Day Hike - Dash Point State Park

Meet at 9:30 AM at the Highlands Park trailhead on  SW 324th Pl in Federal Way, reached by taking the S 320th St westbound exit from I-5 and continuing west on 320th to the T junction at Hoyt Road.  Turn left on Hoyt Road and then right at the first street, SW 325th Way.  Then turn right at 51st Ave SW, which becomes SW 324th Pl.  Park on the street alongside Highlands Park.  No parking pass is required.

There is a nice restroom facility at our lunch stop, but no restroom at the trailhead.  The most convenient restroom stop enroute from I-5 to the trailhead is the McDonald's at the northeast corner of S 320th St and 23rd Ave S.  It is near the exit from I-5 to S 320th St.

In the morning we will hike an undulating, meandering route through the southern part of Dash Point State Park, designed to cover most of the park's trail system.  We'll have our lunch at a picnic table near Puget Sound.  We have the option of a covered picnic shelter in the event of rain, or an uncovered table nearer to the water if it is not raining.  The restroom is near both lunch spots.  After lunch we'll hike back on a shorter, more level route through the northern part of the park, so we will have explored all areas of the park by the end of the hike.