12Tumwater Falls, Brewery Park
The iconic multi-tiered landmark along the Deschutes River is just minutes out of the state capital of Olympia in the 15-acre park donated by the well-known Olympia Brewing Company. A narrow gorge separates the upper and lower falls. This place is especially popular on summer afternoons.
This is a maintained green space that also includes 1.5 miles of hiking trails. You can enjoy high vantage points of the cascading water from a number of different scenic footbridges here. The best time to visit if you’re a fan of wildlife such as fish is from September through October when the salmon are making their way up the river’s specially constructed fish ladder.
