We arrived at the trailhead, just off Paradise Lk Rd, at 11 AM on Sunday. It was a cloudy, drizzly Father's Day morning and there was plenty of parking available (no permit required) in the large lot.
Despite all the cars we saw in the lot, we didn't run into too many folks on our hike. We came across several biker groups who were courteous and took it slow on this mixed-use trail, which I appreciated.
At first I didn't want to wander too far off the Mainline Trail because I forgot to download the trail map. I soon realized the trail was well maintained and well marked, with sign posts at every split off we came across. There are also info plaques throughout the area. We took a detour to The Clearing and strolled through the foot-only Whispering Firs trail. There was a log we had to climb over (our dog was able to duck under it) along the Whispering Firs trail. Even though there were light rain showers, we were mostly protected under the trees. I didn't have any difficulty hopping over the few mud puddles in my sneakers. It was peaceful hearing water dripping from leaf to leaf while staying dry.
I'll definitely be back to explore more of the side trails off the Mainline Trail when we have more time. This was a great weekend hike for our furbaby who is just beginning to learn trail manners. A great thing about this area is its proximity to the local breweries which are typically dog and kid-friendly, such as Triplehorn and Dirty Bucket, so you can make a whole day out of this trip.
Comments