Millersylvania State Park

Millersylvania occupies a 842-acre pocket of preserved lowland forest just off Interstate 5 between Olympia and Centralia. The park's defining feature is Deep Lake, ringed by old-growth Douglas fir and western red cedar that escaped the saws of the early twentieth century. Trails fan out from the day-use area and campground, threading boardwalks across boggy ground and looping back along the lakeshore. Hikers can string together loops of up to five miles by linking the named segments, with side trips to the south shore extending the day further.

The forest sets the tone. Cedar trunks four and five feet across darken the understory; sword fern and salal carpet the floor; thrushes and pileated woodpeckers work the canopy. Grades stay near level throughout, total gain across the longest loop reaches about a hundred feet. The trail surface alternates between packed dirt, gravel road, and short boardwalk sections over wet ground. Expect mud through the wet season; expect mosquitoes near the lake in early summer.

Winter is when this park earns its reputation. While higher routes lock under snow, Millersylvania stays open and walkable. The deciduous bigleaf maples turn yellow in October, the cedars stay green, and the lake reflects whatever weather rolls through. Quiet weekday mornings can deliver the park nearly to one party.