On Saturday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m., we’ll walk at Saltwater State Park. The address is 25205 8th Pl S in Des Moines.
This is a beautiful, wooded forest trail, amidst tall trees, a small creek when it’s been rainy, a couple little bridges and birds chirping. The forest trail is right next to the beach, so you can have both forest and sea on the same day.
We’ll meet in the lower parking lot near the restrooms a few minutes before 11:00 am. (Come down the road from the entry gate, and turn left at the bottom, into the parking lot.)
You’ll need to have a Discover Pass for your car to park in the lot. If you don’t have one, you may be able to check out a Discover Pass at the Des Moines library, or most King County libraries, with your library card (if they have any available).
The main trail is an approximately 1.49 mile up and down loop through the forest. There is a fairly steep portion with some steps at the beginning of the walk. The trail is a very well maintained, mostly single file dirt and gravel path with some tree roots and rocks to watch out for. Hiking or sturdy walking or trail shoes work best for this trail and walking sticks can also be useful. If we walk the beach loop path afterwards, our total mileage will be about 2 miles.
We’ll have two walking options available. The first one is the main loop trail described above. For those people who would prefer something that is paved the whole way, the second walk option will wind through the parking lot and the campground up to the midpoint of the forest trail. This walk is slightly uphill but doesn’t have the ups and downs of the forest trail. When walkers reach the midpoint of the forest trail, they will have the option to walk back the way they came or walk on the second half of the forest trail to go back to the parking lot.
Walkers of all levels are welcome. There will be plenty of room to spread out and walk at your own pace. Well-behaved four-legged friends are also welcome.
If you have any questions or need help finding us the day of the walk, please text or call Anna Martin at (206) 501-5726.
