BY MATT KITE for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 7/10/2026
Perhaps no slice of Tacoma is more underutilized by recreationists than the Thea Foss Waterway.
Boaters know about it, thanks to the two marinas situated on downtown Tacoma’s oft-overlooked waterfront. But bicyclists, runners, and other fitness junkies are often conspicuously absent from one of Grit City’s most photogenic destinations.
Between Thea’s Park, located at the mouth of the waterway, and 21st Street Park, which sits beneath the East 21st Street Bridge and marks the terminus of the inlet, stretches the Thea Foss Waterway Esplanade, an urban trail that totals just shy of 1.5 miles one way. The esplanade takes users through small parks, past marinas, under bridges, across piers, and over one untended swath of gravel and broken concrete.
Trekkers gaze out at Mount Tahoma’s snowcapped peak one moment and up at the steel-framed underside of Murray Morgan Bridge the next. Views of the mountain, the Tacoma Dome, the downtown skyline, and much of Tacoma’s most iconic infrastructure are nonstop. Loft apartments, snazzy condos, and an enticing collection of restaurants, bars, and taprooms compete with museums and marinas for attention. The people-watching, not surprisingly, is top-notch.
If you’ve never been, or if several years have passed since you last visited the Thea Foss Waterway and its esplanade, what follows is a quick tour of one of Tacoma’s most fascinating trails. Begin your exploration at Thea’s Park, a 3.4-acre green space located at the northern end of Dock Street. An oversized globe commemorates Tacoma’s relationships with its fourteen sister cities around the world. A peace pole nearby delivers a message of harmony in several languages, including Lushootseed, spoken by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
If you’ve got a kayak or a paddleboard, launch it here. The waters are typically tranquil as you enter the waterway and explore its many nooks. Wildlife sightings range from harbor seals and great blue herons, both fairly common, to salmon and orcas. Be mindful of and make room for the yachts, sailboats, and other large vessels entering and leaving the waterway.
If you’re on foot or pedaling the waterfront, head south and enjoy the sights. Later on, the esplanade is more uniform in surface and appearance, but here you’ll be negotiating varied surfaces like gravel, paving, and wood planks. The trail zigzags through open gates, over docks, and directly under Murray Morgan Bridge.
Strollers in no hurry can make their first stop at Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, the last remaining section of what at one time was the longest wheat warehouse anywhere in the world. Much of the original warehouse was destroyed over the years by a succession of fires, but what endures was restored and now educates the public on Tacoma’s rich maritime heritage. On display is an intriguing collection of small watercraft, including canoes made by the Puyallup Tribe and rowboats constructed by the Foss Launch Company more than a century ago. Fittingly enough, visitors can arrive by boat and use the museum’s moorage for up to four hours at no charge.
At the Foss Harbor Marina, only one block farther south, recreationists can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The marina’s small store sells groceries, drinks, and boating supplies, among other provisions. A casual outdoor dining area beckons weary travelers to take a load off.
If you’ve got the kids with you, be sure to make a stop at Melanie’s Park, one of Tacoma’s newest parks. Constructed near Murray Morgan Bridge in honor of Melanie Jan LaPlant Dressel, a beloved business leader and community advocate who passed away in 2017, the park features a slew of fun and quirky playground features that will bring out the kid in everyone. Along with climbing structures and curlicue slides, the space features other family-friendly amenities like picnic tables and restrooms outfitted with changing tables. The small park, less than an acre in size, sits on a former Superfund site and thoughtfully marries Tacoma’s industrial history with the commissioned artwork of Puyallup Tribe artists.
As you continue venturing south, you’ll reach the esplanade’s most well-groomed stretch, which hosts Dock Street Marina, art installations from the Museum of Glass, and several condos and dining and drinking establishments. Thea Foss Waterway banners decorate lampposts, and distractions range from a reflecting pool to postcard-perfect views of Union Station and the Tacoma Dome. You can launch your kayak here if you prefer, or lock up your bicycle and picnic on one of the many benches.
By the time you encounter grassy 21st Street Park, you’ll have reached the end of the esplanade and the waterway itself. It’s time to turn around and return the way you came. Or head inland toward the University of Washington Tacoma campus and the Prairie Line Trail to extend your adventure.
Thea Foss, the waterway’s and esplanade’s namesake, was a Norwegian immigrant who arrived in Tacoma in 1889. She and her husband built the Foss Launch Company from the ground up while renting boats to seafaring Tacomans of every stripe. Their company motto? Always Ready.
