When I arrived at Southwest County Park this morning, about 7:40 a.m. on Thursday 18 May 2023,…read morethere were already two cars in the parking area on Olympic View Drive. By the parking area is a main sign with park information and a map of the trail system, which includes an inner and an outer loop, with a marker for where the sign is located "You are here" on the lower left. The sunlight was a little more golden/yellow than normal due to wildfire smoke haze. The air was warm and birds sang throughout out my walk around the outer loop. They flitted from branch to branch and rustled about in the brush on the ground. I encountered juncos, song sparrows, rufous-sided towhees, a rufous hummingbird, and a gray squirrel while walking. Wildflowers were in bloom and salmonberry plants bore both blooms and not yet ripe fruit. For the outer trail, I found the path to be relatively flat and easy to traverse. I paid attention to road positioning as I walked as I could glimpse it through the trees at different points on the trail. It started on my right (I went counterclockwise around the outer loop), so I knew I was nearing full-circle when it switched back to being on my right again. I missed the parking area by one side trail and ended up coming out at the end of the lot instead of the main trailhead. Fun park to enjoy the wilderness.

This is an interesting little area just off the road. You can do a few little loops or take the…read moreadventurous route and go off the map (but still on clearly used trails) and get a bit more distance in. I lost reception so my phone stopped tracking me accurately, but I got 3 miles or so in with the looping shown below. So, check it out if you are driving by and want a quick dose of greenery. Bottom line: This is not a destination to add to your nature bucket list, but it is worth pulling over for to get some fresh air and a few calories burned if on your way to or from Mel and Mia's.

I really enjoyed myself at this park/trail. My favorite part was the hidden offleash dog park. Make…read moresure you know your dog because this place is kind of maze ish. Worth the adventure. I was able to take a few photos of the plants and scenery along the way. My dog also enjoyed his visit. Parking is relatively easy here. I didn't need my discover pass. But I brought it anyways. The first part of the park is tour standard neighborhood park. Very small at first glance i almost wanted to turn around and leave. There is a covered area, a jungle gym like structure, and Picnic areas for family bbqs. So glad they also had a public restroom as we needed to use It on the way out. If you venture deeper into the woods and follow the trails you will begin a maze like adventure full of winding trails. There are streams and bridges and views of the valleys. So nice. Multiple entrances/exits and paths to choose from. Very easy to get lost or turned around. Thankfully that have maps. We forsure got mixed up and had to rely on the maps. We had fun. It was worth the drive. Be sure to check out the photos for a visual experience.

This park is good for a quick week night play with young kids. There is a small playground that is…read morefully fenced in. Across the street is Animal Acres Park, which has a big grass field to run around.

Fun to visit, tiny park by the side of the road. Go down the hill for a quiet shoreside viewpoint…read moreon the lake.

Great hidden park. The Kirkland Sunrise club has done a great job working with the city and…read moreneighbors to get this place restored to greatness.

The trails of Centennial Park from the parking lot make their way away from the street and I found…read morethe noise from the cars died off as I made my way into the park today, Thursday 27 April 2023. As I explored the trails, I found a few stream crossings, different bird species, a baby snake, and a variety of flowers in bloom. The park was quiet and I did not encounter too many people as I explored. Across the stream(s), I found the trails could get a bit muddy and overlain with blackberry branches. I was wearing running shoes with thinner soles and decided not to go the way of the blackberry bushes as the thorns might have put holes in them, something to explore with thicker-soled shoes. The birds were singing all throughout my visit, which was soothing. Closer to the parking lot is a viewing area overlooking an expanse with longer grass, a covered picnic area with a grill, and an old schoolhouse that can be reserved for different uses. Fun park to stop and enjoy the wildlife, trees, and flowers.

Great park to walk around and great scenic views of elder trees!…read moreI highly recommend you go check out this park one of the best one in the city!

My favorite woods, I grew up next door and my brothers and spent our childhood roaming through…read morethese woods before it was called Boeing Creek Patk, ever changing and upgraded into one of the most accessible and beautiful woodland parks around. A little secret slice of heaven!

This is a beautiful park serene park bang in the middle of the city. A little oasis of sorts! The…read moreonly thing I would improve is better signage. We got lost and went in circles, for a bit on our hike, trying to find our way back. Other than that, I highly recommend it!

Very much a neighborhood park, as parking is non-existent and somewhat confusing. Surrounded by…read moreneighborhood homes, this space of trails is great for a simple stroll. We picked up coffee and made our way to the pond to see the "wildlife" (beavers), and we're met with the usual ducks, heron. Some pathways have creative art installations, which are fun to find and view as you continue your way around. Many small trail-ways weave through the park that is mostly set on and around the pond. Views in the autumn are beautiful as leaves change color and reflect in the water below.

Meadowbrook Pond is quite large. My mom, a couple friends, and I explored here when I was growing…read moreup before swim practice at the neighboring Meadowbrook Pool. At those times we we didn't make it much farther than the bridge just past the entrance/exit on 35th Avenue NE. More recently on 23 June 2020 my mom and I revisited the pond to explore past the bridge. We were both pleasantly surprised how big the pond is and appreciated the trails/bridges across and around the pond. Bridges/walking platforms extend across the pond enabling you to get closer to the wildlife living in and visiting the pond. From little fish to adult ducks to ducklings to Herons and red-winged blackbirds, there was much to watch and look for around the water when we visited. Ducklings were with their mama foraging for food around the edge of the pond. In another stretch of the pond ducks were sun bathing and resting. Around the outside of the pond are trails through the vegetation surrounding the pond. The paths we walked were paved and the trees provided shade away from the sunshine which was starting to bake our skin so felt nice. Be on the look out for various rodents including squirrels and bunnies as well as birds including Robins on these walks. Placards strategically placed throughout the park provide basic information about the ecology of the pond and some of the interconnected human-wildlife-land history. I especially liked the maps provided of the pond and reflective refuge in an informational pavilion. Fun to have maps in more than one medium! An enjoyable place to come for a stroll over the water and through the trees where one can savor the wildlife of Seattle.

We went here for the Chtistmas Tree Lighting. Parking was busy but enough for everyone. In fact…read morethere are various lots nearby. It can get very icey. So watch out. I also think this parking lot needs more light. They have baseball fields. I had in mind trees for a park. The green park is pretty small. Yes, there is one tree. It was lighted, but this wasn't the tree where the festivities were going to be around. We had to walk two blocks or so to get to the other part of the park by the shopping mall. This park has 2 swing benches and the big tree. It also has big stairs to get up to yhe second floor which is kind of an uncovered house tree. Colorful part.

I was driving to the Woodinville Haggen that neighbors DeYoung Park on Wednesday the 22nd of July…read more2020 and spotted the elevated wooden platform in the park from the road on my way in to the store. As I drove in I also noticed the painted pillars and decided to check this park out before going in and shopping. The park is very well maintained and neat and tidy. There are abundant benches and tables to sit and just relax, rest, or enjoy something to eat. On the whole, the park is aesthetically pleasing and I liked the artistic twist to the places to sit and overall theme of the park. The seating and tables on the elevated wooden platform were a new style to me. It would be a fun place to sit and eat and watch the cars pass by on the street below. Sculpture art pieces were well executed and contributed to forming a cohesive feel in the park. Painted pillars, my oh my what cool pillars. Each pillar has different artwork painted on it and lists the name of the sponsor for the column, as well as the artist who painted the column, and a quote in theme with the column. Between the columns are suspended benches where you can sit and either face the road or the park. So very cool! Fun place to stop and see some artwork outdoors.

Heads up - NO DOGS ALLOWED…read more Was bummed we came all the way out here and was not able to walk our dog or see the park. Maybe some day we'll be back without the pup.

What a neat spot! I…read morewas just out on a drive with my two sons and nephew whom were all getting a big stir crazy.. I stumbled upon this place and pulled into the small, unassuming parking lot. There are a few benches right as you pull in that have a nice view of scenery. As you walk down a semi steep slope, you are met with open field and a few lakes. We kept walking straight which led us onto a trail. There were many branches and obstructions on the path so just be careful! We stopped and had a beautiful view of a private beach along the river. I'm glad I stopped here with my family. It was good exercise and a lovely time spent with Mother Nature.