Nisqually State Park

Nisqually State Park is a 1,300-acre (530 ha) state park near Eatonville, Washington. The park resides on lands historically associated with several indigenous groups, most notably the Nisqually Indian Tribe. As of 2026, the park is one of two in Washington state to be jointly managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and an indigenous community. The park was first proposed in 1987, with land purchases to create the park initially undertaken in 1991. Due to a lack of funding, the park's plan stagnated until an official master plan was adopted in 2008. Limited funding further postponed development until 2013 when additional acreage was purchased. A first phase construction effort of a trailhead facility and an official hiking path began in 2014. Nisqually State Park opened in January 2016. The park was expanded during a second phase in the early 2020s which included the construction of several buildings, including a Coast Salish meeting hall, additional trails, and an interpretive plaza. The ongoing second phase, which included the cleanup of a town landfill, is planned to include a large campground and more than 13 miles (21 km) of trails into the forested canopy and to the confluence of the Mashel and Nisqually rivers. A roundabout was built at the park's entrance off State Route 507 and included Native American sculptures; the artworks were vandalized in December 2025.