Swan Creek Park — Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

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.