My Dears,
We tried a new little hike today in the Paradise Valley Conservation Area outside of Woodinville. From our house in North Seattle (zip code 98125) it was a 30 minute drive. Not bad.
It must be Spring; the trillium are blooming.
The key to keeping Ben moving? Snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
According to the Snohomish County website, this 793 acre park is home to the headwaters of the Bear Creek Watershed and is primarily composed of forests and wetland areas. It is also home to one of the most productive salmon streams in the Sammamish River System. The park is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.
Thanks to our 72 degree weather, this park was hopping. We got the last spot in the lot. Unlike Lord Hill Regional Park, this space was primarily dominated by mountain bikers, which made us a little leery, given the unpredictable nature of the smallest member of our group.
There are trails that are hiker/horseback rider only, although you have to walk for a bit on the main trail before reaching the specific-use trails.
Next time we might try to park at the southern end as it affords closer access to those non-biker trails. We’ll keep you posted. It’s definitely worth checking out. We’ll be back.
Sonja
If You Go: Paradise Valley Conservation Area:
23210 Paradise Lake Road
Woodinville, WA 98072
