Denny Creek

Denny Creek is a gem outside the Emerald City! The trail starts out in an *old-growth wonderland, with towering Redcedars and Western Hemlocks. Upon entering the trail we were greeted by the cheerful Pacific Wren and the elusive song of the Varied Thrush. The ground flora is still in spring form with Vanilla Leaf, Western Trillium, Queens Cup, False Solomon's Seal and False Lily of the Valley. *The trail is in good condition here, soft with a few muddy areas to note. Past the freeway overpass there are a few patches of snow to cross over.

Upon reaching the Denny Creek waterslide in 1.3 miles there is a *fairly stable dam of river-wood that allows for crossing. After crossing, the trail wanders through a fine stand of dominant Silver Fir, young and old. (Look closely among the decaying wood alongside the trail and you may find the spongy fungus- Witches Butter!)

At the forest edge the trail becomes rocky as it starts to make its way through the avalanche zone. Notice the change in flora here- the first wildflowers of the season pop up under the small, vibrant green canopy of the Sitka Alder and Vine Maple. Like a fine wine, the Western Trillium gets its beauty with age; here you can find them in various shades of purple with hints of fading white. Neighboring the trilliums are Pacific Bleeding Heart, Glacier Lilies, and Pink Mountain Heather to name a few. Take a seat next to the massive Silver Fir, clinging onto the mountainside below you, as you enjoy the awesome power and beauty of Keekwulee Falls across the valley. (Watch your snacks! The Yellow Pine Chipmunks here are cute but bold!)

Continue past the falls and you will arrive at a massive fallen Silver Fir laying over the trail. (You can explore this fallen giant to see the lush biodiversity of lichens and mosses of the upper canopy!) This marks the start of the switchbacks, and the Mountain Hemlocks!, that leads to Hemlock Pass. Higher elevation comes with more snow- so at the top of the pass gators might be a nice comfort in order to cross through the snowfields that stand before Melaka Lake.