Walked a messy lollipop loop over Marshall Hill and along DeLeo Wall and back from the Red Town trailhead late Saturday morning after getting chores done. Parking is free at this lot and while it can be busy there were many open spots both when we arrived around 10 and left after 12. Restroom facilities include a pair of well used sanicans. Our route was out Wildside, over Marshall Hill, made a side trip out along the relatively newly signed “cross town” and “view point” trails, east along DeLeo Wall trail then back around on Wildside trail again. Total mileage ended up at about 4.5 with an easy gross vertical of less than 700’.
All trails are dry and in good shape with the exception of the side trips along Crosstown and Viewpoint, both of which are very skinny, steep and right next the big drop offs along the wall - would not recommend them for kids, (and they honestly didn’t seem to lead to any additional views.) The main viewpoint off DeLeo is still open but the “secret” view point just west where you could see Rainier is now completely grown over. Not much wildlife out but there is some fall color still in the Big Leaf and Vine Maples. The area has some huge groves of mature Big Leaf maple that are really neat to walk through even with no leaves on them. Don’t forget to stop and look at the interesting old mining sites along the way as well. A beautiful morning.
Link to info about the mining history of the area - https://eastsideheritagecenter.org/news/tag/Ford+Slope
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