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    Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park

    4.9 (13 reviews)

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    Tiffany Y.

    Dune Peninsula is a gorgeous area in Point Defiance Park, close to the Point Ruston area. There are sweeping views of the water, and on clear days, a gorgeous view of the mountain. I thought the park was well-kept, clean, lots of benches and tables around to just encourage you to enjoy the views. There was also decent green space around. Love it here!

    Juli S.

    Frank Herbert, who wrote "Dune," was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. Growing up, he spent a lot of time on the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Dune Peninsula Park in Tacoma is named after his novel. One of Herbert's concerns was how pollution was negatively impacting the planet, including his beloved Pacific Northwest. The park is built on the ruins of a historic lead and copper smelter. If you're ever anywhere near Tacoma, I recommend you take time to see this spectacular park. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I was there for close to three hours and would've stayed longer, but it started to get dark. No matter which direction you look, the views are dramatic and stunning. Highly Recommended!!!

    It's got a fabulous view from most parts of it they host outdoor concerts down there you get to see seals from time to time it's pretty amazing and a great walk

    Sunset 8/23/22
    Lauren S.

    The Dune Peninsula is connected to the Point Ruston waterfront and is an absolute must-see if you're already walking along the water. NOTE: The famous Dune Peninsula slides are located ACROSS the actual parking lot near the peninsula, not along the water. This information was hard to find online, so just be prepared. That said, we didn't come for the slides, we came for the sunset. Along the walk on the Peninsula there are benches to sit and take breaks or just pick a spot if you don't want to walk all the way down to the end. We generally do just for the exercise, and it's a beautiful view the entire way. Along the walks here we've seen seals, eagles, and even orcas swimming close enough to sit and watch. It's really cool. NOTHING beats the sunsets here though... As you can see from my photos, we were treated to a really amazing one during a summer night in August. My boyfriend didn't expect the view to be as great as it was, and it blew us both away! Hands down one of my favorite memories this summer. Ruston is already one of our favorite local spots and we generally always make it on down the Peninsula path because, why not?! Definitely worth it if you have some time to kill in the area or have never seen before.

    Shannah H.

    Love love love this park. During our extended time in Tacoma I walked, ran and simply watched the wildlife of Puget Sound in this park. The sidewalks are wide with scenic overlooks, benches and natural landscape left in place. Mornings reveal seals at play, raptors hunting and peaceful quiet. Truly a gem in the Tacoma area!

    Getting an interesting angle on a rock sculpture at the Dune Peninsula!
    Alden C.

    Steve and I kind of stumbled across the Dune Peninsula by accident. This whole area between Point Defiance and Point Ruston was under development for a very long time and it was hard to figure out what the finished product would look like once the construction cleared away. But the Dune Peninsula, the surrounding area and the new installment of walking paths links this relatively new neighborhood and the beloved park together. Steve and I were here a while back and I was eager to write a review for this new park but there was no Yelp entry for it yet and I didn't really know what it was all called. There is a lot of great stuff going on here. Not too sure where to start so I will start with how our walk started. There is a gorgeous new walking bridge that takes you over the lot and drive for the ferry terminal that goes back and forth to Vashon Island. As you stroll closer to Point Ruston you can go along a ridge. There are stairs that go down towards the ferry area and there are also slides along the stairs you can slide down on. Needless to say that was very popular! As you get closer to Point Ruston the walking path splits. You either go towards Point Ruston or take the sidewalk to the Dune Peninsula. Truth be told up until now the things we saw along the path up to this point I'm not sure technically counts as part of the Dune Peninsula but it's as new and was open to the public at the same time. We strolled on the peninsula itself and really enjoyed it and took a lot of pictures as we got new vantage points to view of the Port of Tacoma and Vashon Island for example. Lots of places to relax at on this little peninsula like picnic tables and benches but when we went here it was in the summer we wanted the nice, cool grass so we sat in that instead. I've done all of the bike and walking paths in Tacoma and I must say the paths along Ruston Way and Point Ruston are the most beautiful paths the city has to offer!

    Lucy M.

    Great place to go take pictures! Really pretty! I went here yesterday and it was super sunny and nice. Not that many people were there

    Phenomenal walk for humans and leashed pups. Views on views!

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    Review Highlights - Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park

    There is an amazing pedestrian bridge that towers over the boat launch and ferry line to Vashon that connects Point Defiance to Ruston way.

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    Wright Park

    Wright Park

    4.2
    (72 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Wright Park is truly one of Tacoma's gems! It's a 33-acre urban park that feels like a mix between…read morea botanical garden and a community gathering space. The moment you step in, you're surrounded by towering, hundred-year-old trees from all over the world that give the park a magical, shaded atmosphere. It's not just a park, it's also an arboretum, so tree lovers will appreciate the variety and history here. At the heart of it all is the Seymour Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse that looks like it belongs in a storybook. Inside, you'll find a lush collection of tropical plants, seasonal floral displays, and even quirky additions like cacti and Golden Dart Frogs (fun fact: in the wild, they're considered the most poisonous frogs on Earth, but here they're safe since their diet is different). Beyond the conservatory, the park has a beautiful lily pond, fountains, open lawns perfect for picnics, and plenty of walking paths. It's also very family-friendly with playgrounds and lots of space to run around. Wright Park has that perfect mix of history, nature, and community. Whether you're here to stroll among the century-old trees, relax by the pond, or pop into the conservatory, it's easily one of Tacoma's most picturesque hidden gems. Best part? Admission is free, with a donation box available if you'd like to support it.

    Beautiful park with a little man-made lake, a kid's play place, a botanical garden, walking paths,…read moreand lots of place to spread out, picnic and relax. There are a multitude of trees providing shade and many have signs showing when they were first planted, which provides some interesting history of this area. It's within walking distance of a few shops, including a pet store, bicycle store, restaurants, and more. I suppose at night it can be seedy, but during the day it's a lovely park to walk around.

    Photos
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    Kandle Park

    Kandle Park

    4.6
    (38 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    This place is pretty cool and a great place to spend a day with some young relatives. It has a…read moreplayground, small spray park, ice cream/concession stand and a community pool. The parking lot shares space with a police substation so it feels really safe and everything seems really clean and nicely upkept. The park appears much larger on the map than I have checked out and appears to include a skate park as well. There are tables available to enjoy a picnic, or to simply sit while you watch children enjoy the playground. I did find the spray area to be a little underwhelming, but the playground equipment seemed newer and unique. The pool is a very good reason to come to this location. They are currently doing limited sessions due to lifeguard shortage, but its only 7$ for 2 hours. Best of all the wave pool is heated and feels amazing on a hot day. There are some water squirting things and one of those large buckets that dump water on everyone's heads. Lifejackets are available for use. On the day I visited there was plenty of room for everyone to occupy a table or lounger. It appears that the grassy hill next to the wave pool is a good location to set up and bring your own chairs, blankets, etc. There's a 1 ft wading pool that I mistook for a hot tub and was a little disappointed by, but likely great for smaller children. I also really liked that they have children complete swim tests and give them a bracelet to tell others what areas of the pool they are allowed to be in. My 7 yr old nephew insisted he could swim, but it was nice to have someone official reinforce that he needed to stay with adults or before a certain point.

    I love this park and the houses surrounding it, it feels safe and open. The pool wasn't open but…read morethat's awesome they have a water park area. There is also a basketball court, kids park, baseball field and I think a co-op. The grass is well maintained and the trees and landscape is nice to look at. My son is getting into a tree climbing phase so ofcourse he had to climb a tree :p

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    Kandle Park
    Kandle Park
    Kandle Park

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    Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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