We decided to visit the Mid Fork to see how the fall color was coming along. The Big Leaf Maples are unusually bright yellow this year in Issaquah and Northbend. Unfortunately they are way past prime in most of the Middle Fork valley.
Ms Maddy has a torn CCL knee ligament but she was able to happily hop along 3 legs for the very easy Oxbow Loop. (She is scheduled for knee surgery in November). The forest here is mature and beautiful with big maple and spruce. There are also some humungous Doug Fir and Cedar stumps along the way.
Next stop was the just opened, brand new Garfield Ledges trail. Ms Maddy sat this one out. Joe O from Mountain to Sound Greenway and his weekend crews did an amazing job building this trail from nothing over the past 3 years. Having walked this route for years with out much of a trail, I have a great appreciation for how much work it took to carve this trail out of a very rugged landscape. I kicked away a bunch of loose rocks along the way to show my appreciation. The view was great in spite of the rain.
Each of the trails was 1.9 mi
Comments
Where's the best place to park for the ledges trail?
Posted by:
Hikeswith3 on Oct 17, 2019 07:42 PM
Where's the best place to park for the ledges trail?
Posted by:
Hikeswith3 on Oct 17, 2019 07:42 PM
At the end of paved road, cross the Taylor river bridge and there is a large parking area with bathroom. You can also park at the big Gateway bridge trailhead and walk on a path then a short road walk. That adds about 1/2 mi.
Posted by:
Maddy on Oct 17, 2019 09:18 PM
Is the trail "open"?
Nice fall colors this year!
Posted by:
goingdowngametrails on Oct 21, 2019 03:04 PM
The wta.org website doesn't provide driving directions. Does the trail connect from Oxbow Lake to Garfield Ledges, or do we have to drive to a new trailhead?
Posted by:
hikingGranNan on Oct 27, 2019 01:54 PM
The trails are completely separate and cannot be connected. Ledges trail is just across the Taylor river bridge
Posted by:
Maddy on Oct 27, 2019 06:52 PM