Communities

Small Communities in Pierce County

From towns with spectacular views of the Puget Sound to tucked-away cities with hometown charm, Pierce County is home to many small communities. Pierce County’s small communities include waterfront getaways and places with dramatic views of Mount Rainier.

Mountain Neighbors

Explore small, countryside communities full of charm on the roads leading to Mount Rainier. With a combination of vintage storefronts, native wildlife and historic preservation, these communities will leave you with memories for a lifetime. Enjoy Ashford's extensive trails before you reach Mount Rainier National Park’s Paradise entrance. Buckley is the perfect place to hike, bike or blade the Foothills Trail, a former railroad line. Get up-close and personal to wildlife on a tram ride in Eatonville or step back a century in Elbe. Discover why Orting is called the “small town with big views” and check out the genuine “Old West” flavor Roy has to offer. Shop Wilkeson’s antique stores lining Main Street. Stay overnight in a cabin or inn to complete your mountain experience.


Top Five

  1.   Historic Charm
  2.   Mountain Countryside
  3.   Scenic Railroad
  4.   Native Wildlife
  5.   Alpine Wildflowers

Things To Do

  • Journey through Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville on a tram ride. This 635-acre free-roaming sanctuary is home to more than 200 North American animals—moose, elk, bison and more. 
  • Head to historic Copper Creek Inn, two miles from Mount Rainier National Park, for upscale lodging, cabins and a country inn. Get a whiff of the homemade blackberry pies in the restaurant and you won’t leave with an empty stomach.
  • Visit one of the smallest churches in the U.S. in Elbe or experience the 1800s at the Pioneer Farm Museum + Ohop Indian Village. Step back in time on the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad and museum, with fully-operational equipment from the steam logging industry!

Waterfront Getaways

Pierce County is home to picturesque puget sound shorelines and panoramic views. Whether on land, at sea or beachcombing, waterfront towns are full of adventure and leisure. History buffs will revel in the old charm near water’s edge. Witness remarkable preservation in Steilacoom, the first incorporated town in Washington state [1854]. Historic landmarks and vintage storefronts guide you through the story of this former bustling frontier seaport. University Place displays jaw-dropping views of the snow-covered Olympic Mountain ranges, Mount Rainier and Puget Sound.


Top Five

  1.   First-Rate Golf
  2.   Prime Waterfront 
  3.   Walkable Communities
  4.   Historic Preservation
  5.   Annual Events

Things To Do

  • View life in the 1800s at the Steilacoom History Museum, the Nathaniel Orr Home [1857] and Bair Drug + Hardware Store [1895].
  • Play where the pros play: visit Chambers Bay Golf Course, home of the 2015 U.S. Open.
  • Walk or bike more than three miles of scenic paved roads around Chambers Bay on the Chambers Creek Trail. See the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from overlooks and beach front. Bring your pet and stop at the off-leash dog park or cross the bridge to the beach and wade in the water.