Penny Creek Natural Area — Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025

This little walk is in a few miles of my house and I didn't even know about it until I got a new hiking book, you can never have too many, right? This is found in Hiking Snohomish County by Ken Wilcox. The trail is a short mile walk around the Thomas Lake wetlands area that was part of a mitigation for all the development going in around it near what once was the Buffalo Farm. There are some interpretive signs and a nice graveled trail with side trails down to the water and bridges over the wetlands. There is a lot of evidence of beaver activity including a new lodge and several cut down chewed trees. A good place for wildlife, bring your binocs, we saw lots of ducks, some little birds and a heron, we were sorry we didn't bring ours. This is more of a nature walk than an actual hike, great for wildlife photography but not a workout. The entrance is found just south of the intersection of 35th SE and  132nd on the left hand side of 35th Ave SE as you are going south, just past the Pacific Topsoils sign. No loo.