Thurston County, Washington

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Scam callers have been impersonating Court and Pretrial staff and Sheriff's Office deputies. Court staff do not call jurors and Sheriff's deputies do not collect fines by phone. Report scams to Thurston County Sheriff's non-emergency line at 360-704-2740 and you can verify your Jury Service by clicking here.

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
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Thurston County Washington

Public Works

Deschutes Falls Park

With few developments, this park is a haven for nature lovers. Visitors can enjoy the falls from a new viewing deck with railing. Take the main path down the hill from the parking lot and walk quarter of a mile. Stay to the right at the bottom of the hill where the path divides.  Please note steep grades and an undeveloped path with very few improvements may be challenging for people with mobility concerns. 

deschutes falls park shown. A water fall carves through rock. A bluff in the foreground is covered in ferns and greenery

Park Hours

  • 9:00 a.m. to dusk daily

Location

  • 25005 Bald Hill Rd. SE, Yelm, WA 98597

Features

  • 1000 ft2 viewing platform for waterfalls
  • 155 acres of mixed habitat
  • 25-foot waterfall
  • 70-foot canyon
  • 400-foot gorge
  • Natural rock monoliths
  • Native plants
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Historic log cabin

Park Use Guidelines

To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, please follow these rules:

  • Supervise children closely.
  • Stay on the paths and designated areas.
  • Be aware of uneven surfaces.
  • Leash and clean up after your pet.
  • Parks are for day use only.
  • Gates are locked at dusk.
  • Park in designated parking and remove your car before closing hours.

For the safety and comfort of all visitors, the following are not allowed in Thurston County Parks:

  • Bonfires
  • Loudspeakers
  • Fireworks
  • Firearms / Hunting
  • Livestock
  • Bounce houses
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Metal detectors
  • Smoking / Vaping of any product