Kayu Kayu Ac Park, Carkeek Park & Edmonds Marine Walkway — Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022

Today I walked the beach from Edmonds to Carkeek Park.

Caught the Metro E Line next to Green Lake (65th and Aurora), took it up to 185th.  Got a sandwich at Fred Meyer, walked Richmond Beach Drive down to Richmond Beach.  Ended up walking through Woodway, all the way to Edmonds, when my trail to the beach didn't exist (more on that later).  When I do this again I will transfer to the bus to Edmonds at Aurora Village.

Started south from Edmonds Marina Beach, past the off-leash dog area.  If you time it right you can stay on the sand all the way to Point Wells.  I didn't, had to walk next to the tracks some.  Only one train came through while I was in this area, so I ducked between the boulders next to the water.  I could hear and see it from a way off.

Soon I was to what Google calls "Beach north of Point Wells".  The map shows a trail from Woodhaven Place off Woodway Park Road to here, but I looked there and found nothing.  Beach is nice, long, has a small creek running through, excellent views, and very private. 

More rocks before Point Wells, I climbed up to the fence and found a little path to beach beyond.  "Private Property" signs indicate you are allowed to be outside the fence.  It doesn't look like this facility has been used in years.

Beach leads under the many docks, and around to Richmond Beach.  Rocks again forced me up to the road briefly, then beyond Kayu Kayu Ac Park, back to the beach.  It started out well, but the tide was still not out far enough to get through, so I had to backtrack.

Ended up having to climb up to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, then back down to the water.  I walked back to where I had to turn around, water was now out enough to get through, less than an hour later.  If no, you can go on the tracks again for a second to avoid the climb.

Turned back south, smooth sailing all the way to Carkeek Park.  I would have continued to Golden Gardens but I wanted to get Dick's on Holman.  Then home.

Total beach walk would probably take 2.5 - 3 hours (8 miles) if you timed the tide right and didn't have to detour.  I just found a website "Seattle Metro Bus Hikes" that describes this in more detail, Edmonds to Richmond Beach, and Richmond Beach to Carkeek Park.  They estimate the distance to be 10 miles but I don't think it's that far based on how long it takes.  I just Mapquested driving between Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Edmonds City Park (appears about the same distance) and it said 2.9 miles - they estimate this to be 4 miles.

It would be neat to take the Sounder train from Seattle to Edmonds to start - for me that would require a bus from Ballard to Downtown.  But since 2 buses are needed anyway, and the train goes along the beach the whole time, and about the same amount of time if you do it right, plus the fun factor.  If you're 65+ the Sounder is only a dollar!