Originally published Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Walkabout
Soos Creek Regional Trail
Location: Kent. Length: More than 7 miles. Level of difficulty: Level to moderately rolling, wide paved trail. Be careful when crossing...
Location: Kent.
Length: More than 7 miles.
Level of difficulty: Level to moderately rolling, wide paved trail. Be careful when crossing intersecting streets.
Setting: This tranquil regional trail runs along the spine of Kent's East Hill among the wetlands of Soos Creek, an active salmon-spawning stream. The trail runs past the backyards of some suburban neighborhoods, but offers a semirural feel through an area with a rich history.
The creek's name comes from the Skopamish Indian name for a village once located where the stream joins the Green River to the south. The land was logged at the end of the 19th century and later sold to settlers, many of them Finns who worked as local loggers or in the coal mines of Newcastle and Black Diamond. At their homesteads along Soos Creek, they raised chickens and dairy cows.
Highlights: The trail winds through a variety of habitats, including cattail marshes, meadows of wild Nootka roses and upland forests. The trail was recently extended more than a mile north of Gary Grant Park, with part of the surface built on an elevated deck to protect wetlands and minimize interference with wildlife. Many animals live in this area, including a wide variety of birds. Various types of owls live in the area — in February and March, two guided late-night "owl prowls" offer a rare chance to look and listen for these nocturnal residents (the free walks fill fast — see the Friends of Soos Creek Web site, below, for details).
Facilities: Portable toilet at midway trailhead in winter; seasonal restrooms and water at Gary Grant and Lake Meridian parks.
Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect.
Directions: From Highway 167 in Kent, exit at South 212th Street, and head east up a long hill (street becomes Southeast 208th Street). After you cross 132nd Avenue Southeast, the Gary Grant Park trailhead is five blocks ahead on the left. Additional parking is farther south at 145th Avenue Southeast between Southeast 240th Street and Southeast 256th Street, and at the Lake Meridian parking lot off Kent-Kangley Road on 152nd Way Southeast.
Bus: Metro Route 168 runs by the trail's Lake Meridian trailhead. 206-553-3000 or http://transit.metrokc.gov.
For more information: Call 206-296-4232 or see www.metrokc.gov/parks/trails or http://friendsofsooscreekpark.wetpaint.com.
— Cathy McDonald, Special to The Seattle Times
Renton-based freelancer Cathy McDonald, a former geologist, has written about science and nature travel for 20 years. She's currently a travel guidebook editor at Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door. Contact her: nwwriter@hotmail.com.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 7:51 PM
Special interest? There is a camp for that
Community sports & recreation datebook
Coho mark rates for sport fisheries down this year
How to tell it's time to throw out your shoes
Hope diminishing in search for missing skier

nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
436 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
350 - Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call
283 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
238 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
224 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
154 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families
113 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
80
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma










