This was my very first WTA work hike. I volunteered when I visited the WTA website page looking for places to hike in the area while I was in Seattle for a month. I saw that there were volunteer trail work hikes and that several were located close to where I was staying. I had hiked several National Park trails and local some 25 years ago when I was a young Army Officer stationed at Fort Lewis. Now retired - I felt this would be a great way to give back to a system that I enjoyed while I was younger and enjoy new trails and socialize with other like minded outdoor type people. The day started meeting the crew members and learning about the tools and getting a safety brief. There was a great mix of diverse volunteers and everyone made us fit in. Allen was the WTA crew leader and he walked along the trail and provided helpful tips for working on the trail and helped keep the teams motivated through the day. It was hard work but the most rewarding work I have done in a long time. I would recommend to anyone out there who hikes or just want to learn something new.

Hike #6 of our 52 Hike Challenge 2016. Today’s hike was quite the experience. We did only 1 mile of the 3+ miles of trails. We chose Swan Creek Park for its proximity to a soccer game we attended and after reading several good hike reviews describing it as an “urban oasis”. Most of the reviews were from people who parked at the lower trailhead and hiked the more challenging uphill Swan Creek Trail. Considering our age and fitness levels, we decided to park at the central trailhead and walk the more level upper Canyon Rim Trail. As we made our way from the lower trailhead to the central trailhead parking area we drove through a neighborhood of dilapidated houses, duplexes and four-plexes with tags and graffiti throughout. The roads themselves were barley drivable and riddled with pot-holes. We discussed calling this hike off but after seeing a couple of families with children riding bikes and walking in the park we decided to go ahead with our hike. In the parking area we encountered a car with an occupant that looked as though he had slept there overnight. Within the park and at the trailhead there were several more taggings but we kept going with heightened awareness. Once on the trail, we found ourselves too worried about safety to enjoy the wooded surroundings. The “urban oasis” really wasn’t that pretty. It was actually nothing more than a worn muddy path through tired, thin trees. At one point we heard the creek in the canyon below and I headed down a small side path to try to get a photo. We noticed the area looked slightly “littered”. I peered over the edge and took a picture. We turned to go and that is when we saw the occupant. He was wearing a camo jacket and unfortunately he was squatted in the bushes relieving his bowel even though there was a port-a-potty not far down the trail in the park. We decided enough was enough and we headed straight back to our vehicle. It is obvious now that this park had been “claimed” and if you don’t live in that neighborhood then you should not be there. Nothing in the reviews said anything accurate about the actual “urban oasis” that is Swan Creek Park. So, I can only guess that the reviewers only hiked the lower Canyon Creek Trail and never experienced the upper Canyon Rim area. We are glad we got outdoors, but I will definitely be a little choosier about urban locations in the future.

Most write ups lead you to park at 56th Street which it at the top of the canyon. It is more pleasant to park at the Pioneer Way entrance and hike up hill first while fresh. From I-5 in Tacoma, take Exit 135 to East 28th St, which will become SR 167 (River road). Veer right on Pioneer Way and continue to the trailhead on right and before Waller RD. Get a map at metroparkstacoma.org/swan-creek-park. There are posted maps at many of the intersections, but it doesn't indicate where you are on the map. We took the creek trail to the top (south end) where the Canyon Rim trail starts. We followed that trail to the community gardens where there was a shelter with table, benches and a toilet. The shelter was nice as it had been raining the whole hike. Near the shelter is a connector down to the Creek trail. From there we retraced our steps to Pioneer Way parking. The canyon is wonderful. It is full of sword ferns and salal on the ground and licorice fern on the many Large Leaf Maples. We saw a Kingfisher flying up and down the creek. Once 2 bald eagles were spotted overhead. There were salmon carcasses along the creek but the run is over and we saw no spawning ones.

On a beautifully sunny (and cold) fall day WTA volunteers set about to improve part of the trail system in this 290 acre greenspace located in East Tacoma. We spent the day widening trails and removing brush along Swan Creek Trail (which follows the creek bottom through a beautiful, wooded canyon.) Plenty of rocks and some tree roots were cleared away from the trail making for a much more comfortable walking experience. Some highlights of the day were seeing deer tracks along the creek bed, enjoying the last of the lovely fall foliage (I saw some of the largest maple leaves I've ever seen) and getting to spend the day with some really amazing, hardworking and fun volunteers. This was the second of three work parties WTA will be doing at Swan Creek so there is still a chance to get to help with trail improvements in this great natural space. Swan Creek Park is truly a hidden gem in the Tacoma area--it will be one of my new "go-tos" for a quick and relaxing afternoon getaway.

I went on this hike twice. Once on the 27th and then again a few days later. The first time was a Sunday morning before noon. I will admit it was a bit creepy because there were literally no other people around. It was nice looking at the community garden and everything but overall wasn't that impressed. I was unwillingly to follow the trail down to the creek because I had freaked myself out watching too many scary movies in my lifetime. The second time my friend went with me and my dog. This time we entered from the 56th street entrance. HINT go all the way to the end of the road to start. You can start at the same entrance as the bikers but I wouldn't recommend it. We got so turned around and ended up walking along the dirt bike roads for over 20minutes before we found the walking path again. By the time we found the path down to the creek we were tired and over intimidated by the steep climb down (or more correctly the ultimate return up the steep climb). In the end it was an enjoyable walk considering its border by roads you barely hear them within the park. Also, as an FYI, the paths are a bit overgrown. NOTE: to enter the park I recommend going to the 56th street entrance (just follow 56th to the end). There is more parking better access to the trail head. It's also marked clearer. If you go to the entrance given by metro parks it will take you to a residential neighborhood where you will have to park in front of someone's house and then walk farther to access the trail to the creek