Discover Lacey: Parks, Trails and History

Lacey offers several distinct highlights to consider when planning a trip: water and parklands, paved trails for walking and cycling, and insights into the local past. The destinations differ not only in the activities they offer, but also in their setting: one trail runs through downtown, while another follows the city’s western boundary. When looking for a hotel in Lacey, considering your plans for each day can help you choose the kind of trip you want.

Parks by the Water and in the Woods

Long Lake Park combines a swimming beach with 285 feet of shoreline and a nature trail through the woods. These offer different activities within the same park: swimming at the beach or a walk through wooded terrain. The length of the shoreline gives the waterfront a tangible scale, while the nature trail focuses on the woods.

Woodland Creek winds through Woodland Creek Community Park, which also has a 14-hole disc golf course. This brings a waterway and a clearly defined recreational activity together in the same park. Longs Pond is a year-round fishing pond. The dock is accessible during normal park hours; check the specific fishing rules before your visit.

Paved Trails and Landscapes

Two paved routes on the city’s trails can be compared by length and use. The Karen Fraser Woodland Trail is a paved trail for pedestrians and cyclists, running 2.2 miles through downtown Lacey. The I-5 Bikeway is also a paved trail for pedestrians and cyclists; it is 3 miles long and runs through the urban area. Both trails are the same basic type, but differ in length: the I-5 Bikeway is 0.8 miles longer. This can help you weigh up two urban routes of different lengths when planning your trip.

The Chehalis-Western Trail offers a different setting: it is a paved trail for pedestrians and cyclists along Lacey’s western boundary. From there, you can access Puget Sound, Chambers Lake, the Deschutes River, wetlands, forests, agricultural land, streams, prairies and other habitats. While the other two trails run through the urban area, this one connects to waterways and a variety of landscapes and habitat types.

Local History at the Lacey Museum

The Lacey Museum shares stories about the past of Lacey and the South Sound through its exhibits. It also offers guided tours and walks, as well as history talks. These give you several formats for a cultural visit, including exhibits, guided activities and talks. If tours, walks or talks are important to your visit, check the schedule in advance.

Explore more destinations: Tumwater, Rainier, Olympia

For the broader travel overview: Thurston County.