Bellefields Trails

Location: Bellevue.

Length: About five miles of trails.

Level of difficulty: Level-to-moderate bark/dirt/gravel trails and wooden boardwalks.

Setting: These trails on the eastern edge of Mercer Slough Nature Park swoop down through the upland forest of Douglas firs, western red cedars and big-leaf maples into meadows and wetlands. This part of the park is the highest and driest, and marks the original shoreline of Lake Washington before construction of the ship canal in 1916-17 lowered the level of the lake almost nine feet.

Highlights: This 320-acre park is at its best in summer, when the lush vegetation arches over the trails to create a verdant jungle that blocks out views of nearby I-90. Currently, the blackberries are ripening and mosquitoes are present. Trailposts mark the many trail junctions; pick up a park brochure at the Winters House visitors center. Interpretive signs along the path describe the wetland's flora and fauna.

A free, one-hour, guided nature tour leaves Saturdays year-round at 2 p.m. from the visitors center. For a closer look at the slough, from May through September, rangers lead a three-hour canoe trip into the park. Call 425-452-2752 for details.

Facilities: Accessible restroom in building next to the parking lot. Winters House visitors center on Bellevue Way (west side of the park) is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect.

Directions: From Interstate 405 in Bellevue, take Exit 10 (northbound or southbound) and turn west on Southeast 8th Street. Turn left on 118th Avenue Southeast, and in .7 mile, turn right into the Bellefields trailhead parking lot. From the parking lot, walk south along the sidewalk to access the trails at the end of the fence.

Bus: Metro No. 222 and No. 240 provide service near the park. Call 206-553-3000 or see http://transit.metrokc.gov.

Information: 425-452-2752 or www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/parks.

Cathy McDonald is co-author with Stephen Whitney of "Nature Walks In & Around Seattle" (The Mountaineers, 1997)