Began my hike from the Beaver Lake Preserve parking lot near Beaver Lake in Sammamish. The main loop trail through the BLP meets up with the trail to Soaring Eagle Park a short distance from the parking lot. I went left and headed west to get to the junction with the trail going into the Hazel Wolf Wetlands and pond. I saw a new sign for the HWW since the last time I had hiked the trail. There was also a sign about the beavers and their dam that was flooding the trail on the north side of the loop around the pond. After getting to the loop part of the trail on the east side of the pond, I was now on "Ann's Trail". I took the loop clockwise around the pond. Before getting to the foot bridge across the outlet creek from the pond and I passed by the beaver dam. It is a large one and I saw that a metal culvert had been installed through the dam to regulate the water flow. A brush basket was in place to keep the beavers from plugging up the pipe. After crossing the bridge, I met up with another trail coming from the southwest. I stayed on the loop trail and came by the kiosk with a map and info on the Hazel Woof Wetlands. It has a photo of Hazel at the dedication of the wetlands when Hazel was 100 years old back in 1995.

At the next junction I turned right and took the loop trail to a side trail that goes out to a viewing dock at the edge of the pond. I stopped here for a snack break. There a few ducks and geese enjoying the pond. I then continued on my hike around the pond. The low bridge over the pond is like the I-90 floating bridge over Lake Washington. The deck of the bridge is just above the water line. At both ends of the bridge the trail is very muddy and has some water over it. There are a few branches to walk on to keep your feet out of the water. Back on dry land the trail goes up and down along the east side of the pond in the forest. This part of the trail has been recently brushed and one fallen Doug Fir is cut out. You can see the beaver lodge out in the pond from this trail. Back at the junction where I started the loop trail, I took the same trails back to the parking lot.

Only saw two other hikers on my trail and only birds in the pond. To make a longer hike you can use the Beaver Lake Preserve trail down to the lake where there is a nice bench and a good view. You can also take the connector trail over to Soaring Eagle Park for an even bigger loop hike. Lucked out with the weather, as it did not rain, but was pouring as I drove home. George

Reading the weather forecast of light - moderate rain for this TUE 07feb2023 morning, i took the "opportunity" to go for a walkabout -cum- test Swee's made-with-Love Rain-Pants.

~8:00, mid-40s_F, light drizzle, i was the second to arrive the parking for Beaver Lake Preserve parking. While i was preparing to go Out, a man and his dog came walking Back to his vehicle, and they left the Preserve.

Did the Route: (P) > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > W > 7 > 5 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 9 > 12 > (P) {passing thru Beaver Lake Preserve, Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve, Steven & Rosina Kipper Preserve, the "South Trail" (of Soaring Eagle Park)}.

The Trails were well-maintained and in good condition. At (W) of Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve, ~100 ft of the trail was "underwater". Some people had helpfully placed some tree limbs to help step/hop over the water. Me together with my Trekking Poles and careful hoppings, my feet stayed dry 😊

Saw ~10+ Canada Goose in Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve. No other wildlife. All peace and quiet.

During my ~2+ hours of walkabout, i saw a woman with 3 children in Beaver Lake Preserve. And later, at Soaring Eagle Park, a pair of Trail-runners.

Only had intermittent light drizzle to "test" Swee's made-with-Love Rain Pants. And it Passed with flying colors 👍 A very enjoyable solitary walk 😀

Just a quick shout out for this local hike.  It's a bit tucked away at the back of Sammamish but the quiet well kept trails make it worth seeking out if you have an hour or so to spare.  We parked at the small lot for Beaver Lake Preserve (no fee), then made a figure 8 hike of the perimeter trail and the trail around the lake of Hazel Wolf wetlands.  The two areas are joined by a connector and there's quite a few spur trails so worth snapping a picture of the map at the kiosk or down loading one before you arrive.  The main trail for the preserve was in superb shape no mud or wet areas at all, for the wetland it was a little rougher with one area of standing water which we just sloshed through in our winter boots.

The highlight is definitely the viewing platform at the head of the wet land but you also get good mini views of the pond all the way round.  Not much in the way of wildlife, the ducks being too far out to identify.

By adding the two areas together we managed to get in about two and a half miles.  The temps were pretty chilly, but with time spent at the viewing platform it was a pleasant outing.

Note leashed dogs are welcome in the preserve but not all the trails in the wetland allow dogs.

From the fancy pullout off 248th Ave SE we strung together 3 small loops across Hazel Wolf Wetlands, Beaver Lake Preserve, and Soaring Eagle Regional Park.

Access. Paved road and parking lot.

Conditions. No obstacles, or risk of wet feet.

Flora & Fauna. Some ducks.

Crowds. Parking lots were mostly empty, encountered maybe a dozen parties on all the trails.

A wonderful wetland in the middle of sprawling exurbia! On a Sunday morning, we met very few people. Frogs were singing their autumn song.

This short walk can be combined with walks or hikes in neighboring Beaver Lake Preserve and Soaring Eagle Park.

The trailhead is marked with a rather small sign in a u-shaped, paved pull-off with 6-8 parking spots.