Columbia River -- Skamokawa Vista Park

Description: We started out today looking for a ghost town in SW Washington, called Frankfort. We couldn't access that area, though. What we learned is that southwest Washington doesn't have much human activity because the vast majority of the land down there is owned by logging companies. Every road we tried to get through ended up being gated or warned, "private, no trespassing." On the way back, we decided to take the scenic drive along the Columbia River to head back towards I-5. We stopped at Skamokowa Vista Park and enjoyed a lovely, peaceful view of the Columbia. This park doesn't have a walking trail, per se, but there was plenty of walking to do along the sandy beach and up and down the sand dunes. We saw a men's group there for some retreat, and they showed us the rented yurts they were staying in. In addition to camping and shipwatching, this park offers plenty of picnic areas, ball fields, tennis court, and a basketball court. The park has wide open spaces to let the sun shine in. Also nearby is a place to rent kayaks and canoes. Pete and I would love to go paddling down here someday. I think this would be a wonderful place for families to host reunions or for any other group to have a retreat. It sounds like reservations for the yurts may need to be made well in advance, though. After our lovely stroll along this beach, we then drove back on Highway 4 and marveled at the beauty of the Columbia River.

Location & Parking: Go to the Skamokawa Vista Park website for information on reservations, more details about the park, and a map and directions.

Kirkland -- Big Finn Hill Park

Description:
Big Finn Hill is located in the center of the Juanita neighborhood, which lies between Bothell and Kirkland. At the top of the park (i.e., on top of the hill), there is parking, a grassy play area, playground, soccer field, and baseball diamonds. A sign orders to keep dogs on leashes, but we noticed a few dogs running around off-leash with their owners, which didn't appear to be a problem for anyone. Surrounding the grassy park area at the top of the hill are several densely forested areas, each having their own trail system. These trail systems are best described as feeling like a capillary bed (see illustration). We had no clue where we were headed and mostly just let the dog decide which direction we would take whenever we came to a fork in the trail. Eventually, we ended up back at the open area and parking lot. We never felt lost because we were very aware of being surrounded by suburban neighborhoods and street. The trail areas were nicely shaded from the thick foilage, and there was a lot of undergrowth on the ground. The trails were very clearly defined, although they were narrow and required walking single file. There are enough twists and turns and ups and downs to call this hike exercise. I think if I lived in this neighborhood, I would wander into this park all the time and have nice quiet time among the trees. Otherwise, it didn't hold too much interest for me. We still want to check out the section of the park that heads down the hill towards Lake Washington, but we didn't have time for that today. At some point, I would like to get a hold of a decent trail map of this park so I know where I'm going.

Location & Parking:
This park is located in the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland at NE 138th and Juanita Drive NE. See this webpage provided by King County Parks for a map and more information.

Snohomish -- Lord Hill Regional Park

Description:
Pete, Squeaky, and I were pleasantly surprised when we checked out this park today. This walk truly felt like a hike in the mountains, even though it's a short drive from Everett, Monroe, or Bothell. If you're ever driving towards Monroe on 522 from Bothell and see the thick forest to the left of the highway just before reaching Monroe, this is the park. We were only able to cover a small portion of the trail system in this park during the hour that we were there, so we plan on getting back there again to explore some more. The trail is shared with horses, but there was a minimal amount of horse droppings on the trail. That means it doesn't get in the way of the hiking enjoyment (unlike the experience I've had with Bridal Trails in Bellevue). The path is wide and well-maintained. We hiked up towards Devil's Butte. There was supposed to be a viewpoint of the Cascades and the Olympics, but we were somewhat rushed and didn't quite find the right spot. The trail gains elevation at a gentle slope. The footing may be tricky at times, with quite a few rocks in the trail. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, there were only a few people on the trail. We saw a few horses, too. This forest is a perfect place to take children hiking, your dog for a walk, or for training for your next marathon. I imagine the ground gets muddy and slippery during wet weather, so save this trail for a dry, sunny day.

Location & Parking:
Be sure to use a map to find the entrance to the park, which is located on the northwest part of the park. Check out the Lord Hill Regional Park website for detailed driving directions and maps. The address is: 12921 150th Street SE, Snohomish, WA 98290

Bothell -- Wayne Golf Course

Description: I am not a good golfer, but I love to golf. A golf widow friend of mine once said, "I can't understand why my husband wants to spend his whole day chasing a little white ball around!" I can understand why I like it so much...what a great excuse to walk for hours! My current favorite course of mine is Wayne golf course in Bothell. This course straddles the Sammamish River in Bothell. It's somewhat wide open with trees and hills. Many of the trees are brown and dead-looking, for some reason. It seems to be the only place around the Puget Sound where I see a bunch of dead trees. In spite of that, the scenery is still nice because of the surrounding hills and the river. Of course, everything around here is just plain beautiful! The front nine is the only part I bother playing. I find the back nine to be annoying, with many tee-offs from a mat. The one time I played the back nine, I got a headache. Playing the front nine only is the perfect way to fit in some extra golf time in my busy schedule. I have followed the advice of others and stayed away on wet days, which I heard can be quite muddy. Playing at Wayne on a sunny and dry day is heaven.

Nice features: The course, overall, provides for pleasant walk. My favorite hole is the 5th hole. This is the one that requires teeing off with the goal of getting it across the river. If you get it across the river, then you end up in a good mood for the rest of the day (that is, if you're an amateur golfer and find this challenging). If you don't get it across the river, then you whisper a thanks that nobody in their kayak or canoe was in the water to get hit, let alone some duck floating by. After you walk across the bridge across the river, this hole just keeps going up and up and up. Up some hills, that is. I enjoy the exercise getting up these hills and having a change of terrain. Once I'm up there, I almost feel like I'm going on a day hike, rather than golfing. I like this course in particular because it's just a couple minutes away from my home, and it's cheap. I can also play a lousy game here and not have to feel embarrassed about it.

Location & Parking:
This is easy to find at 16721 96th Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011
Call for reservations and to find out about their special deals at 425-486-4714
Map of Wayne Golf course by MapQuest

Walking Route: Pick up a map at the office and follow the course. The course starts out with back-and-forth, fairly flat fairways. Then it goes across the river on the 5th hole. After that, the holes are somewhat back and forth up in the hills. The 9th hole comes back across over the river...not quite as challenging as the 5th (9th is some downhill and flat ground), but a relaxing hole to finish your game if you're going to stop after the front nine.

Bothell -- Tolt Pipeline Trail at Blythe Park

Description: Years ago, I got into a fight with an army of stinging nettle while trying to find the first section of the Tolt Pipeline Trail. The Tolt Pipeline Trail is about 14 miles and travels through Eastside suburban neighborhoods from Bothell to Carnation. Water flows through the pipes below the ground, and utility lines are seen above at times. This first section starts literally at Wayne Golf Course. The reason I got into a fight with the nettle is I tried the hard way to find this trail. I was aware that you could take the little loop trail in Blythe Park and take a side trail to end up at the Pipeline Trail. My mistake was attempting to do this when the vegetation was at its thickest point during its annual growth. I lost my way and then was furiously attacked. Eventually, I managed to get back to civilization and ran back to my job at Thorn Ford Dental Lab, where I hosed down my burning legs. Now that I know the easy way to get to the trail, I can enjoy it for something a little different to do around here. In the winter, my husband, Pete, took his kids sledding down this hill when it snowed, and they all had a blast, not to mention their own sledding hill all to themselves. Once you reach the peak of this first series of hills, you end up on top of Norway Hill, which is one of the tallest hills in Bothell. Then the next option is to continue walking through the neighborhood's winding streets in any desired direction, or continue following the Pipeline Trail down the other side of Norway Hill. I haven't attempted to go back down the same way towards the golf course because it just seems too darn steep to walk downhill in that direction. The last trail section before reaching the top of Norway Hill is muddy, mixed with grass, and feels almost completely vertical. What a feeling of breathless exhilaration once you reach the top, though! Talk about a cardio workout. I strongly advise wearing hiking boots with good traction to handle the slippery slope.

Nice features: The best part of this walk is the beautiful view at the top of the hill. Once you reach the top, turn around and feel proud of yourself for exercising your way up the hill. Check out how far down below the golf course seems. Then scan your eyes in the horizon to the west and view the majestic Olympic Mountains on the other side of the Puget Sound. This is one of those spots that makes me so happy that I live in this beautiful state. Another nice feature of this walk is that there's a pretty good chance no one else will be out there, so it's possible to enjoy this walk in solitude or with a favorite pal or your Sweetie. This hill is perfect for sledding...that is, the bottom section of the hill, not the top! No need to worry about any traffic or crowds getting in the way of the fun.

Location & Parking:
Blythe Park, 16950 W Riverside Drive, Bothell, WA
Map of Blythe Park by MapQuest
Park in the parking lot at Blythe Park. To find the beginning of the trail, go to the far end of the park, where the fence separates Blythe Park from Wayne Golf course. It is easy to get around the fence. Once on the other side of the fence, head left and the pipeline trail will go straight up--can't miss it!

Walking Route: If you choose not to come back down the hill the same way towards the golf course, park a second car at the top of Norway Hill (look at map for 104th Ave NE). Or, plan on taking a very long loop walk back down into Bothell and then walk back to Blythe Park on Riverside Drive. Be sure to have a map with you. A shortcut can be taken through the neighborhood on Norway Hill by walking north on 105th Ave NE (zoom in on the map to see this street), and a trail can be found between two homes at the north part of 105th. This trail will take you straight down to 102nd Ave NE, by the Northshore Senior Center. Once you get down by the Senior Center, Blythe Park is a fairly short walk down the road.

Bothell -- Sammamish River Trail

Description: This trail is my sanctuary. It was formerly a railroad track and later paved over by asphalt to convert to a multi-use trail. The trail begins at Lake Sammamish, then becomes the Burke-Gilman Trail in Kenmore. My favorite section of the Sammamish River Trail is in the Bothell Landing area. Over the past 13 years, I have walked this trail hundreds of times. It's the place where I can meditate in peace. I have watched this trail evolve from an ordinary northwest suburban trail to a dense, lush forest over the years, thanks to community conservation efforts and tree planting projects. A few detours worth seeing are: the Wetlands trail that is just beyond the playground at the Bothell Landing; Brackets Landing park and loop neighborhood located east; the railroad trestle and loop trail that leads to Blythe Park, located west; and just east of Brackett's Landing is the adjoining trail that connects to the new UW Bothell campus and its adjacent wetlands area.

Nice features: Trees, trees, and more trees. The Sammamish River. People-watching. Chickens. Rabbits. Ducks. Canada Geese. Great blue herons. Red-winged blackbirds. Quaint wooden bridge. Blackberries. Historical Bothell buildings at the park. Watching thousands of crows fly in overhead at sunset from every single direction to spend their evening congregating at the UW Bothell campus. Head east towards Woodinville and get mesmerized by standing under the I-405 interchange and marvel at human engineering. Take your pick...ride a bike, walk, jog, rollerblade, push a stroller. Catch a free concert in the park in the summer at the amphitheater. In the mood for water? Go on the river instead in your kayak or canoe. If you're lucky like me, you can launch at the ramp right in your own neighborhood. Or you can put in at the Brackett's Landing, the Park at Bothell Landing, or the Sammamish River Park.

Location & Parking:
The Park at Bothell Landing: 9919 NE 180th St, Bothell, WA
Map of Park at Bothell Landing by MapQuest
Park at the Bothell Landing at the above address. Or, go through downtown Bothell, cross over the bridge on 102nd Ave, and park at the Sammamish River Park on the other side of the river.

Walking Route: From the Bothell Landing, walk along the trail and head east towards Woodinville or head west towards Kenmore. Decide how much time you have and then turn around at the half-way time. Alternatively, take one of the detours described above.

Bothell -- Olympic Pipeline Milepost 89

Description: This is a short walk that follows a utility trail and begins at the Staples store in Bothell-Woodinville. Although the trail can head further north, it may realistically require turning around at the top of the hill in Holly Hills. This would be a fun little walk to take a dog for exercise, get in a few minutes of cardio, or sprint up and down the hill for athletic training.

Nice features: Midway up the hill, you can catch a nice glimpse of the top of Mt. Rainier peeking out over the tops of the Bothell and Woodinville hills. In August, blackberries are abundant for the picking. They haven't been picked over by everyone else already, and they are far enough away from absorbing air pollution from traffic.

Location & Parking:
Park in the Staples Parking lot at
18438 120th Ave NE
Bothell, WA 98011
Map of 18438 120th Ave NE Bothell, WA by MapQuest

Walking Route: Begin in the Staples parking lot and head to the easement behind the store on the northwest side. Turn into the apartment parking lot and begin heading north on the gravel trail. To the left, you will see utility stuff and a sign with a big number "89" on it. The gravel quickly turns into grass and the trail leads up a few hills following utility lines. When you reach Holly Hills Road, you may need to turn around or go back down, or you may choose to cross the street and head up the next hill; this section is not maintained like the lower section.