Today, I enjoyed a few hours wandering around Beaver Lake Preserve, a hidden gem of a park tucked away in the backwoods of the city of Sammamish. Within the park and the adjoining Hazel Wolf Wetlands is a network of trails covering perhaps three miles. Wetlands, bogs, and cedar groves are the understated highlights of this park. If you want more hiking, a path connects the preserve to King County's Soaring Eagle Park and its extensive (10 mile) tangle of trails. Soaring Eagle's rolling forested plateau is pretty much free of any exciting scenery, but the carpet of colorful maple leaves covering the trails currently livens things up a bit. It's uncrowded and quiet there, too.