Tag: urban hikes

A Weekend Hike: Mukilteo’s Japanese Gulch

Carl Setzer1 Comment

Yesterday we on a hike went with some friends at Mukilteo’s Japanese Gulch. We were looking for a a little less intense hike than the ones we’ve done this summer so far with a shorter drive. Just a few minutes from my place, with smooth trails, it fit the bill. 

Gaining its name from the workers who lived there in the early 1900s, Japanese Gulch’s 147 acres of land features a dog park, access to the Sound, and a community garden. After an attempt to develop the land as an industrial park in 2007, the community rose up and encouraged the City to acquire the land to preserve it. With many trails for all kinds of users (mountain bikers, hikers, dog walkers and families), it’s a fantastic asset to the community. 

We opted to walk the full length of the park, from the 76th Street trail-head all the way down to the Sound. Along the water I was able to check out the progress on the new ferry terminal. Coming along nicely, I look forward to seeing the final product in the fall of next year. 

Back in 2016, the City approved the Japanese Gulch Master Plan, to update and preserve the park. I just discovered the MukMaps Interactive Trail Map, which I want to experiment with soon. If you used this, let me know in the comments. I want to hear your thoughts. 

A few additional thoughts on the trails: there a wide range of trails and types. They vary in steepness and width. So most folks will find something of interest. Also, right now the trail is dry. However, come the fall rains, the trail gets wet, muddy and slick. Be prepared!

Lastly, some resources:

 

 

  • Welcome to Japanese Gulch
  • Views of the community garden
  • Views of the community garden
  • Views of the community garden
  • The new waterfront is under construction
  • Existing the park and walking towards the construction area
  • The construction zone
  • Train crossing
  • Waterfront walk
  • The Beach

And so ends the weekend

Carl Setzer

They never seem long enough. So very much I wanted to do, and so very much of that left undone. A few highlights: 

  • I’ve been fighting some kind of bug the past week or so. I feel better now, but not 100%. Slept far more of today than expected. 
  • With that, today, for various reasons, I consumed way too much bad food. Felt queasy most of the evening. My bifocals didn’t help at all. Feeling better now, yet also exhausted. Yuck!
  • Yesterday I did finally replace my Samsung S5, which has been driving me batty. Got a S7. Quite happy so far, but I’m really only getting going with it. 
  • Saturday I went walking around Lynnwood. Up off of 40th between 188th and 196th, there’s a cleared play where a development of some stripe is going in. I’d passed by several times, so really wanted t take a closer look. The space they’re building out is HUGE! This will change the dynamic of that neighborhood. 
  • With that, I also explored the trails by the library and City Hall. I was delighted to find a plaque from Meadowdale (my high school) naming the trail “Mesika”. Seeing the connection filled me with pride. 
  • That makes me think of how the city has changed. It’s radically different than when I was a kid. Yet elements remain the same. I do expect Lynnwood will continue growing much more urban, for good and for ill. 
  • Anyway, I have photos and a little video. Once I feel better and more energized, I’ll pull together a vlog post. 

So, it was a satisfying enough weekend for me. Hopefully it was for you. Let me know in the comments!