Sequalitchew Creek — Friday, May. 6, 2011

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

After doing a loop thru Dupont last year, & after talking w/ a workmate that just went down there decided to do the stretch of trail along Sequalitchew Creek. I wasn't able to find it at first but found it in a roundabout way. How you get to the trailhead is take Center Drive exit off I5 and follow Center Drive thru 2 or 3 lights until you get to the Civic Center. Park in the parking lot closest to City Hall (the N end). The trail begins behind (W of) City Hall. There are signs pointing the way. The trail goes to the left of a locked gate, plenty of room to get thru. The first part is gravel, then paved for a short while, then gravel again. The trail follows the creek and after a mile or so comes to a tunnel going under the railroad tracks. After coming out the other side of the tunnel you are just a short walk away from the beach. I went beach-combing only to the south. There is a sandbar a little ways to the south but at a higher tide level required getting past a stretch of big rocks which I had to climb over. The rest of the way was nice gravelly beach, even at a higher tide (tide was going out by the time of my visit). I saw a very large bald eagle on a post on the sandbar. There is also what appeared to be a big rock just beyond the sandbar. But when I zoomed in with my camera it appeared to possibly be an old hulk of a sailing vessel? I didn't see anybody else on the beach and almost nobody else on the trail. Weather ok - rain held off for the most part but a slight drizzle toward the end. Nice section of rugged coastline - check it out if you're in the area.