Arboretum Waterfront, Lake or Swamp Walk, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sign pointing the way to the Arboretum Waterfront Trail

 

A really nice in-the-city walk, is the Arboretum Waterfront Trail, sometimes also known as the Lake Walk, or the Swamp Walk.  Parking is by the Arboretum visitor center where there are also public restrooms.  From the parking area it is possible to choose to walk in the Arboretum or go down toward the lake and take the Waterfront Trail. 

 

 

 

A section of the floating pontoon bridges

 

The last time we went on this trail it was flooded in a couple of places and we were not able to go the entire distance.  This time the path, pontoon bridges and metal grating fixed bridging had been repaired and we make it all the way to the Mountlake Cut aka Ship Canal.  The trail is right at lake level and when the boats go by the wake makes the pontoons rock up and down and back and forth.  At one point, after a large pleasure boat went by, the wake made the bridge move enough we decided to just stand where we were until the rocking stopped. 

 

 

 One of several benches

 

Benches were placed some time ago all along the trail; however, as time has gone by the benches have sunk down some and settled to the point of being almost even with the ground.  There also a few places where off-trails lead to small viewing platforms.  The bench in the picture was quite close to the ground, although the photo doesn't make it look as close as it was.  Other benches had sunk and settled in even deeper than this one.

 

 

 

Under the freeway near the Lid

 

The trail goes under the new Lid that is being constructed over part of the freeway.  The trail surface is crushed rock, dirt, and bark.  Starting from the mainland the trail weaves through a marshy woodland, has pontoon bridges crossing water to two islands, and ends at a viewing platform by the canal where the University of Washington crew races are held.   We had nice fall colors the day we were there.

 

 

View from the platform by the canal

 

 

 This is where it happens!  A plug for the book "The Boys in the Boat" and soon to be movie.  We also saw two shells out in the lake.  One had an instructor who was calling out instructions to the person in the second boat.  Note both people were wearing life vests.

 

There were a variety of ducks all along the waterways.  In additional to the usual Mallards and Canadian Geese, we also saw Gadwells, Buffleheads, and Widgeons. 

 

 

 Three Gadwells and one Widgeon

 

Total for the day:  20 people, 5 dogs

Approximately 2 miles RT, no elevation gain