Marckworth Forest — Sunday, Mar. 12, 2006

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

Enjoyed a long ramble in the DNR's Marckworth Forest. The area lacks much in the way of exciting views or dramatic scenery, just low rumpled hills with trickling creeks and bogs. At least on weekends when the log trucks are parked, the area is almost eerily quiet, being far from freeways or public roads of any kind. I followed the Stossel Creek logging road, which heads south into the valley of Stossel Creek. The creek is crossed after a half mile. Shortly beyond the creek crossing, an old road (now pretty much a trail) leading to Swans Mill Pond branched off right, blocked by boulders. The small and tranquil lake is a worthwhile side trip. I passed two old junked cars, then arrived at a grassy clearing by the shore of the lake, nice and sunny, a pleasant place to linger. Back on the logging road, I now climbed quickly out of Stossel Creek's valley and into a tranquil side valley. More bogs and creeks here. At a major junction, I took the right branch. A long mile beyond Stossel Creek, the road began another rapid ascend through a recent clearcut which offered a view toward Tiger Mountain. Then it started turning northward. The road leveled off at about 1200', passing though forest that had endured various kinds of logging operations: clearcuts, selective cuts, and thick forests marked with signs that indicated that the juicy trees were ripe for the chainsaw. After 5 miles, seeing not much change in the scenery, I gave up and turned around. The whole walking experience here was both dull but strangely satisfying, the peace and quiet putting me into a zen-like state of serenity. To get to Stossel Creek, drive to Stillwater Store on SR 202 south of Duvall. Turn onto Kelly Creek Road. Stay right at the major intersection where Big Rock Road goes left. At another major intersection, just past the Tolt Pipeline access road, turn right onto Stossel Creek Road. Eventually this turns to dirt next to a Marckworth Forest display sign. Continue about a mile farther, to a spot where gated logging roads go left and right. Park here. The right hand gate (on the south side) is the access to Stossel Creek.