3 Great Trails for a Springtime Hike in Sumner

Puget Sound, along with the thick forests and steep mountains that surround it, is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. From the Olympic Peninsula to the Snoqualmie National Forest, from the shoreline walks to the lakeside trails, you find plenty of great places to take a hike in spring when you live near Sumner, Washington.

The Sumner Link Trail

This trail crosses the entire length of Sumner from north to south along the White River. From one end to the other, the trail is around five miles long, although you can make it as long or as short as you want. There are plenty of places where the trail meets the road, especially downtown towards the south.

The “link” in Sumner Link Trail comes from the fact that it connects to several other trails in the area, the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail, Foothills Trails in the south, and the Interurban Trail and Lakeland Hills Trail in the north. The trail is an excellent springtime hiking spot since you can always run home if a sudden spring shower shows up.

The Chambers Bay Loop

The Chambers Bay Loop is 20 miles west of Sumner, but it has some amazing views throughout the year. It consists of two trails, the Soundview Trail on the west side and the Grandview Trail on the east side. Like the names suggest, the Soundview Trail runs right up along the cliff side, giving hikers and bikers a good look at the shore just below, and the Grandview Trail heads to the top of the bluffs for a perfect view of the surrounding city and the islands to the west.

All told, the Loop is 3.25 miles long, and the Soundview side is much steeper than the Grandview side. The trail also has a beach access ramp at the southwestern end. Oh, and if you’re a fan of golf, you’ll be happy to know that the Chambers Bay Loop surrounds an 18-link golf course.

The Puyallup Riverwalk Trail

If following the White River through Sumner isn’t enough for you, the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail picks up where the Sumner Link Trail leaves off. Like the Sumner, this one is a five-mile path that follows the river as it winds through the city, although in this case, it goes from east to west along the Puyallup River.

The trail is a paved bike path aside from a mile-long stretch where it follows the sidewalk along 2nd Avenue and 5th Street. It offers a lovely view of the river and the surrounding grasslands and woods throughout its entire length. The hike might be extra long if you started in Sumner, but the views are definitely worth it.

Winter is not as harsh as it is in eastern Washington, but it does get cold enough to make people appreciate the way the world warms up and wakes up in spring. If you want to watch this awakening happen in front of you, there’s no better way than to go for a springtime hike.