Went back for the second weekend in a row, to a different part of the park.
Road: paved residential roads.
Parking lot: I entered from the south, on NE 205th St. At 8 AM there were 2 cars, with room for 3-4 more. No bathroom. I exited on 107th Drive SE; no parking spots, just a residential dead end, but a clearly labeled park entrance.
Route: Mainline, Two Trees, Ephemeral, Mainline again, Cedar Run, Southern Traverse.
Trail condition: In spite of all the rain and thanks to all the fallen leaves, there was actually relatively little mud. The puddles were surprisingly small and far between, never covering the whole trail. No big blowdowns, just occasional branches/limbs easy to move aside. Tree cover varied, with so many leaves gone, but the evergreen sections did provide on-and-off protection from the drizzle.
Long-distance views: none to speak of, but I enjoyed the trees, leaves, mushrooms, and moss close at hand.
Navigation: detailed signage (see photo) consistently present at intersections. There are many linked trails, though, so a map with trail names is still helpful. Also, maybe to maximize mileage within a small park, trails squiggle every which way, so it can be hard to maintain your sense of direction. Some trails are bikes-only and/or one way, so you may need to adjust your route accordingly. Cedar Run (see photo) was a one-way trail for hikers and bikers – I’d be nervous on a nicer day, but with all the rain I figured nobody would be out there to run me over.
People: I was right about that – I didn’t see anyone the entire time I was inside the park!
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