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Parking for the Scott Pierson Trail can be found close to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge at the intersection of 6th Avenue and N. Skyline Drive in Tacoma. Farther east, a park and ride lot off Center Street between S. Tyler Street and S. Mullen Street should have parking. A trail spur leads directly from the parking lot under SR 16 to the main trail near Cheney Stadium.
Do not miss the opportunity to ride over this bridge! Absolutely breathtaking views! There was an earlier review stating there is a toll for bikes, there is no fee for bikes! We started in Gig Harbor at the Cushman trail parking lot. Road over to trail from there and over bridge. Did not do the rest of this trail as it did not have good reviews but thoroughly enjoyed the bridge and views. Although loud from traffic there is a separate path for bikes so you are very safe.
I greatly enjoy this trail. There can be trash left around the tunnel by the houseless, but it is fairly clean. I recommended using the 311 just to alert the city to help keep trail clean. It's such a peaceful ride.
Most of the trail was covered in garbage and debris including shopping carts EVERYWHERE! There were several homeless camps and tents throughout the trail and this tunnel on 19th street with piles of rotting garbage big enough to fill a dump truck! It was discussing! I even rode past a few used syringe needles! Very unsafe and horrible to see. Disappointed in our community.
Next to the golf course towards the end of the trail there was a makeshift tent with a sheet and scattered tin cans. It's shame now I cannot believe how this has trail has changed in 1 year!! At the very end where we turned around early we saw a homeless man walking in his jammies and bare feet looking at us like we were encroaching on his property. I will not use this trail again.
I ride this trail (all of it or the eastern 2/3rds) to and from work, all year. Unfortunately the city/county does not maintain it. Currently (July 2017) most of the vegetation on the side of the trail is overgrown, in some instances significantly encroaching on the trail and dangerously reducing visibility. Additionally, there is much debris, glass and trash (mostly it appears to be related to several nearby homeless camps) scattered about, as well as quite a few discarded shopping carts from nearby supermarkets, target store, etc. Today I had to stop twice to move shopping carts off the train an onto the adjacent grassy area. Overall, it's a huge shame that the city/county department(s) responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this important thoroughfare (one of the few protected trails in the City of Tacoma) is so blatantly lacking. It could be a great means of recreational / commuting cycling / walking / skating. But right now, it's a dirty, dangerous mess.
I am always looking for roller skating trails and this one is great...well maintained, not to much gravel/debris on path, wide enough for two people even when someone is passing and close to my house. Looking forward to visiting often this summer.
Hello, i recently submitted a review for the Scott Pierson Trail. I forgot to give my star rating, and was wondering if you could up date my review to add 5 stars! Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Free06, ;0)
Free06 is not the year i was released from prison, as most people think! It's actually the year I retired from the military.
I recently vacation in Tacoma, and found this trail and fell in love with it! I use to go down to Wright's Park for my exercise. However, my sister bought a home right on 25th, and it was perfect to walk out the door, and the trail only a few blocks away. Pathways were wide and offered a variety of inclines to challenge you; I loved it! I walked and rode a bike on the trail, and i swear I'm having withdraws now wishing i was still there to do it again. Yea, it's parallel to the highway, but that didn't bother me! I put on my Dre Beats and let my feet do the dancing, and dancing we did. I would walk from S. 25th to 19th & Mullen, turn around and walk back. On days i rode the bike, i looped my walk route twice. Out of the 14 days there, i walked or biked 11 days! Came home got on the scale and i had lost 4 pounds! I was only just trying to maintain. I cant wait to come back again to hit the trail.
I enjoy going on the trail, beautiful views, very noisy though. The thing that really bothers me is that there are no restrooms, porta poddies etc. I am 70 yrs old and would like to see that change.
Nice wide safe path across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge..A bit of hill climbing on both end of the bridge. Ride on road to connect to the Gig Harbor Cushman Trail. You also save a $5.00 toll by biking or walking.
THE GOOD
wide paved trail
nice breeze
good length
views going over the bridge
THE BAD
tons of litter and graffiti
multiple streets crossings
trail path not always obvious
INDIFFERENT
lots of moderate hills
This could easily be a 4 star trail. Two of the bad things could be easily improved. Clean the trail up please and install better signage where the trail does not connect. Even better paint a continuous stripe on the ground, hey if the criminals can spray paint graffiti on everything why can't we have do this.
This is a better biking or running trail than a walking/hiking trail only because of the noise and somewhat boring scenery.
Most of the trail runs alongside the Hwy 16 from start to finish it so you always are overwhelmed by the noise of the traffic.
The pavement is well maintained with no potholes and hardly even a crack anywhere.
On the Tacoma side I would recommend parking in the parking lot of the old Regal or AMC Movie Theater off of Cedar and 23rd St (behind the Shopping Center) and walk to the end of the parking lot and you will see a walkway to the trail. The actual beginning of the trail is on S 25th St in a residential area but there is only street parking there.
The trail is well marked the whole way except when you get to Skyline Drive, we did not see any signs to tell us we should go left on Skyline to the War Memorial instead we crossed over 16 and followed the Skyline Trail, not a big problem as we were able to cross back over 16 at Jackson and get back on the Scott Pierson Trail done to the Narrows Bridge. It is exactly 5 Miles from the Starting Point at S 25th St to the Narrows Bridge one way.
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