As its name implies, Tumwater Hill sits atop a hill just west of Olympia with surprising panoramic views of Capitol Lake, the Capitol dome, Mount Rainier and on the clearest of days, Mt. St. Helens. For the locals, it’s exciting to see the Cascade Mountain range (because if you can, it means it’s not cloudy and/or raining!).
Not only are the views spectacular at the top, this neighborhood has exceptional access to the freeway. That may not sound very sexy however commuters will love this location of Tumwater Hill. In less than two minutes, you can get onto Highway 101, which connects to north and southbound I-5. And the beauty of it all – you can’t hear the freeway!
Tumwater Hill is easy to spot from just about anywhere in Olympia by its water tower with a painted tree mural. The mural softens the look of the tower and could be considered an art installation. Well, maybe that’s a stretch but it blends into the landscape a little better!
The Homes on Tumwater Hill
Tumwater Hill is actually quite a large area but I’m focusing on the newer homes between Crosby Boulevard SW and Barnes Boulevard SW. These are relatively newer homes built between 2007 to 2013.
There is a mix of traditional Craftsman-style homes and the contemporary 2- and 3-story homes on Banks Lane. Some of these modern homes have rooftop decks to further take advantage of the views.
The Prices on Tumwater Hill
For 2021, prices range from the mid-$400,000s to over $650,000. The sizes of homes is about 1,700 square feet to over 3,700 square feet on modest lots of about 6,000 to 7,000 square feet.
Click here for the current homes listed for sale on Tumwater Hill:
http://francineviola.com//index.asp?p=buildsavedsearch.asp&searchid=87122947
The Neighborhood Vibe
With plenty of sidewalks and a couple of parks in the neighborhood, you’ll see a lot of walkers and their furry friends getting in their daily exercise. Hiking up any of the hills is sure to give anyone a great workout.
There is a small Overlook Point Park with parking, a bench and two tables with checkerboards to set up a game of chess or checkers while taking in the views of the Capitol Dome and Capitol Lake.
For a more adventurous hike, there is the Tumwater Hill Park with steeper paths amongst the tall fir and cedar trees.
The top of Tumwater Hill is about 420 feet above sea-level. Sometimes the top of the hill will get a little snow while just a quick jaunt downhill will have bare streets.
The Schools
Right in the neighborhood is Tumwater Hill Elementary School. Built in 1990, this is part of the Tumwater School District and is for grades kindergarten through fifth grade. According to Schooldigger.com, the Tumwater School District ranks 57th out of 247 school districts in Washington.
The Surroundings
As I mentioned, the location of Tumwater Hill is great for commuters but also easy access to West Olympia and South Puget Sound Community College, the Olympia Auto Mall (which is the largest auto mall in Washington state), and the Westfield Shopping Mall with plenty of shopping and restaurant options.
Video of Tumwater Hill Neighborhood Tour
Be sure to check out this driving tour, walking tour, the parks and how quick you can get around Tumwater Hill and beyond!