Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Spanning over 90,000 acres in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties near the southern Puget Sound region, Capitol State Forest is a large, multi-use forest managed primarily for timber production, recreation, and habitat protection. The forest is composed mainly of mixed conifers with Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar dominating mature stands alongside younger regrowth areas. The diverse topography features rolling hills, ridges, and several small creeks. Historically logged since the early 1900s, the forest has evolved into a working landscape balancing ecological conservation with outdoor recreation and resource management. Capitol State Forest is well-known in the Pacific Northwest for its extensive trail systems that attract mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders. Popular trailheads include the 117th Trailhead and the Black Hills Trailhead, which provide access to numerous looped singletrack and doubletrack routes. Wildlife in the region includes black-tailed deer, black bear, pileated woodpeckers, and a variety of raptors. The forest offers diverse recreational opportunities such as fishing in its many streams, horseback riding, and seasonal hunting. Visitors appreciate the accessibility of Capitol State Forest, being only a short drive from Olympia and Tacoma, making it a popular destination for day trips and weekend excursions. While primarily a working forest, it is also a critical zone for watershed protection and habitat connectivity, with efforts ongoing to maintain sustainable forestry practices and protect riparian zones. The forest experiences mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers typical of western Washington's climate, providing year-round outdoor use with some trail conditions varying by season.
