This report is the next in my Suburban Safari© series. Pioneer Park is a densely forested 113 acre tract located in the south part of Mercer Island. The park is broken up into three pieces by roads, which detracts from the area's ambiance somewhat. An 8 mile maze of hiking trails winds through the forests of the park. Some of the firs there are quite large, possibly old growth.

I started my Suburban Safari by parking at the southwest corner of the west tract, then following hiking trails along the perimeter of the park to make a loop of about 3 miles. The nicest part of the park was the northeast quadrant, which overlooks a deep ravine. There I followed a loop of trail (the Ravine Trail) which dipped into the ravine, where there are wetlands and creeks. Except for the occasional mud patch, all trails were in good shape and free of blowdown.

Small but pleasant Pioneer Park is good for about one or two hours of hiking. If you need more fun on Mercer Island, try visiting Luther Burbank Park on the north shore of the island.