Category: Washington local

Vancouver WA
Vancouver has a searchable map of Parks and Trails.  Using “Natural Areas” came up with six areas, all of which look as though they might have easy trails. Call Vancouver Parks for more information.  360-487-8311
?  Burnt Bridge Creek Trail  is a 8.1 mile one-way hard surface trail.  Description by OregonHikers.org:  “The trail heads along grassy wetlands, some forested areas, and a few sections of sidewalk. ……….However, there are numerous access points to the greenway, and it can be conveniently divided into three parts; distances given for each section are round-trip. Note that some street crossings and trail sections, e.g. in Leverich Park, are a little sketchy for wheelchairs.”
Map  Here is the website for the Trail.

City of Seattle
The application “Seattle Trails” shows you where all the official trails in Seattle are. It is a collaboration between Seattle Parks & Recreation Department, Seattle Trails Alliance and volunteer software developers.  Here is a link to a page from which you can download the app.
Here is the website for Seattle Parks.   206-684-4075

Carkeek Park
“This popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Explore the secrets of this northwest Seattle watershed, nine miles from downtown. Here, 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach are formed by the magic of water and time. ”
Here is Carkeek’s website.    Trail Map  Phone 206-684-0877   Washington Trails Association  Yelp
Salmon to Sound Trail, 0.3 mile “The trail gradually ascends along Mohlendorph Creek on a nice gravel path to a salmon restoration area. The trail continues beyond, and becomes narrower and less traveled. The trail ends at Venema Creek.” From HikingProject.
Piper’s Creek Trail from Lower Meadow to Piper’s Orchard “The trail is an easy, gently graded gravel or paved trail, starting at a playground.” From Hiking Project.  “Piper’s Creek and North Traverse Trail Loop is a 2.1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail…good for all skill levels” From AllTrails.
South Ridge, Hillside, Brick Road and Piper’s Creek Trail is a 1.1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail …good for all skill levels.” From AllTrails.
? Wetland Trail  0.2 miles  The Wetland Trail is hard packed gravel with a section of wide boardwalk with railings.

Kubota Garden
Hidden in South Seattle, Kubota Garden in south Seattle is a “…stunning 20 acre landscape that blends Japanese garden concepts with native Northwest plants. …. The Gardens are a spectacular setting of hills and valleys, interlaced with streams, waterfalls, ponds, bridges, and rock out-croppings with a rich array of plant material”
Not all the trails at the Garden are accessible, but you can make your way around this beautiful place without being completely stopped by obstacles.  Here is their website.   Phone 206-684-4075  Map and Self-Guided tour

Here are AllTrails’ Best Wheelchair Friendly Trails Near Seattle

Researching trails in Seattle is proving more difficult than I would have expected.  Here is an interesting article from the Seattle Times describing one man’s favorite parks with trails.

Tacoma
Tacoma Nature Center
“The Tacoma Nature Center is a 71-acre nature preserve encompassing Snake Lake and the surrounding wetlands and forest….More than two miles of soft-surfaced walking trails wander through the wetlands and forest areas.”
Here is the website for the Center.  Phone 253-591-6439  Accessibility Information  Trail Map
First Bridge Loop Trail 0.5 mile

Bellevue

Bellevue Botanic Garden
The Gardens and paths are beautifully designed to give a feel for the natural ecology of the area. There are accessible restrooms at the visitor center. Many of the gravel/mulch trails are hilly so severely limited people may wish to remain on the upper parts, near the parking lot, although power wheelchairs should be able to negotiate most of the trails which are hard-packed fine gravel and ADA compliant.  Call them for details: 425.452.2750.  Here is the Gardens’ website.
Trail & Accessibility Guide

The accessible mile long part of the Lake to Lake Trail that is in the Lake Hills Greenbelt in Bellevue takes you through a wetland, a blueberry farm and into cedar woods.  You can park at the Ranger Station GPS N47° 365.800′  W122° 08.057′ or at the fruit stand GPS N47° 36.199′  W122° o8.554′.