The park is built on the site of the original 1896 Olympia Brewing Company brewery.
The Deschutes River drops over 80 feet in elevation through the falls area within the park.
The park features artificial fish ladders specifically engineered to help Chinook and Coho salmon bypass the falls to reach upstream spawning grounds.
During the salmon run in autumn, visitors can often see fish leaping up the fish ladder stages.
The park is maintained by a non-profit organization rather than the local municipal government.
The site contains historic stone ruins from the brewing era that are preserved as part of the landscaping.
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a 15-acre riverside park managed by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation featuring a series of waterfalls along the Deschutes River. The park includes a half-mile loop trail that traverses footbridges over the gorge and past the historic site of the original Olympia Brewing Company. The river transitions through a canyon with significant elevation changes, creating dramatic water features that flow directly into Capitol Lake. Fish ladders are integrated into the park design to assist returning salmon during their migration season. The site preserves remnants of the old brewery's industrial architecture, including stone foundations. The park maintains a native plant landscape that transitions from forest to riverbank habitat.
The lower footbridge provides the most comprehensive view of the main falls and the river canyon.
Wear sturdy, slip-resistant shoes as the wooden footbridges and canyon trails can be damp and slick.
Bring binoculars if visiting during the autumn salmon migration to get a better view of the fish in the ladders.
Stay on designated paths as the gorge walls are steep and unstable.
Attempting to climb on the historic stone masonry or venturing off-trail near the steep gorge edge.
Leashed pets are allowed; stay on trails to protect native vegetation; do not feed wildlife.
