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Maury Island Marine Park

Day Work Party

Tue Mar 10, 2026: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM

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Region

Puget Sound and Islands — Seattle-Tacoma Area

Crew Leader: Melissa Davis

Maury Island. Photo by ejain.

Overview

Looking for a little Island Time in your life these days? Come help establish a new trail system on Maury Island!

About the Area

Maury Island is more of a peninsula, attached to Vashon Island on the southeast side. Even more private than already-secluded Vashon, Maury Island has several greenspaces and parks. Maury Island Marine Park contains rare stands of Pacific Madrone, a salt marsh, eel-grass beds and significant fish and wildlife habitat. While you work, look out for such species as great blue herons, bald eagles, kingfishers, Chinook salmon, orca and bull trout. 

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.

Project Description

The park has a few trails currently, but this crew will be cutting in some new trail. New trail construction runs the gamut of tasks. Work may include root removal, backslope improvements, and overall tread finishing work.


Specific Park Considerations: Poison Oak is present at this park. The King County Park staff have removed it and flagged any areas it has been present in the immediate work site. **Bringing a change of clothes for driving home after the event is suggested if you are worried about exposure.

Hiking Information

Expect 1-3 miles of round trip to the work site over steep and uneven terrain.

Camping Information

Overnight housing options available for Assistant Crew Leads, please reach out to Bob Zimmerman, bobofwa@gmail.com, or the volunteer email inbox at volunteer@wta.org for this event. We have limited space with accommodations.

Schedule

  • 8:30 AM: Be ready to sign in and meet the crew, rain or shine
  • 8:35 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike to the project site
  • Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
  • Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
  • 3:30 PM: Sign out after enjoying refreshments at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Special Event

This area has also been identified by the Department of Ecology as a site that contains contaminants as a result of fallout from the former ASARCO Tacoma Smelter smokestack. Further information here: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=1532. It is encouraged to thoroughly wash your hands, clothes, and boots once you are off the site at the end of the day to mitigate contamination risks.

Planning Information

Get ready for a great day outside!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
  • Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours on uneven terrain
  • Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18

What to Wear

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

What to Bring

  • Lunch and plenty of water
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
  • A pack to carry your personal gear
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

 

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

Join Work Party

Partners

Directions

UPDATED LOCATION FROM SPRING 2024


From the North:

Take the Vashon Island Ferry from the Southworth or Fauntleroy Terminal. Drive off the ferry dock onto Vashon Highway SW for 6 miles (this is the primary road on Vashon and will continue as 104th Ave SW, Vashon Heights Rd, and 99th Ave SW). Turn left on SW Cemetery Rd and follow this to a right turn onto Vashon Ave. Follow this road south until you hit a T intersection, turn left on SW Ellisport Rd, which will bend right onto Dockton Rd SW/George Edwards Rd. After 1.5 miles, make a slight right to continue onto Dockton Rd SW. Follow for 0.9 miles and make a left onto 75th Ave SW. Continue straight on 75th Ave SW about .75 mile and park on the shoulder.


From the South:

Take the Tahlequah ferry from the Port Defiance Ferry Terminal. Drive off the ferry dock onto Vashon Highway SW and drive north. After 5.5 mi, turn right on SW Quartermaster Drive. Continue until you hit a T intersection and turn right on Dockton RD SW/George Edwards Rd. After 1.5 miles, make a slight right to continue onto Dockton Rd SW. Follow for 0.9 miles and make a left onto 75th Ave SW. Continue straight on 75th Ave SW about .75 mile and park on the shoulder.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

You must be part of this crew and have a My Backpack account to see the Crew Corner.

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Carpool

Find a ride, give a ride with people who also want to carpool.