Dash Point 5K Trail Run cuts through the vibrant green veins of Dash Point State Park in Federal Way, Washington. This 3.1-mile trail offers a compact but encouraging run that wakes the senses and challenges the legs. The course winds through fir and cedar groves that seem to nudge runners onward while glimpses of Puget Sound dare runners to chase open views. With an elevation gain of around 200 feet, the terrain is a lively mix of packed dirt, occasional roots, and loose gravel, requiring sure-footedness but no expert trail skills.

Setting out in the early morning is ideal to catch soft, dappled light filtering through the canopy, while the air holds a crisp freshness from nearby saltwater currents. The trail itself acts like a coil, efficient yet absorbing—building momentum over rolling hills and hugging the shoreline before looping back to the start.

Preparation is straightforward but essential. Trail runners and hikers alike benefit from breathable shoes with good grip, hydration packs or bottles to stay ahead of fluid loss, and layering options to adjust to Pacific Northwest’s shifting weather, especially in shoulder seasons. Early spring and late fall bring wetter ground, demanding mindful pacing to navigate slick sections.

Federal Way’s Dash Point trail run offers more than a race; it’s an engagement with a landscape that moves alongside you, each bend inviting respect for its rugged personality. Use this guide to map your own encounter, equipped and informed to feel both challenged and welcome in this lush pocket of Washington’s coast.