Walkabout: Lower Cedar River Trail

By Cathy McDonald
Special to The Seattle Times

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Length: Four miles round trip from community center.

Level of difficulty: Flat-to-gently sloping, accessible paved path, with many entrances down to the river trail from local streets.

Setting: This lower portion of the Cedar River Trail (which follows the Cedar River up to Landsburg) gives walkers an intimate view of Renton. From the community center, the trail follows the east bank of the Cedar River past the library (which straddles the river), near the high-school stadium, and past Boeing plants and planes. The trail even cuts across an "airplane crossing" where new planes are towed across a bridge from Boeing property to the Renton airport. The trail ends at the southern tip of Lake Washington, where the Cascade Canoe and Kayak Center operates out of the boathouse, a former Boeing hydrofoil-development building donated to the City of Renton.

Highlights: Before the Cedar River was channeled in the early 1900s to flow into Lake Washington, flooding was common, and downtown Renton was often inundated. Once you reach the boathouse at the end of the trail, rent a canoe or kayak to paddle over to Gene Coulon Park, just east across the south end of the lake. There are efforts to eventually connect the Cedar River Trail to Coulon Park, via an access trail and boardwalk skirting the intervening Boeing property.

Facilities: Restrooms, water and phones at community center, Renton Senior Center (midway) and at Cedar River Trail Park near the boathouse. New outdoor pool at community center.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect; bikes banned on posted sections.

Directions: From northbound Interstate 405 in Renton, take Exit 4A, turn right onto Highway 169, and take the next right into the community center. Heading south on Interstate 405, take Exit 4, turn left at the second light and turn right into the community center. To reach the trail behind the center, go under I-405 (do not take the footbridge, which leads to the trail's eastern portion, but follow the road under I-405 to cross the street to the skateboard park). Turn left to access the trail along the river.

For more information: For the park, call 425-430-6700, or see the Web, www.ci.renton.wa.us/commserv/parks. For the boathouse: 425-430-0111 or www.canoe-kayak.com.

Cathy McDonald is coauthor with Stephen Whitney of "Nature Walks In and Around Seattle," with photographs by James Hendrickson (The Mountaineers, second edition, 1997).

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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