Union Bay Natural Area, Washington Park Arboretum & Foster and Marsh Island Loop — Sunday, Mar. 24, 2024

Quick walk Sunday morning through the Union Bay Natural Area, Foster/Marsh island and Washington Park Arboretum trails Sunday morning.  We did a messy loop starting at the Center for Urban horticulture, down along the shore to the arboretum, across the aqueduct stone bridge then back up and around along Montlake and Rainier Vista to check out the cherry blossoms at the UW quad.  Total distance was a shy 7 miles with very limited vertical.  Parking at the Center for Urban horticulture is free though limited.  There are restrooms at the arboretum and UW had some sanicans out for all the folks coming to see the cherry blossoms.  The Foster/Marsh island trails are getting squishy/flooded again as the lake level starts to rise to its higher “summer” level but is still passable without rubber boots currently.

Lots of wildlife out today - multiple heron, a couple of juvenile bald eagles, all sorts of various ducks, a bunch of red winged black birds, etc.  The cherries in the UW quad are just about peak, but the flowers at the arboretum are just starting, just a few things blooming currently.  A bunch of folks out today, but that’s part of what makes this time of year special - share it with 10,000 of your neighbors.  A super beautiful, albeit busy morning walk.