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23 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Percival Landing Park is a scenic boardwalk along Budd Inlet with marinas, public art, timber pilings and downtown Olympia views—ideal for waterfront, sunset and people photography. Visit at sunrise or golden hour for warm light and reflections; sunsets bring colorful skies over the inlet. The boardwalk is wheelchair-accessible and free to enter; paid street and lot parking nearby. Weekdays and early mornings are least crowded. Seasonal events and boats add local character.
Small waterfront park on Budd Inlet with a mix of shoreline, marina views, mature trees and pathways — good for intimate waterscapes, reflections, and city-to-nature compositions. Best at golden hour or just after sunrise for soft light and long reflections; sunsets can silhouette marina masts. Easily accessible by car or on foot from downtown Olympia; paved paths and limited street parking plus nearby public lots. No entry fees; wheelchair accessible paths. Expect local walkers and occasional a
Small wetland with boardwalks, marsh grasses, lily pads and open water—ideal for birdlife, reflections and intimate landscape frames. Best at sunrise or after rain for mist and glassy reflections; golden hour warms reeds. Accessible trails and a small parking area at the Kaiser Rd entrance; no fee. Weekday mornings offer quiet wildlife activity. Bring waterproof shoes in wetter seasons.
Compact rose garden and waterfront park on East Bay Drive with formal rose beds, shoreline boardwalks, marsh vistas and distant inlet views. Best in late spring–early summer for blooms; golden hour and overcast mornings flatter roses. Easy paved paths, free entry and small parking; weekdays are quiet.
Small viewing tower at Port Plaza overlooks Budd Inlet and Olympia’s waterfront — great for wide coastal panoramas, sailboats, marina details and sunset light on the bay. Easy walk from waterfront parking and downtown; compact site with short access paths. Best at golden hour and blue hour for color and reflections; weekdays and early mornings are quieter. Light rain/cloud edges add drama; watch for wind when shooting long exposures.
Small waterfront park on Budd Inlet offering sweeping water views, rocky shoreline, driftwood foregrounds, marsh habitat and distant Olympia skyline — strong for golden/silver hour shots, birding and long exposures. Easy access with on-site parking and paved paths; wheelchair-accessible sections. Best at sunrise or sunset for warm light and reflections; low tide reveals more foreground textures. Expect seasonal fog and brisk winds; weekdays are quieter.
Compact coastal park on Budd Inlet with tidal flats, marshes and a short accessible boardwalk — great for shorebird, marshscape and sunset photography. Best at golden hour and low tide when mudflats and exposed shells add foreground texture; migratory bird peaks spring/fall. Small parking lot, wheelchair‑friendly boardwalks, no entry fee. Be respectful — park honors tribal leader Billy Frank Jr.; avoid disturbing wildlife.
Small, well-kept public garden on the Washington State Capitol campus offering seasonal flower beds, specimen shrubs, and framed views of the Capitol dome. Ideal for close-up botanical shots, colourful seasonal landscapes, and compositions that juxtapose plant textures with classical architecture. Best visited in spring–summer for blooms and golden hour for warm side light; weekday mornings have fewer visitors. Free entry, paved paths and nearby Capitol campus parking; generally wheelchair‑and‑d
Trillium Park is a compact waterfront park with sculpted trails, native plantings and a curving boardwalk along Budd Inlet — excellent for shoreline, reflections, and mountain/harbor views on clear days. No entry fee; accessible paved paths and nearby municipal parking make it easy to reach. Best light is at sunrise and golden hour for warm waterfront tones; late spring–summer offers blooming natives and bird activity. Weekday mornings are quieter; watch for changing tides and weather for mood.
Coastal park on Budd Inlet with tidal flats, marsh vegetation and shoreline views — great for wide waterscape frames, intimate nature shots and dramatic sunrises/sunsets. Visit at low tide for exposed mudflats and reflections, or golden hour for warm light on the inlet. Small public parking and paved/packed-gravel paths make shore access easy; no special entry fee but follow posted signs and respect tribal/cultural sites nearby. Expect birdlife and changing sky patterns; wind can be strong in w/
Ornamental Tivoli Fountain sits on the Washington State Capitol campus, offering sculptural water details framed by formal paths and the Capitol building. Photographers can capture graceful water motion, reflections, and architectural context. Visit at golden hour or blue hour for warm tones and lit fountains; weekday mornings or after light rain reduce crowds and enhance reflections. Easily accessible on paved paths with nearby street or campus parking; no entry fee. The fountain pairs well in-
Small hilltop park with open viewpoints over Olympia’s shoreline and surrounding wetlands — good for wide landscape sweeps, layered foregrounds (grasses and shoreline), and colorful sunrises/sunsets. Easy access with a small parking area and short paved paths; no entry fee. Best at golden hour or blue hour; weekdays and low tide reduce crowds and reveal mudflat textures. Trails and picnic benches make quick setup easy; expect typical Pacific Northwest weather (bring rain protection).
Small community park with mixed forest, wetlands and a pond offering intimate landscape scenes, water reflections and plenty of birdlife. Best light is around sunrise and golden hour for soft side-light on trees and mirrored water; overcast days bring even light and saturated greens. Easy roadside parking and free entry; trails are short and mostly flat (stroller/wheelchair access varies by path). Weekday mornings are quiet; bring insect repellent in summer.
Small waterfront park offering shoreline views of Capitol Lake/Budd Inlet, tidal flats and city/capitol reflections — good for waterscapes, birds and golden-hour skies. Easy paved paths and grassy banks, free entry and small parking nearby on Capital Mall Dr. Best at sunrise/sunset for color and low tide to reveal mudflats and shorebird activity; accessible paths make tripods and gear easy to carry.
Photograph the restored 19th-century Bigelow House and its period gardens for strong architectural lines, ornate trim and textured siding that reveal Olympia's pioneer era. Best light is early morning or late afternoon for warm side-lighting; weekday visits avoid crowds. Museum may have limited hours/entry fee and guided-room access—check Olympia Historical Society schedule. Street parking and small on-site lot; interior low-light conditions and some accessibility limitations.
Marathon Park offers mixed wetlands, treed trails and river edges ideal for intimate nature and waterscape shots — cattails, reflections, migratory birds and seasonal color. Best at golden hours and early mornings for soft light and bird activity; spring and fall have most color and moth/bird variety. Small parking lot and accessible boardwalk sections; no entry fee. Weekdays are quieter; bring waterproof shoes for uneven/muddy trails.
Small urban wetlands with creek channels, boardwalks, open meadow and mixed forest — great for intimate nature scenes, birdlife, reflections and seasonal moods (fog, spring wildflowers). No entry fee; small parking lot off San Francisco Ave NE. Best at golden hour or misty mornings for soft light and reflections; weekdays and early mornings reduce foot traffic. Trails are mostly flat and stroller-friendly; bring insect repellent in summer.
Rainbow Rails is a colorful public-art installation along a pedestrian rail corridor in downtown Olympia — ideal for bold, graphic shots of painted rails, patterns and passerby interactions. Visit golden hour for warm side light; overcast days intensify color saturation. Easily accessible on foot or by car (street parking and nearby lots); no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quieter for clean compositions. Respect nearby businesses and pedestrians.
Small ornamental fountain set in Heritage Park with sculptural jets, stonework, mature trees and nearby Capitol views — great for intimate water details, reflections, and context shots of Olympia’s civic landscape. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm light and long-exposure water smoothing; after rain for richer reflections. Easily accessible on foot from downtown; free public access, street parking and nearby municipal lots. Weekday mornings are quieter during events and lunchtime draws.
Small waterfront landmark on Budd Inlet offering intimate coastal compositions: tidal flats, pilings, reflective water and Puget Sound light. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm low light and soft reflections; low tide reveals textured foregrounds. Easily accessible from Olympia with street parking nearby; flat paths and no entry fees. Expect local birds and occasional anglers—respect private docks.
Small, wooded hillside park with winding trails, native forest and neighborhood viewpoints — good for intimate nature shots, tree textures, understory details and occasional city glimpses. Best at golden hour or after rain for saturated greens. Easy street parking on Bigelow Ave NE; no entry fee. Trails are unpaved and moderately steep in places; wear trail shoes. Weekday mornings are quieter.
Small urban woodland with fern-carpeted trails, mossy conifers, a seasonal creek and birdlife — great for intimate nature and forest mood shots. Best at golden hour or after rain for saturated greens and mist; spring for wildflowers and migrants. Easy access off Rogers St NW with street parking and no fee; trails are short and moderately accessible. Weekday mornings are quiet.
A small, community green with mature trees, paths, benches and seasonal plantings ideal for intimate urban-nature frames and environmental portraits. Best at golden hour or after rain for rich colors and reflections; weekday mornings are quiet. Easy access from Washington St SE with street parking and nearby paid lots; no entry fee and ADA pathways. Makes a pleasant stop for detail shots, candid local life, and compositional studies using trees and paths as leading lines.