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Gnomes Trail

4.8 (17 reviews)

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Wina G.

Really fun family walk in Maple Valley. Gnomes are hanging out along the trail and more added by visitors. The trail is easy for kids. There are porta potties and ample parking. FYI- there's construction going on fronting the entrance. It's tricky going in and out so be careful.

Mojdeh S.

A fun adventure at every turn with gnomes - and more (Yoda!) - to be found everywhere! Big ones, little ones, those in plain sight and ones hidden from immediate view. Kids of all ages will enjoy looking for the gnomes, their homes, and all things in between. Passerby are invited to bring and leave gnomes, too!

Gnomes living the life!!!
M. Lynn G.

It's a nice, easy short trail. Very kids friendly. People have placed Gnomes throughout the trail. It was fun finding the ones that weren't in plain view. I will be going back with my grandkids and placing my own Gnome somewhere along the trail.

Paris T.

The gnome trail was really neat and a lot of fun for my 5 and 6 year old to walk through. There are gnomes all throughout and the entire trail is less than a mile. According to AllTrails it is about 0.7 mile and that's the app I used to navigate to the trailhead, etc. Some gnomes were broken/cracked so just beware of that for safety reasons, but there were so many that were perfectly fine. This was a really enjoyable trail to stroll around in and view all the cute gnomes!

They're everywhere!
Teresa M.

This place is actually pretty cool. I was passing though Maple Valley after going to Mt Rainier and I remembered seeing the Yelp page for this trail and figured "why not"? The address currently listed is correct (25719...), took me right into a large parking lot where I was able to find the trail quickly. I'll mostly agree with others and say that this trail is for children and expectations should be low. Really, though? It was definitely better than I thought. Lots of gnomes, etc to see, a lot of which are arranged in a thoughtful manner. This place also links up to other trails and will take you over to Lake Wilderness. No complaints here - it was fun!

Look for the signs
Esperanza D.

FREE ACTIVITY. OUTDOORS. (Most of the people were using masks) This is the NEW Gnomes Trail, it used to be somewhere else (actually Google maps will take you to the old spot) We googled "Maple Valley Farmers Market" OR 25719 Maple Valley Black Diamond Road SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038. It's a kids friendly hike, located in a beautiful trail. I saw a family with a wagon and a baby, it was ok. Despite you could fit a small stroller or wagon I'd rather not encourage you to bring one. Loops are short enough to walk and go back to your car. What to expect from this place? It's a free and fun activity FOR THE LITTLE ONES. Do not expect too much, something simple, fun for kids (2 years old - 9 years old). Remember to bring your own food and water. Personally I enjoyed the trails without gnomes because it was less crowded and the nature itself was beautiful. However, the children had a blast once we found the Gnomes Loop. Plenty of parking lot spaces HOWEVER once the farmers market starts in the summer it might be harder to find a place to park.

Trailhead
Catholine L.

I brought my sons to check out this trail. It was a nice little hike. Not too long so that my 7-year-old could handle it. It's long enough to accelerate my heart for a bit. At the head of the trail is a mini library to exchange books, similar to the ones you'll see in neighborhoods. Happy we checked it out, and if we come back, we'll bring a gnome or fairy to leave behind.

Rachel C.

Very cute and easy trail. I did this try out with my four-year-old and my older mother and they both did well on the trail. It is not paved but the pathway is fairly flat and clear. There are multiple trails within this area and we"got lost "and we're not on the actual known trail for about 15 minutes. But I think all the trails a loop together and we eventually found our way back. My daughter had a great time finding all the little gnomes and fairy houses I wish there were a few more though. If you want more gnomes to less gnomes throughout the trip start on the entrance to the left if you want less gnomes increasing to more gnomes on your hike start on the right.

Amy V.

This was extremely fun my 2yo almost walked the whole trail, the farmers market was going on so kinda threw us off but was very easy to find & one of the best things we did as a family. I'm going to stock up on gnomes to bring back here

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11 months ago

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1 month ago

It's a lovely nature walk with cute little gnomes along the way nothing too generous just a cute little idea

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2 years ago

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5 years ago

Fun trail for the kids. Our daughter had a lot of fun walking and stopping to see all of the gnomes.

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Review Highlights - Gnomes Trail

This is a fairly easy trail.

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Franklin Ghost Town - Locked parking area at trail head

Franklin Ghost Town

(13 reviews)

We were told about this trail by a local who walked through the Ghost Town several years ago. This…read moresounded like a fun adventure so we took a hike. First: the parking area is chained shut and 'tow' signs are in the drive way area that leads to the parking lot. We drove over a one-way bridge (traffic signals control traffic direction) and found a parking area on the right. This area also has the same 'tow' signs but the lot had several vehicles and many people were in the area so we parked. It's a shady lot with a spring water dispenser straight from the ground. (A sign asks that you Venmo money for any water you take from the Spring) We walked back over the bridge, past the gate and onto the trail. Second: the initial hike is a wide incline covered in gravel. This leads you up and around to a Coal Car where the trail divides. The Ghost Town is to your right. The mine shaft and grave yard are to your left. Both trails continue to lead up. One of the hike pages I looked over described this as an 'easy' trail for kids. Regarding climbing over obstacles, the path is clear and it is an easy hike if you go toward the ghost town. However, the grade is pretty steep in that direction. The direction of the mine however has several trees down and most we had to climb over. The trail there is not well maintained. The Ghost Town: This pathway is mostly wide and gravel covered making it the easier of the two trails. We found one foundation covered in undergrowth on the right that you can climb the steps onto a small foundation. You have to really be looking to see the steps. On the left is what looks almost like a retaining wall on the hillside. That's all we saw of a 'town'. The path continues to climb up and around. It may lead out to the road on the opposite side of the hill but we did not walk all the way and I make that suggestion based on maps. This trail is mostly full sun. The Mine Shaft and Graveyard: We came back and took the left branch of the trail where it divides at the Coal Car. This trail runs from wide and gravel covered to single file while walking through raspberry bushes (prickers). Thankfully we had rain jackets on so those tiny thorns did not snag our shirts and I kept my hands above my head to save my skin. Be prepared for that. This trail is mostly shady. It takes a while to reach the mine shaft which includes a plaque with some mine information. The shaft is quite large, goes straight down, is surrounded by a metal railing and topped with a lattice of rebar. The sign suggest you drop a rock in to hear how deep the shaft is, however as this must have been done hundreds of times, rocks nearby are scarce. Bring your own rock with you. Once you have spent all the time you'd like at the mine shaft, take the trail to the left of the mine shaft plaque to continue on to the graveyard. There are a couple of places along the way that will make you wonder 'is this it?' It's not. Just keep going. It's another longish hike in a more gentle upward direction. The path veers off to your right at several points, one of which leads to a wet low area, but overhead here you will see remnants of some coal car rails. There is a trail leading up a steep incline that will take you to the top of the rails if you'd like a closer look. The 'up' is easier than the 'down' on this steep pathway. The graveyard is further ahead, past this coal car rail. Just keep walking. You will see on your right, at the base of a tree, a toppled over headstone that looks like a small obelisk. This, and a wooden sign erected by a local group stating they fenced in a grave, are the main visible signs of the graveyard. The area is completely overgrown, including the fenced in grave. After climbing over trees and fending off thorny raspberry bushes (without the joy of eating some of the berries) this was a disappointing hike. The trail ends here. Some of the downed trees have had a path chopped or cut out so you can walk around or through them but most your scramble over. I am not sure what is happening with this land or why the lot is closed with no explanation sign. I could not find information in a search of local news sites. I do wonder however if it has anything to do with a downtrodden looking 'resort' on the other side of the bridge. They offer you access to a waterfall for a small fee. I believe you can access this waterfall from the chained lot if you take the trail directly down to the river on the left. But this is just speculation. I did not take them up on their offer. If you are here for a nice, uphill hike, take the path to the right at the coal car and enjoy a wider path with some views of the surrounding area. That is a pleasant hike in and of itself. Just don't expect to see a 'ghost town' and you'll enjoy this hike. Happy hiking!

While the hike in and out was nice, easy for kids (of at least aged 5 years), and relatively quick,…read morethe ghost town wasn't really worth the effort (destination).

Shadow Lake Nature Preserve

Shadow Lake Nature Preserve

(2 reviews)

I just wanted to come here and share what I know about this place. A friend had sold some land to…read morethe nature preserve with the understanding that these people would maintain and care for the land. These people did not do as they convinced my friend they would do. They instead sold the property to the county so it is not part of the nature preserve. My friend sold the property to them for less than it was worth because he felt he was supporting a great cause. If he knew king county would be the controller of the land he would have sold it to one of the many other offers he had. For me it just says this organization is not trust worthy. I feel anyone should be aware of the truth behind the shadow lake nature preserve. My friend might not say anything but I will. These people are liars and I am sure if they lied to get a deal on some land for the county then they are also will lie to anyone else to get something for nothing. This is very concerning To think of the many supporters they have that are unaware they are supporting people that are not honest.

Absolutely love this nature preserve. They are typically open 9-6 mon-thurs and you need to RSVP on…read moretheir website. It's a private reserve of 107 acres that is a protected preserve since 1995. The walkways and sitting areas are incredibly peaceful and beautiful. There are signs along the walkway so you can identify several plant species. There is also a second entrance with walking trails that you can utilize. Just be sure to RSVP. It's a wonderful spot that thrives on public funding (a nonprofit) so be sure to donate a few bucks when you visit

Bellevue Botanical Garden - Best day ever!

Bellevue Botanical Garden

(370 reviews)

The Bellevue gardens is a pretty quiet and secluded little spot to relax and take in some nature…read more It's not a huge place, but it's big enough that you can spend an hour or two there, casually strolling about. No trouble with parking, and it is free to enter, so you really should stop by if you are nearby. It's worth it.

BOTANICAL GARDEN @ BELLEVUE…read more Parking is available right out front, which makes this place super accessible. There are also designated handicap parking spots. My friend and I visited on a Friday around 2 PM, and there were a few spots open, so getting in was really easy. I loved how simple everything was to navigate, there's even a map available when you enter. Entry and parking are both completely free, which is a huge plus. We walked along the trail and I'd recommend spending about 2-3 hours here if you want to take your time and fully enjoy it. We had to speed-run our visit because we had another errand afterward, but it was still incredibly beautiful. I highly recommend stopping by the bridge, it was very therapeutic and relaxing to walk across. There are plenty of benches and seating areas along the way, perfect for taking breaks or just soaking in nature. The quality of the space is amazing, with a wide variety of rocks, trees, and scenery that make the whole experience feel peaceful. There are also bathrooms located at the front, and you're never too far from other people, which made it feel comfortable and safe. Overall, I definitely recommend stopping by this place.

Gnomes Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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