Using transit, it is easy to create a loop trip or shorter segment. From a central point at Everett Transit Center, the Everett Transit #6 bus goes to the west side on West Marine View Dr, as far north as Waterfront Place (more on this below), and on the east side bus #4 goes to near Riverside Park (stop on Walnut and 25th St), and as north on Walnut and East Marine View Drive as far north as Broadway.

My recommendation is to start Riverside Park and walk to Waterfront Place (about five miles), or for a shorter excursion, catch a bus back before Broadway. The east side of the "U" has better views of nature and physical history.

The City of Everett has the zero mile post for the Mill Town Trail (MTT) at Pigeon Beach. The MTT initially follows the Pigeon Creek Trail and Terminal Ave, before heading north on West Marine View Drive (a highway). To legally get from the WTA Mill Town Trail trailhead pin to Pigeon Beach is over a mile walk 'in the wrong direction". To access the MTT more directly It is better to use the WTA pin for the Pigeon Creek trailhead. If you are using transit, I would head directly for some point on West Marine View Dr and walk north.

The dominate view along the Pigeon Creek Trail is fence lines, buildings, the sides of shipping containers and asphault. For the mile of Terminal Ave and West Marine View to Naval Station Everett, the scenery is mostly concrete, cars, and the sides of buildings, with a few peek-a-boo views of the Olympic Mountains. North of Naval Station, the land has still been scrapped of its Mill Town history, but the esplanade and perimeter trail around Waterfront Place development, offers a more diverse visual experience -- some man-made and some natural, and there are interesting interpretive signs on the history. There are nice public restrooms on 10th St, at the boat launch. Bus #6 make a few stops in along Waterfront Place so walks can be started or ended here. From here north is were the is the best viewing of waterfowl, birds and sea life.

The hiking grandmas were taking a close in morning walk today to avoid the last minute traffic rush and so we could also get things done. The arboretum was beautiful even in winter, and there were a few decorations up, but the lights were not on. If you go at night be aware the lights turn off at 8. The loo at Legion Park is closed, but there is a portapotty, not in good shape. After we walked thru the arboretum, we walked along Alverson to Grand, admiring all the stately old houses then took the walkway down to the waterfront at Grand Ave Park. There is a lot of new building going on along the waterfront, hotels, condos and more restaurants. There is a nice restroom next to Scuttlebutts for a better pit stop. We wandered down to the water and walked along some of the Mill Town trail, then went back and had coffee at the Muse. It was such a nice day we sat on a dry bench down by the water with a view of Jeddy Island and the Olys. Go out the back door of the Muse and look for the blue chairs and benches at the end of the path. Nice urban walk for short days and a busy season!

Quick walk Sunday morning along the eastern portion of the Milltown Trail in the somewhat dreary weather.  We parked at the big boat launch lot - 2 hr free for visitors w/o boats.  Full restrooms were open and in good condition though busy with all the folks putting fishing boats in the water there.  The route was a basic out to Viola Ousler viewpoint park and back the way we came with mileage at about 6 total. This portion of the trail is entirely just slightly wider sidewalk along the E Marine View Dr arterial with no separation.  There are several sections where the surface is torn up a bit for various reasons which likely would cause a problem for folks in wheel/power chairs.  There is a nice little side excursion along the Baywood Nature trail that runs around one of the newer commercial developments just east of the old Cadman Materials site but appears not to be signed so just look for the newish looking little gravel trail that heads out towards the water.  

Not much wildlife out but did see some osprey, a couple heron and what I believe was a single juvenile bald eagle way off in the distance.  There are some nice mudflat/water views earlier but the farther east you go the more industrial it is and the fewer views there are.  You can see the huge “Delta” railroad yard off Riverside Rd if you are into such things.  I wouldn’t say this is a visually pretty or relaxing portion of the trail, but it is interesting with all the history and industrial operations going on.  

This is a beautiful trail. The path is mostly wide and smooth which is great for wheels. Views are gorgeous, and it is easy to turn off at Boxcar Park to watch the seals or view the protected blue heron nesting site Feb-Sept near the front of the boat ramp parking lot. The Port offers new eateries and beautiful landscaping. Another fun stop is the Bayside P-Patch. I look forward to exploring the Riverside portion next. 

Quick walk along the Milltown Trail in the gloomy sprinkles Sunday morning. There is free 2hr parking in the visitors section of the big boat launch lot and the full restrooms were open, in good condition and even heated.  Our route was a pretty basic walk down to the new pedestrian bridge, up the bluff for some views and continuing south along Grand Ave until crossing back over at 25th St and returning back up along the water through the marinas.  Total mileage was about 4.5 with the only vertical being the stairs up to the new pedestrian bridge.  This entire stretch remains paved mixed use/sidewalk and signage is a bit sparse.  

I’d wanted to check the status of the big heron rookery next to the boat launch but there were only a few cold and lonely looking birds there so far.  I talked to a couple birders there who mentioned it might be from all the recent poor weather plus apparently the local bald eagle pair up the bluff has been “borrowing” sticks from the heron nests to build their own which probably isn’t helping either.  A fair bit of other wildlife out, various ducks, the said bald eagle pair, seal, all the sealions off in the distance laying out on the navy pier barking away, etc.  Lots of industry to see as well, trains, tugs, a ferry in the Everett Shipyard dry dock and just a single ship at the Navy pier, (you know “stuff” is happening in the world when only one ship is in port…)  A nice, easy walk with lots to see even in dreary weather.

Link to additional historical information along the trail - https://historiceverett.org/walkingtour/MillTownTrail.html