UW Bothell - Cascadia Community College Wetlands, North Creek Trail — Saturday, Jun. 17, 2023

Quick walk today along the southernmost section of the North Creek trail and UW Bothell wetlands area before the rain showed up.  We parked next to sports field #2 right off North Creek Parkway S with space available in the business on weekends.  All parking on the UW Bothell campus is pay only all the time and enforced.  There are two full restrooms, just north of field #2 and next to field #4, both were open and in good condition, (and no restrooms other than in school buildings on the UW Bothell campus.)  Our route was a messy up and back along North Creek up to 240th street, then back down and over to the wetland area crossing hwy 405 at Beardslee Blvd for a total of about 5 miles.  The entire route is wide, paved mixed use or fine crushed gravel.  There are several areas of steep incline to get up onto the trail at North Lake and so not really viable for wheelchair/power chair folks along that section. There is one side section along North Creek that is closed for construction, (over by the Northshore School District building) but does not require any detours for the main route.  

Lots of wildlife out today, a ton of young ducklings, wood duck, heron, spring songbirds, raven, eagle, etc.  Some of the ducklings would run right up to me, folks must be feeding them. Additionally, the meadows on the UW Bothell campus have a nice array of wildflowers in bloom currently.  Highlight of the walk was catching what I think is a long tailed weasel just chilling next to the wetlands trail.  Tubs Subs recently moved into a new location at the corner of Beardslee and Sunrise Dr in downtown Bothell  if you need a yummy post walk sammich to refuel.  A nice easy little wetland walk with lots to see.