This was the second of 3 short hikes today. 
Between Woodard Bay and the State Park, I spotted a young coyote hunting field mice. I wasn’t fast enough to capture the pounce/nose dive, but I was very happy that it decided to pose for a couple pictures before scampering off. 
Tolmie SP seemed kind of busy at the beach. I headed to the Four Cedars trail and only passed one family as I was finishing up the loop. Saw my first trillium of the year and the first skunk cabbage too. The trail is in good shape. A little mud but hardly worth mentioning. 

Beautiful hike and fairly easy.

Trail is in good condition, but a little bit muddy in a few places.  

Set on a spit in a cove, Tolmie State Park is remarkably close to Olympia, Tacoma and the communities in between. Backed by a forest, the park’s main draw is the beach, with calm waters for pint-sized waders. The area is filled with families on summer weekends, but it can be quiet during the week, and its shaded trails provide more than 3 miles of hiking.  The lower parking area is once again open after the construction of a new bridge across the inlet near the lower enclosed kitchen shelter.  There is also a more open picnic pavillion from the upper parking lot area.  Both can be reserved.  See the Tolmie | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission website for details.

There are approximately 3 miles of trails in the park to enjoy.  The trail surfaces were damp with no puddles today in the areas I visited. There has been much work by WTA and the Mountaineers, as well as the park staff, to keep the trails maintained and as puddle free as possible.  

Thanks to all who keep this park beautiful for all to enjoy.

Hiked a 2-mile, counter-clockwise loop, starting at the upper parking lot, down to the beach on a short and steep but paved trail, along the beach, across the footbridge to the shelter, across a massive new bridge to the lower parking lot, and back to the car via part of the loop trail and a (temporary) shortcut trail.

Road Conditions. Paved parking lot with portable toilets. No access to the lower parking lot until end of January.

Trail Conditions. No major obstacles. 8-foot tide left some beach to walk on. Some muddy spots, especially on the shortcut trail to the upper parking lot. No access from the beach/shelter to the outermost end of the loop trail (see the closure map), but a slightly shorter loop was possible today.

Highlights. Dead sea slugs littering the beach.

Crowds. Several parties on the beach, and a couple of people on the trail. Lots of day use facilities, so likely busy in summer!