Brightwater Center — Sunday, May. 22, 2016

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

Another WTA member suggested the Brightwater Center trails last week after I was complaining about one thing or another at work. What do I want to go walk around a water treatment plant for? Well - it's a lot nicer than I thought it would be. I walked all the trails Sunday morning in the sunshine for a total of a little over 3 miles with a few double backs and random wanderings. Parking is on the north side of the park next to the nice Brightwater Center and it is plentiful. There were a few folks out walking but the grounds were largely deserted. There are roughly two main loops - north and south, but each has several separate areas and side trails to other interesting things to see. The North loop has several ponds and wetland areas, a side trail up to the BNSF rail line heading north to Snohomish, (stay off the tracks,) meadows, forest areas, a covered "field house" and the fanciest solar powered outhouse I have ever seen. The south side has more open meadows, wildflowers, Howell Creek and views off a large open hill. The Brightwater Center was not open but many of the art pieces are outside so you can still see them. Quite a few various birds out, many red winged black birds, chickadees, sparrows, some sort of large raptor circling high above, etc. It is still a treatment plant, and there is some traffic noise from Hwy 9 and Hwy 522, but a nice place to get out and stretch your legs.

More Information on this Trip Report

• http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/brightwater-center.aspx