Japanese Gulch — Monday, Jan. 2, 2023

After so much cold weather, we took advantage of a sunny afternoon for our first hike of the new year! We parked at the Tails and Trails Dog Park and started at the trailhead there, taking the mainline to the north loop (linking a map below). Especially on the mainline trail, there are some steep spots. We also came across a small section of washed out trail and found one of the larger bridges broken. It was a pretty muddy day, so trekking poles were helpful and waterproof shoes were a must. While you don't really leave the city noise behind at the gulch (planes fly overhead), Japanese Gulch Creek can be heard as you hike. Also, the huge bonus on the north loop is views of the sound peeking through the trees once you get to the northernmost section.

We clocked 2.1 miles in 1 hour 40 minutes. For families hiking with kids, this is an intermediate hike - for us, it was challenging but doable for an adventurous five year old. (We first tried this hike a few years ago and needed a carrier.) This is a great option for a quick hike without leaving the city.

Link to map from the City of Mukilteo: