CVC traveling Guided Walk - Tenino Town and Trail Walk

Downtown Shops	Tenino City Park entrance
Mt. Rainier in the distance	Wildlife sanctuary pond

Event: Tenino Town and Trail Traveling Guided Walk

ESVA Challenges: 39 Counties (Thurston County), Historic Train Stations, Rails-to-Trails, Honoring our Frontline Heroes, That's Entertainment

AVA Special Programs: Rails-To-Trails, Walking with America's Veterans

AVA Sanction#/Distance/Rating: SN: 131750 - 2026 - 10K (rated 2C) with 5K and 10K options (both rated 1A)

Start/Finish Times: Register by 9:45 AM on January 15, 2026 ONLY; walk begins at 10:00 AM.

Accessibility/Amenities: The 5K and 1A 10K routes are possible for wheelchairs or strollers, the 2C 10K is not. Restrooms (seasonal April-October) are at the park, and also at various points along the town portion of the route.

Heading up the hill	The old bank
A tree-shaded house	The pool is open!

Description: After exiting the Tenino City Park, this walk passes through a small residential area and then joins the Yelm-Tenino Trail (a paved former railroad bed). It later enters the Heernett Environmental Foundation Wildlife Area and Salmon Habitat. The route follows a nature trail past a pond, makes a big loop up a steep trail through the lovely forest above the park, then turns downhill again to return to the park.

(CVC gratefully acknowledges permission granted by the Heernett Environmental Foundation to route the walk through their property. You can learn more about the Foundation, also known as Creekside Conservancy, here.)

Leaving the park the second time, the walk goes into the town of Tenino where sandstone from Tenino's own quarry was used to rebuild much of the downtown after fires in 1905 and 1917. A local master stone carver still works on Olympia Ave. You will pass many of his works on the walk, and may possibly see him at work (hours vary). The route passes an antique mall and several unique shops, as well as the Tenino Depot Museum (open Sat and Sun 12 - 4). The park is home to a 95-feet deep swimming pool (this is well worth a stop on a hot summer day, so you might come prepared for a swim; a small admission fee is charged). The terraced walls on the hillside above the pool are reminders of the stone quarrying activity of the past.

The 5K and 10K options rated 1A are town walks only and do not include the Yelm-Tenino Trail or the trail up the hill into the forest as the 10K rated 2C does.

Tenino Depot Museum	The Quarry Pool
Little Free Library front	Little Free Library side

Registration: This event is a traveling guided walk. The walk leader will have the event stamp at the registration location.

Registration Location: City of Tenino Park Sign, 300 West Park Ave, Tenino, WA

Driving Directions: From I-5 Southbound take exit 101 and turn left onto Tumwater Blvd. Drive about a mile to Capitol Blvd (old Hwy 99) and turn right. Follow Old Hwy 99 for 10 miles to Tenino. In Tenino, Follow the road to the right onto Sussex Ave. Drive about five blocks, then turn left onto Olympia Ave. Continue two blocks to the park entrance.

From I-5 Northbound, take exit 88. Turn right onto Old Hwy 99 and drive eight miles to Tenino. Continue on Old Hwy 99 (Sussex Ave). through town about eight blocks, then turn right onto Olympia Ave. Continue two blocks to the park entrance.

Point of Contact: Mary Clem at 912-248-5868 or via e-mail to maryleonaclem@gmail.com