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Welcome to Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls

Explore Brewery Park

A wide variety of native trees and shrubs line both sides of the river as it pitches and eddies through a gorge of boulder rapids and deep pools, its course culminating in a mist-filled plunge over Tumwater Falls.

A half-mile-long walking trail is highlighted by views of cascading waterfalls, quiet pools, and massive rocks. Spanning the river at both ends of the gorge and connecting the network of trails are footbridges designed for compatibility with the surroundings and historic accuracy.

At the upper reaches and entrance to the park, visitors find wide expanses of beautifully maintained lawns, picnic facilities, a sand-filled area for children featuring uniquely designed play items, immaculate restrooms, a fish ladder, and ample parking.

Open 8am-5pm

The park is currently open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm every day. Hours change depending on the season. The entrance gate is closed at 4:30pm, so please plan accordingly.

Walking Conditions

The 1/2 mile pedestrian walking loop trail is mostly gravel, but it does have some stairs, boardwalks, and bridges. It features some gentle hills which are not too strenuous but may prove difficult for some.

ADA Accessibility

The park has ADA-accessible sidewalks along the office, fish ladder, and water-viewing platform, as well as ADA accessible restrooms next to the office building. The ADA-accessible Deschutes Valley Trail runs parallel to our walking path.

Playground

The historic playground near the parking area features some playground equipment, as well as some picnic tables for seating. The cement ships comprising most of the playground were built in the 1960s and have provided many generations of children with a fun place to play. The large field adjacent to the playground provides plenty of space for games and activities.

Dogs Are Welcome

Dogs are welcome at the park on leash, and there are doggy waste stations along the pedestrian path and near the playground. Please do not bring aggressive dogs, any dogs displaying aggressive behavior will be asked to leave.

About Brewery Park

Steeped in history that spans centuries, Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a very special place, a community gift in 1962 from the Olympia Brewing Company and its founding family, the Schmidts. The 15-acre private park embraces the final leg of the Deschutes River, which plunges 82 feet over a series of three waterfalls corralled in a river canyon of basalt rock millions of years old before emptying into Budd Inlet.

Some 250,000 visitors come to the park each year, making it one of the premier tourist destinations in Thurston County, an urban oasis free to use by all.

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Contrary to general perception, Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is not a state- or city-funded recreation area. We count on your donations to fund expenditures such as trail repairs, habitat restoration, and capital projects. Your support will keep Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls a vital, vibrant, and safe place for many years to come.

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Take Flight to Explore Brewery Park

Brewery Park Attractions

Check out the Brewery Park Gift Shop

We now have a small gift shop in the Brewery Park office! Support Brewery Park’s maintenance and improvement fund by purchasing fun gifts for friends, family, and your home. We have posters, apparel, pins, stickers, and more. All proceeds benefit Brewery Park.

Brewery Park Gift Shop Information

  • Hours: Open 11am - 4:30pm Mon - Fri
  • Location: 110 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater (Brewery Park office)
  • Payment: We take cash, apple pay, and card
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the park owned by the city or state?

Neither. Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls has always been privately owned by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, since it opened its gates in 1962. 

Does it cost money to enter the park?

No, the park is free to the public. We do, however, appreciate any contribution to the park for funding maintenance, etc, as we are a non-profit.

Can I have my wedding in the park?

We do not take reservations or charge a fee for weddings.  We only ask that your event does not disrupt normal park operations or disturb other patrons. No music, tents, or blocking trails and bridges please.

What time do the restrooms close?

The restrooms close when the park closes each day, depending on the season. It will range from 4:30pm in the winter to 8:00pm in the summer.

Can I bring my dog to the park?

Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash and supervised at all times. If your pet shows aggressive behavior, it must be removed from the park at once. Please pick up after your pets, and dispose of feces properly. Pet bag stations are provided throughout the park for your convenience.

Can I fish in the park?

The section of the Deschutes River running through Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is closed to all fishing. As the park is privately owned by OTF we do not permit fishing from the shore and will trespass any who attempt to illegally fish from park property. This closure to fishing is necessary to protect both the public due to dangerous conditions presented along the river canyon, and for the protection of the fall Chinook staging for the Tumwater Falls Hatchery facility.

Can I bring a bike to the park?

No bicycle riding is allowed on the gravel walking trails. However, bicycles are allowed in the parking lots and along the paved Deschutes Valley Trail.

Is the park ADA accessible?

Yes and no. The park is ADA accessible everywhere but the pedestrian walking path, though there is ADA access to the Deschutes Valley Trail which runs parallel to the walking path and also has great views of the river and falls.

Can I take pictures in the park?

You may take pictures in the park while it is open. Please be considerate of others around you.

Do you have a lost and found?

Yes, please visit the OTF office (located near the Upper Falls) during business hours to see if your lost item has been turned in. If you need further assistance please call (509)393-9248 to reach the office directly.

Who should I report a problem to?

During business hours report any problems to the OTF office or call (360) 943-2550 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until dusk. After hours call 911.

Can I reserve an area in the Park?

Visitors are welcome to hold small events in the park such as reunions, receptions, etc. We do not take reservations, all areas are available first-come-first-serve. We only ask that your event does not disrupt normal park operations or disturb other patrons. 

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Directions to Brewery Park & Contact Information

Park Hours – Winter Schedule

Open every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Please note that the ENTRANCE gate will be locked at 4:30pm, and the EXIT gate will be locked at 5:00pm. Please make sure you are back to your vehicle and exiting on time.

Contact:

OTF@olytumfoundation.org

360.943.2550

Physical Address:

110 Deschutes Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501
Corner of C Street and Deschutes Parkway

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation owns and manages Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, the Schmidt House, and offers scholarships and grants through our Education Program.

  • Mailing Address:
    PO Box 4098
    Tumwater, WA 98501
  • Physical Location:
    110 Deschutes Way SW
    Tumwater, WA 98501
    (Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls)
  • Reach Out:
    (360) 943-2550
    OTF@olytumfoundation.org

© 2022 Olympia Tumwater Foundation / 501(c)(3) public charity. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

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Pedestrian Trail

One-half mile of walking trails are highlighted by cascading waterfalls, still, reflective pools and massive rocks. Spanning the river at both ends of the gorge and connecting the network of trails are foot bridges designed for compatibility with the surroundings and historic accuracy. Benches along the way provide a comfortable way to relax and take in the beautiful northwest surroundings or to just be mesmerized by the sound of the rushing falls.

Fisheries Facility in Tumwater Falls Park

Facilities operated by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Here

In the early 1950s, as part of its statewide hatchery program, the Washington Department of Fisheries built a series of concrete fish ladders to help salmon get upstream. In 1962, in conjunction with the development of Tumwater Falls Park, the state was granted an easement by the Foundation for hatchery operations at the top of the falls.

This photo, taken at the lower falls of the Deschutes River, is of a boat called the “screw trap” which WDFW biologists use to trap, catch and count the fish species that naturally migrate out of the Deschutes River. The WDFW biologists also tag a percentage of the migrating fish for survival data of species.

Historic District

Historical Markers

Walk the park and learn about early history on the Deschutes River. Throughout the Park grounds are six interpretive panels complete with informative text and historical photos. The panels show how the river canyon and waterfalls were home to the first permanent American settlement on the shores of Puget Sound. Eventually, pioneers established eight water-dependent industries along the river.

Tumwater Falls Bridge

Made Famous by Beer

One of the most charming features of the park is the wooden footbridge above the Lower Falls. Today’s bridge is a replica of the historic span that crossed the river at that same location more than a hundred years ago and appeared on the “lucky horseshoe” logo of the Olympia Brewing Company.

Washington Salish Native Plant Garden

Native Plant Garden at Tumwater Brewery Park

Dedicated in the spring of 2012, this ethnobotanical garden is a collaborative effort between Washington Salish tribes (Chehalis Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, and Squaxin Island Tribe), and the Olympia Tumwater Foundation. Located near the Upper Falls, this garden’s collection of over 56 indigenous plant species represents a history of resourceful and artistic use by local Salish families to provide food, medicine, clothing, tools, and materials for day-to-day living.

Within the garden are two interpretive panels: one identifies each plant in the collection, and the other explains the garden’s origins.

Riverwalk Tours

The guided walking tour covers Tumwater’s pioneer past, Olympia Brewing Company history and the annual salmon migration.

These popular, free guided tours are offered from June through mid-September. For scheduled tour dates, and to register for a tour, click here. Tours are free and limited to a maximum of 30 people each. Meet outside the Olympia Tumwater Foundation office at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls (near the upper falls).

Tours are free and limited to 30 people on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are taken. The tour meeting takes place outside of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation office in Tumwater Falls Park.

Salmon Return

Seasonal Activity

The peak season for viewing returning salmon in Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls begins as early as late August and can end as late as the last two weeks in October. Activity in Brewery Park at the WDFW fisheries facility increases dramatically during this time.

Watch this video to learn more about salmon returning to the Deschutes River.  This 50-minute video is presented by the City of Tumwater’s Water Resources Program and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Deschutes River Waterfalls

Three waterfalls—the Upper, Middle, and Lower falls–can be seen along the Deschutes River in Brewery Park. Visitors can enjoy all three while walking the half-mile pedestrian trail.