Old Robe Canyon Trail

Well, we decided to brave the chance of rain and head out for a hike on Saturday! We went to Old Robe Canyon trail because it isn't too far to drive and it's not a long hike. I'm so glad we decided to go, as the weather was nice and we just got sprinkled on a little bit from time to time!

My husband enjoying the peace and quiet before my son
joined him....

Nothing more fun than walking on a log....

The trailhead for the Old Robe Canyon Trail is on the Mountain Loop Highway about 7 miles East of Granite Falls. You will see a big brick marker that says Old Robe Trail....but the words are a little worn and hard to see....it is also right across the street from Forest Road 41. Parking is on the shoulder of the road. There were 3 other cars parked when we arrived about 2pm.

You can see that the kids can hardly contain themselves...

The trail is closed 1.2 miles in....so the hike is about 2.4 miles round trip. There is a bad rock slide that closed the trail before you get to the railroad tunnels.

The trail starts off through the forest and goes into a series of switchbacks that take you down about 350 ft. This is the only portion of the trail with any elevation change. About halfway through the switchbacks, if you look back off the trail you will see a wrecked car....it looks older and like it was rolled a few times....we all speculated as to how it came to rest there.

Remember whenever you are hiking, please stay on the trail! Don't cut across switchbacks as it causes erosion and ruins the trail! There are a number of areas on the switchback portion of this trail that are eroded. They have placed wooden fence pieces to try to stop hikers from using the shortcuts.

After you come down off the switchbacks you get into the wetland portion of the trail....at this time of the year (late March) it was quite wet with lots of pond/marsh areas. We could hear frogs croaking as we walked.

This beautiful flower was growing in the water next to some skunk cabbage...it was really pretty, but I can't figure out what it is...does anyone know?

The trail was wet and muddy in places and there were several areas that needed to be crossed on logs or rocks

You follow the river for most of trail after you come down from the switchbacks. The river was running a lot higher than it was the last time we hiked the trail and there is a lot of new erosion, water damage and mudslides. There are also numerous trees down along the trail as well. It is quite obvious that winter took it's toll on the trail!

As you near the end of the trail, the old railway becomes more visible. The pieces of stone and wood that made up the tracks are still visible as well as metal spikes and a lot of old bricks.

There is a really pretty waterfall that runs across the tracks just before the trail is closed.

There is a railroad tunnel that is just visible from where the slide has closed the trail. There are some people that pick their way across the slide area to get to the tunnels and the trails beyond. We have never tried as we felt it was too dangerous.

If you are hiking with children or pets or both I would make sure that they stay close. Keep your pets on a leash. I remember reading about someone who lost a dog over the edge on this trail several years ago.

Yes, I'll admit it.....I have a fungus addiction....here is the proof:

I think this  may be a polypore of some type

Some sort of cup fungus or lichen

Golden Jelly Cone

Some sort of shelf fungus...

I think this might be Turkey Tail

Not sure about this one...it's covered with green algae
because the area is so wet....I thought it was pretty though!

Another cup fungus...

I'm thinking this might be a tooth fungus of some sort...

It was a great hike! I'll leave you with this picture of the river....until next time....

Mercer Slough Nature Park trails

Well, we picked the most beautiful day of the year thus far to go to the Mercer Slough Nature Park Trails!

One of the many boardwalks

A tree just starting to bloom - against the gorgeous
blue sky!

It was a beautiful, warm (for spring) day!  If you are meeting anyone there, I would suggest deciding on exactly which trailhead you will be meeting at, as there are quite a few different ones! We parked at the Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm. It has parking, trailhead access, a working blueberry farm, bathrooms (open late spring through fall). The blueberry farm has U-pick berries (in season) as well as seasonal produce (not open yet). So if you decided to do this when the blueberries were ripe you could double a nice urban hike with a berry picking day! The trails were a little muddy in spots, but we were able to pick our way around the mud most of the time (I would recommend boots or shoes that can get dirty if you go when it is wet).

There are several different looping trails for a total of about 6 miles. The trails are a variety of dirt, peat moss (and mud), boardwalks, and gravel.

Not much elevation gain, just a pleasant urban hike/stroll through a wetland area, forest and working farm with a view of the Bellevue skyline in the background.

We saw a turtle, a Stellar Jay, and a hummingbird.

The turtle - enjoying the sun

The turtle was not shy and let the kids come right up to it and
pet it's shell.

The Stellar Jay, who was having a raucous conversation up
in the tree with a friend.

The skunk cabbage was just starting to bloom, it was absolutely beautiful and starting to be fragrant.

There was no limit to the gorgeous scenery! 

A single Salmonberry blossom - one of the first

The Oregon Grapes were just starting to bloom

I love shelf fungus and thought this was
a great cluster of it!

Some rogue Daffodils that were just starting to bloom

We had a great day! This was a beautiful park to walk in and we saw a few people but it was far from crowded. I would definitely recommend going "off-season" - one of the great benefits of homeschooling! I have a feeling it could get very crowded during the warmer times of the year!

Hiking Bucket List 2011

This was my hiking bucket list for 2011. I completed 17 out of the 32 hikes on my list. :-)

Diosbud Creek

Roundtrip: 2-3 miles
Difficulty: ???
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 30 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Coal Creek Parkway Trail - Directions and map for Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park ~done

Roundtrip: 4.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 45 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Mercer Slough Nature Park  ~done

Rountrip: 6 miles of trails
Difficulty: Easy
Drive time (from N. Everett): 40 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Cumberland Creek - Rasar State Park ~done

Roundtrip: Approx. 3 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 15 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Buck Island - Lewis Street Park - Trailhead ~done

Rountrip: up to 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive time (from N. Everett): 25 minutes -
Parking Pass required: No

Whitehorse Trail ~done

Roundtrip: Variable - up to 12 miles round trip
Difficulty: easy
Drive time (from N. Everett): 55 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

River Meadows Park  ~done
Roundtrip: up to 6 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 40 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Paradise Valley Conservation Area - Woodinville  ~done

Roundtrip: 13+ miles of trails
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 35 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Old Robe Canyon Trail ~done

Rountrip: 2 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 45 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Lime Kiln Trail ~done

Rountrip: 7 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 35 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Old Sauk River Trail ~done

Roundtrip: 6 miles
Difficulty: easy - moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 15 minutes
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Tiger Mountain Trail - Issaquah, WA

Roundtrip: ???
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 10 minutes
Parking Pass required: No ??

Pinnacle and Bear Lake

Roundtrip: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 10 minutes
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Canyon Lake - WTA Trip reports - *call to check on forest road condition* Forest service link to hike

Roundtrip: 4.2 miles ??? + have to walk in on FS Rd. 4111 for 2 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett):
Parking Pass required: No -  Call to double check Darrington Ranger District office at 360-436-1155 or Verlot Public Service Center at 360-691-7791

Explorer Falls - Waterfalls Northwest link ~done

Roundtrip: 2.5 - 5 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 50 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

St. Edwards State Park - Printable trail map

Roundtrip: Variable - approx. 6 miles of trails
Difficulty: Easy - difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 35 minutes
Parking Pass required: Yes - Discover Pass

Carkeek Park ~done

Roundtrip: 6 miles
Difficulty: easy - moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 35 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Redmond Watershed Preserve

Roundtrip: 2-4 miles
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 45 minutes approx.
Parking Pass required: No

Lake Twenty-Two ~done

Roundtrip: 4-5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: moderate - steep
Drive time (from N. Everett): one hour approx.
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Peek-a-Boo Lake -* Timber sale activity on road 2083 & 2084. Watch for logging trucks. * Forest Service link ~done

Roundtrip: 5 miles
Difficulty: Steep - difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 45 minutes - best approx.
Parking Pass required: No

Ashland Lakes ~done

Roundtrip: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: easy terrain - longer distance though
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 15 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Forks of Canyon Creek - Call to check on forest service road conditions Darrington Ranger District office at 360-436-1155 or Verlot Public Service Center at 360-691-7791

Roundtrip: 4 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour approx.
Parking Pass required: No

Iron Goat Trail 

Roundtrip: Variable - up to 10+ miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 20 minutes approx to Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site Trailhead
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Johnson Ridge

Roundtrip: Sunrise Mountain - 4 miles approx. ~ Scorpion Mountain 9 miles approx.
Difficulty: Difficult - Steep
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 20 min. approx.
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass is required

Sauk Mountain

Roundtrip: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 50 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Franklin Falls

Roundtrip: 2 miles
Difficulty: easy
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 25 minutes
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Twin Falls

Roundtrip: 3 miles
Difficulty: easy - moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour and 10 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Bridal Veil Falls ~done

Roundtrip: 5 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 50 minutes
Parking Pass required:  Recreation Pass required

Boulder River ~done

Roundtrip: 2.5 to 8.6 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1 hour 10 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Winchester Mountain Lookout

Roundtrip: 3.5 - 6 miles
Difficulty: difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 2 hours 45 minutes
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Talapus Lake Trail - WTA link

Round trip: 4 miles
Difficulty: Difficult - steep
Drive time (from N. Everett): 1hour 20 minutes approx.
Parking Pass required: Recreation Pass required

Little Mountain Park - Mt.Vernon - WTA link

Roundtrip: variable
Difficulty: easy to difficult
Drive time (from N. Everett): 40 minutes
Parking Pass required: No

Winter Wallace Falls hike on a beautiful day!

On Wednesday of this last week (February 9, 2011) we went to Wallace Falls State Park and hiked to the upper falls. This is a great 5.5 - 6 mile round trip hike if you follow the woody trail that follows the river. If you opt for the railroad grade trail which is a flat and straight you add another mile each direction. We followed the woody trail both ways and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the river along the way. There were birds out along the trail; I didn't see any, but heard lots of them. The sun was out the whole way and it was so nice to hike on a sunny day and not overheat! There were 3 families with 2 boys each, so there was plenty of energy and running on the trail...especially on the downhill parts! There were a few muddy spots on the trail and the boardwalk areas were slippery, so be careful. This makes a great hike any time of the year!

At the trailhead...just starting out.

The trail is about 45 minutes from North Everett. You get on Highway 2 going east and follow it until you get into Gold Bar and then follow the signs for Wallace Falls State Park - it will be a left turn off hwy 2 as you are heading east. The rest of the way is well signed, so just continue to follow the signs to Wallace Falls State Park. Park in the parking lot, as the Wallace Falls Trail starts from there. Water and bathrooms (with flush toilets :) are available at the trailhead! 

The first part of the trail....

Follow the trail out of the parking lot until you get to the signs that direct you to the woody trail or the railroad grade trail.....both will take you to the falls, just remember that the railroad grade will add approx. 1 mile to your hike each direction that you take.

Here is the cutoff to the woody trail...this keeps
the bikes off the woody trail and only on
the railroad grade trail where they are
allowed.

There are lots of benches along the trail that you can stop and rest on. A short way into the woody trail there is a sign for Small Falls. If you follow the trail to the left you can see the falls and take a short loop trail where the boys scouts have put in a small amphitheater.

Small Falls

 Check out the carving of a fish that someone made out of a tree stump along this loop.

Fish carving on Small Falls loop

After you are done checking out Small Falls, head back out to the main trail and continue up to the lower falls. 

One of a couple of bridges on the trail.

A bench looking out over the river....check out
the sunshine!

Crossing another bridge and ready for lunch!
The kids were ready for lunch five
minutes into the hike!

Another view of the river...

There is a nice covered picnic area at the lower falls with tables and a viewing area of the falls. If you have smaller children or are ready to quit here....this makes a great hike by itself! 

Lower Falls

We always eat our lunch at the picnic area here. If you have more energy or are just itching to check out the rest of the falls, continue on up the trail. The trail is steeper from this point on with lots of switchbacks, but it is well worth it in my opinion. There are several lookouts along the way with stops for the Middle Falls and one last stop for the Upper Falls, both of these are signed, so you will know when you get there. 

One of the views of the falls...

All the boys posing at one of the lookouts!

Another lookout....

This was at Upper Falls....the breeze started blowing the mist
from the falls over my head and I caught it in the sunlight!

View of the snowline from one of the lookouts.

View

Sitting on a bench enjoying one of the lookouts.

I happened to stop and look up while I was walking and
thought it was a nice view....so I'm sharing it with you!

Middle Falls

View from the beginning (or end) of the trail....

Don't miss any of the lookouts along the way as each one offers a different view including a lovely lookout where you can see for miles if the weather is clear. The trail does continue on past the Upper Falls, with a warning not to continue unless you know where you are going. I would advise the same. The trail gets rougher from here and would take some good navigation skills to continue. There is a story on an information board at the Upper Falls about two women who continued on and were lost for 48 hours before search and rescue found them. 

Posing at the information board at Upper Falls. Some people's
children pose more than others....who do those kids belong to?

It's a good reminder to be prepared when you are hiking anywhere and to make sure you know where you are going! Washington Trails Association has excellent hiking preparation information, so make sure you are prepared next time you go!

I took this as we were leaving Gold Bar....I just thought it
was too pretty to pass up!