A Forest in the City

On Labor day we like to go on a destination walk. In talking late Sunday night after returning home from Whidbey Island, we finally decided on Seward Park. We had not been there for a long time, and we had never walked the trails in the woods there. 

Seward Park is a 300 acre municipal park in the City of Seattle. It occupies the Baily Peninsula, a forested peninsula of land that sticks out into lake Washington, as shown in this "borrowed" photo from the Internet. 

Seward Park was designed by the Olmstead Brothers and the perimeter has a 2.4 mile walking and bike path. The interior contains one of the last surviving tracts of old growth forest surviving in the city or in the Puget Sound area. It was those forest trails that we were seeking. 

 We entered the forest at the south end of the main trail that runs the length of the park, but soon switched to the Huckleberry Trail, that winds in and around tall trees and fallen trees and bogs and bushes. 

 We were told by a family on the trail with us that this fallen but still living maple is a favorite play spot for young kids. 

 There are BIG trees in here! Douglas fir and cedar

 and big leaf maple and more. 

 When trees fall they are left in place to supply the biome and trails may have to be adjusted to get around them. 

 Huge Madrone trees reach for the sunlight.

 I am not fond of having my picture taken, but Tom sneaked this one in. I ended up using it for my new Facebook profile pic. 

Mossy burls cover the maple trunk. 

Some trees just have to be extra appreciated for their size and grandeur. 

 We are just coming out of our summer drought season, so before long this area will be dripping with moss. 

 Back on the main trail, we approach the north beach area. 

 We sat for a while and rested, with the Seattle skyline in the distance across Lake Washington. 

 We walked the perimeter path for a short way, just to see what there was to see. We found the Reverend U.G. Murphy Fishing Pier, dedicated in 1962 to a man who worked to improve fishing opportunities in the city. 

 And then we re-entered the forest and followed the main pathway back through the park. 

 With a more open view, this trail was like a green cathedral, the majestic  trees forming an arching canopy overhead. 

 This fir is one of Seattle's biggest trees. 

 At the south end of the trail, we walked an access road around to the south beach. Along the way we found this old red wood. 

 We explored the south beach area a bit, appreciating trees like this old oak. 

Then we returned to the car, collected our picnic lunch and sat in a picnic area surrounded by trees but with a peek-a-boo view of the lake. 

Then we returned home in the early afternoon, feeling content and well exercised with our 4 miles of walking in the forest in the city.