Duwamish Trail — Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

Inspired by reading BJ Cummings’ “The River That Made Seattle”, we headed to the Duwamish in search of adventure. Our track did not follow the DRT as identified on the WTA. Rather we searched out bits and pieces of wild lands further up river.

We hit three spots. The first was a shoreline area that has been recently excavated and rehabilitated. From what I’ve read there was extensive contamination of this stretch of shoreline. This area now, just south of South Park Marina, has an urban-riparian zone feel. The tide was out during our visit exposing a lot of mud and cement steps laid to bolster the bank. A small pier and walkways provide good wildlife viewing. We walked city streets to a second viewing platform. The interface here of hardcore industrial and nature is raw.

A mile further south we parked at a pullout on the access road. The Hamm Estuary drains into the Duwamish here. During the late 20th century a man named John Beal took it upon himself to resuscitate this creek. Long since buried in brambles and garbage, John found purpose helping to breathe life into this once fertile salmon stream. Today we walked the lower, estuary end of the creek laying north and east of SR99. Parts of Hamm Creek are exposed and parts run through culverts. There are lazy corners with migrating ducks and a few old stumps. A few families were training their dogs. Access to the River bank and the confluence with the Duwamish was muddy but easy. Not bad for an industrial river. Maybe someday I’ll explore the Hamm Natural Area on the south side of 99.

Further south we walked around Salmon Cove Park . This muddy stretch is directly along the road way and not very pleasant. Water access is possible with the right boots. The first natural bend of the river (which wasn’t straightened in the early 20th century) bends off east. A wide gravel trail loops for a mile or so around this bend. The River side is well planted, fenced, and maintained. The inside of this bend houses an enormous Amazon complex.

Waterfowl, flowers, history, and some rejuvenation. Not a bad afternoon. And a good read to boot.