road to 2,658-foot Capitol Peak, the highest point in the Black Hills.

Running parallel to Highway 507, the 7.5-mile Yelm-Tenino Trail is a rails-to-trails route that cuts through forest, pastures, wetlands, and creeks. This paved route is open to walkers, runners, and bikers. You can find a trailhead in Yelm behind the city hall (105 Yelm Ave. W), in Rainier between Centre and Minnesota Streets and in Tenino in the Tenino City Park on Washington Avenue.