Hiked this as a sunset hike starting at the upper trailhead off 156th and heading down to the beach for sunset.  After the short, but steep, descent into the valley, a new fork in the trail presented itself - Bill's Trail.  We decided to give it a try.

It climbs steeply up the mountain to the north of Shinglemill Creek adding 1.2 miles to the hike and doubling the elevation.  A good little climb.

The beach and sunset was fantastic and we donned our headlamps or grabbed our flashlights for the return steep climb up the regular Shinglemill Trail.

The loop is a nice add!

I took a trip to Vashon Island to visit a friend, so of course we had to hike also! We parked at the lot described on WTA off SW 156th Street. There were six cars there but still room to park. This was a pleasant and shaded hike through a forest, but what goes down must go up! The last part of the trail going back has some steps and elevation. The hike wasn't crowded at all, but yikes! It was muggy there!

While I won't say it's the most challenging or visually appealing short hike I've ever been on, Shinglemill Creek Preserve Trail was a pleasant distraction on a sunny day. The trail was completely shaded, well-marked and easy to follow, albeit with a few muddy spots to skip over. The uphill climb during the last quarter-of-a-mile or so left me wishing I were in much better shape. Lots of ferns and old-growth trees, wildflowers lining the path, and birds singing in the trees. Nice extension oit to Fern Cove which puts you right on the water. The trail wasn't very busy, which I was grateful for, but as a solo hiker, I felt completely safe. I would certainly do this hike again.