Today I wanted to visit the Duwamish Hill Preserve in Tukwila.  I've been several times before, but thought I should make a longer hike out of it.  Started from the Cecil Moses Park and followed the Green River Trail to where it passes under the light rail line.  From there it was a simple matter of crossing the river on the E. Marginal Way bridge.  This brought me to the Duwamish Garden Park and then the Duwamish Hill Preserve.  There was a great article in the Seattle Times Pacific NW Magazine on Sunday that describes some of the history of this area (linked below).

The Green River Trail is a paved walk/bike path that follows the Duwamish thru Tukwila and then continues beside the Green River all the way to Kent.  I only went a little under a mile before shifting onto E Marginal Way.  Along the way there is a mural, where the trail passes under Pacific Highway S., that was painted in 2021.  For a few years the mural celebrated various communities' relationships to the rivers.  Unfortunately, it has now been tagged in several places.  More importantly, though, work to improve the river shoreline for migrating salmon and waterfowl can be seen as you walk along. I have included a picture of the map of the river in this area.

The Duwamish Garden Park is a small park that is a good example of that work.  There are several short trails down to the river's edge.  Of course, it's still winter, but in a few months the shrubs along the trails will be in bloom.  For now, there was just the start of some mahonia buds starting.  

The Duwamish Hill Preserve has two parts. There is the hill itself, where native people would keep watch for visitors (or invading war parties) coming up the river, and then there is a Cultural Garden section on the level.  Currently everything in the garden's mounds is fallow, but when spring arrives there will be native plants, along with interpretive signs.  The garden also features a large circular artwork depicting the seasons and associated harvests.  

The hill climb starts out gentle but then gets a bit steeper with stair steps up to the top (I counted 85 steps).  There are many madronas along the way and lots of nice, green moss.  I am a sucker for moss, ferns and madronas, so I included several pictures of them.  There was not much of a view today because it was raining when I was there.  Still a nice place to visit.

Totals, including the Green River Trail and wandering through gardens and up the hill, were 4.4 miles and 160 feet of gain.  

My initial plan was to start at Foster Park, but all of its parking is completely shut down. Started at what is marked as “Green River Trailhead” next to Riverview Park in Kent instead. The parking lot fits about 10 cars and honestly doesn’t promise your car will remain safe. I’d probably not park there again even though nothing bad happened - there’s a plenty of access points along the trail.

The trail heading northwest is somewhat disturbing in the beginning, with tons of trash and overall unsafe feeling, but gets fine soon as it starts wrapping around the apartment complex. For the rest of it, the trail is a flat paved path, almost always comfortably wide for all types of users, providing occasional views of the river from bridges and gaps in thick blackberry bushes. On the city side, it’s a mix of apartments and golf courses. Going back (southeast), Mt. Rainier makes its appearance a few times.

About 8 mi round trip from Riverview Park to Russell Woods Park in slightly over 2 hrs. 

Early 28Feb2024 morning, after reading the weather forecast, some probablity of wet a morning, i decided for a close to home "urban walk" at Kent WA.

~07:00 i arrived at the Kent/James St Park & Ride; it was near empty, only total ~15 vehicles in the large Parking Lot. However, upon noticing there were some "vehicle-campers" and some trash/litter in the area .. i felt "uneasy" about the location. As such, i went to the (probably, "safer"??) parking at Kent Station Malls, where i then parked.

Btw, please be aware of the posted signs at Kent Station Mall parking: "Parking is for Customers while shopping at Kent Station Only. All violations will be impounded at owner's expense .. "

~07:30, i went Out via the city roads, or streets - walking on the reasonably good Pedestrian Sidewalks. CCW Loop : Parking > Green River Trail > Parking.

Light traffic on the roads. And i noticed a total of ~3 people walking the roads/streets, but no other people when i was on the ~1.5 miles of the Green River Trail. Some muddy stretches on the GRT "dirt trail", but good condition on the "paved" section. Sadly, sightings of litter and trash along the wayside .. 🥲

Anyway, i had good time .. sweet solitude 😊

Cheers!

12dec2023 MON ~07:15 i arrived at the small pullout-parking beside Cecil Moses Memorial Park. i noticed there were 2 "car-campers" nearby. When i got back ~08:35, i noticed that these "car-campers" had left. And a King County Park Maintenance Crew-cab parked beside mine. Also, the Maintenance Person was busy cleaning up the litter .. thank you Maintenance Person 👍

Cloudy, low_40s_F .. i went on a CCW-Loop: (P) > Duwamish Hill Preserve > (P) ( on the Green River Trail, and city roads/streets } Distance ~3.3 mi ~1:20

Encountered a cyclist on the Green River Trail. Saw no other person when i was in Duwamish Hill Preserve. NIce and relatively solitude walk. The "story-boards" were very interesting .. e.g. "40 million years ago - before Mount Rainier - tropical climate - ancient marine life left its mark .. " A good place for some self-reflection ..😊

Traffic were light - moderate; and walking on the sidewalks kept me safe 😅

Please note:
- the Restroom at Cecil Moses Memorial Park were Locked (when i was there at ~08:30)

Happy Trails Everyone 😄

Another wet day today, 07dec2023 THU. And off i went for a walk of another section of the Green River Trail, at/around Allentown WA, "looping" Duwamish River.

~07:45 i arrived at the Codiga Park, but its Gates were closed. And so i drove further until i got to park at the Tukwila Community Center Skatepark (this is beside the Tukwila Community Center, and Tukwila Senior Citizen Center). Please be aware that in "front" of these 2 Centers, ts a big parking area with a signs posted that it is "Private .. and Tow Away".

Light drizzle and cool high_40s_F during my ~2 hr of walk, ~4.5 miles (add~0.5 mi for my doubling-back to find and retrieve my Trekking Pole which i had accidentally dropped). It was nearing the end of my walk that i encountered 1x Cyclist and 1x Walker and her dog. Everyone's friendly and courteous. Light traffic on the secondary roads and i got to safely walked on on paved sidewalks.

Relatively peaceful and quiet walk 👍

Happy Trails Everyone 😊