Tolmie State Park
| Tolmie State Park | |
|---|---|
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  Location in the state of Washington  Tolmie State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Thurston, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°07′04″N 122°46′41″W / 47.11778°N 122.77806°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 |
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.
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]
References
- ^ a b "Tolmie State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 88. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Tolmie State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ "Marine Protected Areas in Washington" (PDF). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. December 2009. p. 39. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ Jadran, Farah (March 10, 2025). "Sixty years later: More than 100,000 tires from failed reef plan are coming out of Puget Sound". KING 5 News. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
External links
- Tolmie State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Tolmie State Park Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
