Only twice in my life have I encountered multiple wild snakes in an approximately 20 minute window while hiking. The first time was in Montana while I was conducting geology field work, the snakes that time were rattlesnakes. This time I encountered two garter snakes here at Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary while hiking the Perimeter Trail (South portion of the trail). The first one I heard surprised me because it was right next to the trail. The second one was making noise while traveling through brush on the side of the trail as well. That cutie I managed to get a picture of. The edge of the water in the sanctuary is full of cattails in a number of places. At one woody portion of trail I noticed a gnarly tree by the water and decided to venture closer to check it out. I noticed a Hummingbird high in the tree by some cattails. Just this morning back at the house the hummingbirds were collecting the stuffing from cattails to use for nesting material, fun to encounter another hard working hummingbird the same day in a wetland setting. I made my way closer to the water to get a better look and heard a critter flop into the water, twas a big amphibian I managed to miss with my camera. Song birds sang and water fowl called throughout the duration of my visit here today in the mid-afternoon. A carved wooden sign is located at the driving entrance/exit to the park and is artistically well done, evoking a sense of magic that I have found to accompany wetland and heathland biomes. The parking lot is small to medium in size, but there were a number of open spots so it wasn't a problem on my visit. Next to the parking lot is a restroom building that was closed today, I'm guessing due to COVID-19, a grassy picnic area, a map of the trail system, and some signage with information about the sanctuary. There are two main trails through the sanctuary: the Interpretive Trail which includes interpretive signs, and the Perimeter Trail which goes around the perimeter of the sanctuary. I hiked/walked the southern portion of both of these trails and found them both to be very well maintained. Garbage cans were located along the trail, which was convenient. Elevation gain was not immense, but it was also not completely flat. I encountered a number of soloists and groups out walking/adventuring while I was here this afternoon. By the time I left at about 3 p.m. traffic started picking up. Overall a fun experience and place to explore. read more

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I've been working in Everett for 20ish years and had no idea this place existed. It's not located anywhere near downtown, but I was very surprised to have never heard of it. A friend recently found it on the all trails app when were seeking out a place for an easyish hike/walk. I was amazed to find this located so close to Boeing, but should probably have realized there is a lot of nature in this area. There is a small parking lot, a big sign marking the entrance and maps/informational plaques to help guide you a long. The inner loop is mostly boardwalk and goes thru a cool rock type structure. Benches were placed intermittently. The outer loop is slightly harder to locate and navigate and does incorporate part of the sidewalk. The combination of both loops is less than 2 miles and takes about 35 minutes. This seems like a great location for a break in nature during your work day. I hope to make it back here again in the future. read more

Hubby and I wanted to go for a nice nature walk but not have to drive too far to get to it. Marvell was a great option for us. This is located close to Boeing and close enough to the road where you could unfortunately hear traffic at some places on the trail. However, 70% or so was nice and quiet with only forest sounds and the little baby streams. We really enjoyed the winding trail with multiple directions to take and the length was perfect. I don't know for sure, but I believed we walked about 2 miles. At the end (or the beginning, depending which way you go) there is this cool little enclosure. Like a baby cave house that was super cute. We will definitely be returning for a brisk nature walk soon! read more

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I recently searched for urban hikes close to home and Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary came up. So off we went for a quick after-work wind-down. The sanctuary is located close to Boeing in an odd area not far from the dump. But once you park (which was easy and close to the trailhead), you step into a well kept urban nature getaway complete with a stone bench for quiet moments of contemplation and sturdy wooden walking paths. I imagine that the paths get slick if wet, so make sure you bring shoes with good grip. My everyday sneakers felt a little slippery on the walkways and it wasn't even raining. Although we only did a quick loop, we look forward to coming back when we have more time. We didn't see many birds but we did hear them singing. There's nothing like standing under tall swaying trees and listening to birdsong while looking into the water for fish and tadpoles. The narrow wooden paths are great but I think they would make it hard to socially distance if this place got too crowded. I suggest coming at an off hour so you can avoid too many people along the way. We ran into a few groups of kids with their parents or grandparents, but luckily we mostly had the sanctuary to ourselves. If I wanted a longer walk, I don't think this would be it. It didn't take long to circle the wooden pathway--but there was a gravel walkway that we didn't take. I'm not sure how long this would extend the walk. One last tip: the parking lot is secluded. Make sure you don't leave anything visible in your car! And from a security standpoint it's probably best to visit with a partner or a group of people. read more

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My wife and I stopped here to stretch our legs and take a quick walk. No passes are required. There is a privy located at the trail head. Parking is a maximum of three hours. The trails are a combination of boardwalk and gravel. Our total walkabout was 2 miles. I would consider this walk as easy. There were a few spots that had stairs and one spot that had a slight elevation gain. I would recommend this walk for families with young children and dog owners. I wouldn't recommend this walk for those in wheelchairs due to the narrow gravel trails. This walk is peaceful. Due to the freezing temperatures, we were not lucky enough to view any wildlife. There are plenty of garbage cans and benches located throughout the trails. It would be nice to see directional arrows placed throughout this sanctuary to efficiently maximize ones walk. Thank you Narbeck for providing a peaceful place where we could stretch our legs and breathe in fresh air. read more

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This is a really nice walking area. Most of the park is tree covered so it offers a lot of shade on a hot day. There's a loop that goes around the park - some Of it uses the sidewalk on the road nearby. There's also an internal loop with a lot of scenery to look at. I saw bunnies, birds, squirrels, lots of wildlife (including mosquitos). Great spot for a dog walk. read more

Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary - Parks Near Me - Everett, Washington

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First I want to address something I've noticed from the other reviews. It seems most of the reviews are only commenting on the inner perimeter trail. There are actually two trails in this sanctuary. One is the inner trail which is slightly better established and has the boardwalk bridges. There is another trail though, if you follow the paved road when you first come into the park and go the opposite way of the parking lot, there is the entrance to the outer perimeter trail. That trail is much longer and will eventually open to a road and sidewalk, which has to be followed until you reach another entrance that finishes the trail at the light before the entrance to the park. This is one of my favorite areas to take my dog. All paths are well marked and you have the opportunity to see some nice wildlife. On the outer perimeter trail you may come across snakes if you during the early-mid spring. Ducks and toads are all around during the summer. If you're lucky, during the winter you may encounter owls! I actually encountered a snowy owl during the dead of winter on the inner perimeter trail once! Please note these owls can get territorial, so be respectful. It's also worth noting that there have been cougar sightings recently. Pay attention to all signs posted! If you have a dog and they're acting fearful and nervous, especially on the outer perimeter trail, listen to them and head back to your car. There's a turn off from the outer perimeter trail to the inner perimeter trail about a quarter of the way through the hike and you can leave faster that way if you need to. Most of the time the trail is fantastic and a fun walk. Sometimes there are areas of overgrowth and if you go right after it rains you will likely be eaten alive by mosquitos. Otherwise it is a trail I highly recommend. The cougar sightings aren't normal and once it passes, I would highly suggested the trails for people, children, and pets! read more

It was a nice little stroll. It was easy for me to bring my daughter in her radio flyer wagon. There were some piles of homeless people's belongings. Too bad they couldn't be removed instead of piled up with cones around them. I was a bit unsure being alone on the trails but there was a Paine Field worker there cleaning the bathrooms and several others were on the trail. read more

Excellent walking park. It is a wetland with two intersecting trails that guide you around the perimeter and out into the marsh itself via a well maintained boardwalk. There is an observation point and serval overlooks to give you a good view of the wetlands. Nice quiet easy walk. There are clean restrooms onsite. Wonderful little get away. A nice place to connect with nature. Look out for signs of beaver and various birds. Did not see any beavers or birds to observe but will visit again. Short 20 min walk/hiking. Dogs are on leash. Not many people around. It was an easy walk, good for little kids. Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary was dedicated and opened on July 31, 1999 as a passive recreation and environmental education public park. This 42.76 acre park  is accessible for passive recreational use with trails, interpretive signs, viewpoints, picnic tables, and restrooms. Narbeck offers two (2) walking trails, a small loop trail and a 1/2 mile interpretative trail around the perimeter, with educational signs and self guided tours. read more

Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary - Parks Near Me - Everett, Washington

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This is my all time favorite place is never crowded, is peaceful, beautiful, and an amazing walk to take. It's filled trees and bushes you can even bring your animals for a nice little walk :) (all pictures below taken by me) read more

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This is a small park. There are two trails: a short inner trail and a longer external one. The latter goes off the trail map and could conceivably go on forever, but we unexpectedly ended up out near the road and followed it back until we returned to the park entrance. Since this is located so close to Boeing (as well as other businesses - it's not exactly an escape), I suspect this is more for a 20-minute work break than anything else. There are picnic tables and a bench or two in key areas. Dog-friendly (if your companion is good with ducks) and kid-friendly. Some portions of the trail are paved with a wooden path, which is both easy on the feet and better for the environment than trampling on vegetation. There are informational stations here and there but since I visited at the end of winter, I only saw ducks and only in the pond at the start of the trail. read more

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Great place to go for a walk. The perimeter trail alternates between trail and sidewalk but is easy to navigate. read more

Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary - Parks Near Me - Everett, Washington

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This was a nice and easy walk out in nature surrounded by industrial area. It is a nice place for a little nature walk. Dog friendly and kid friendly. read more

I didn't like the parking it was in a warehouse considered it was in Washington I expected it to be bigger .. it was decent just small not a hiking trail read more

My Dog Rosie n I walk here many times a week-outer n inner trails are fantastic!