Hiking & Exploring Boeing Creek and Shoreview Parks in Shoreline

Looking for more hikes around the north end of Seattle?
Check out Meadowdale Beach in Lynnwood, the North Creek Park Baordwalk in Bothell,
and Magnuson Park in Northeast Seattle.

CURRENT INFO

A good description of many of the trails at Boeing Creek and Shoreview Parks, as well as trip reviews, are available on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. Good information is also found on the Mountaineers website. There are signposts at most trail junctions, but navigating the park can still be confusing. To help you find your way, download a trail map.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at Boeing Creek and Shoreview Parks. For this hike, we parked at the main Shoreview Park parking lot, which you can access from the south side of the park, just west of Shoreline Community College.
• Restrooms and garbage bins are located near the parking lots.
• The park has two fun playgrounds. I like to hike with the kids first, then let them run out any remaining energy at the playground afterwards.
• Pets on leash are allowed on the trails and in the parks, but not on the playgrounds.
• A trail map is posted at the trailhead. If you didn’t download a map before you came, you may want to take a photo of it now.
• The loop trails are the best maintained trails in the park, but please note that any trails near the creek are typically muddy year-round. In wet weather, expect even more mud. Stay on the upper trails and stick with the dry creek crossing if you prefer to avoid it. Wear shoes or boots that can get muddy, and make sure kids are dressed for playing in the muck.
• Beware of bugs by the creek in summer. I got a few bites around the ankles in September.
• It’s possible to take the bus to Shoreview and Boeing Creek Parks, although you will have to walk a ways from the Shoreline Community College bus stops to reach the parks. King County Metro bus routes that stop at Shoreline Community College include #5, #330, #331, and #345. Visit the King County Metro website for more information.

HIGHLIGHTS

Boeing Creek and Shoreview Parks provide the kind of natural urban escape that everyone living in the city needs. Walking under the canopy of trees or along the sparkling creek feels a world away from daily cares. With their myriad trails, these parks are the perfect place for kids to experience the woods first hand. No need to march from point A to point B without pause — Boeing Creek was made to be explored at a child’s pace, no matter what your age.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Looking for a place where your kids can roam free in the forest and play to their hearts’ content? Boeing Creek is it! Well, you may not be able to let them roam completely free, but there is so much to explore here, both on and off the trail. Fallen logs, a shallow, pebbly stream, hills to race up and down… what’s not to love?

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

From Shoreview Park and Boeing Creek, it’s easy to access the shops and businesses on nearby Aurora Avenue, including a variety of small local restaurants. For coffee, I recommend Black Coffee, which not only serves delicious coffee (and cookies!), but is a local, Black-owned business working to make a difference in their community. For picnic supplies, stop by Central Market (soon to be called Town & Country), which has a wonderful deli and much, much more.

If you’re craving beach time or looking to catch some sunset views, head to nearby Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, located a couple of miles northwest of Shoreview Park.

When your kids start playing sports, opportunities for weekend hikes can be limited. Fortunately, in the Seattle area we’re blessed with numerous local trails and parks. On this occasion, we had a couple of hours of daylight between J’s soccer game and dinner. Why not drive 15 minutes to Shoreview Park and meet up with friends for a hike at Boeing Creek?

Upon our arrival at Shoreview Park, I was immediately attracted to the sign at the trailhead, which reads “These Woods Open to All”. Yes! A trail map is also posted. Snap a photo to refer back to it as you wander, as these trails can be confusing. Fortunately, Boeing Creek is a handy navigation reference as you explore.

The trail initially descends gently to a large, open forested area. Our friends’ son, H, has attended day camps here, and this area is used as a sheltered place for group activities. The Forest Loop Trail branches off to the right, while the Hidden Lake Loop continues to the left. We headed right with H leading the way, proud to share his knowledge of this park with his friends.

We passed through an area thick with felled logs, which gave the kids an excellent place to stop and play. The next destination was the creek. Down the trail we went, winding through the ferns and cedar trees on a soft dirt path.

We reached Boeing Creek a short distance upstream from the wet stream crossing. The kids eagerly crossed the logs to the sandy bank on the opposite shore. From this point, however, it was impossible to connect with the trail on the other side, as there was no way to safely climb up the eroding bluff. After some time for exploring, we continued along the south side of the creek, searching for a place to cross that wasn’t too wet.

This is where it becomes easy to lose the main trail. Over time, a number of unofficial trails have been worn into the landscape at Boeing Creek, and it’s also possible to make your way along the stream. Possible, but not always easy. We climbed over logs, ducked under devil’s club, and picked our steps cautiously to avoid slipping in the muck. Throughout it all, I was mesmerized by the late afternoon sunlight piercing through the trees. Although it was late September, the maple leaves were still a brilliant green, hidden away in the damp, cool ravine that surrounds Boeing Creek.

Most of our party managed to cross the creek using a makeshift log bridge, then reconnected with the Boeing Creek Loop Trail. My husband, Michael, also managed to temporarily lose hold of Buddy’s leash, which led to a mad scramble to grab the dog before he made his break for freedom. I headed about 30 feet further downstream to the stepping stone crossing, hoping for an easier route.

Perhaps this was an easier place to cross, but it was also an incredibly muddy place to cross. The logs and boards placed to create a safe path across the mud were now almost completely submerged. The thick muck squelched under my shoes as I gingerly made my way to the stepping stones. After a quick hop over the stones, I was back on the dry trail.

We followed the Boeing Creek Loop up towards the north end of the park. This is the Boeing Creek Park entrance, as one of the trail signed helpfully pointed out. These signs are a great navigation tool as you wander along the trails. At the Boeing Creek entrance, there is no parking lot, but street parking is available. There are also a number of nice picnic tables, a garbage bin, and another trail map, but I was surprised to find no restroom. Head back to Shoreview Park if you’re looking for relief.

This area is also the site of a major road washout that occurred suddenly on New Year’s Eve in 1996. The washout left a gaping hole nearly 40 feet deep at the intersection of 6th Avenue NW and 175th Street. For those interested in learning more, a placard titled “The Winter of our Discontent” (way to dramatize, City of Shoreline!) illustrates what happened that fateful night.

Almost 25 years later, we felt quite content as we hiked back toward Shoreview Park. We continued clockwise on the Boeing Creek Loop Trail, and headed for the dry creek crossing. Indeed, this crossing is truly dry, and a far cry from the wet one in the ravine below.

We soon left the Boeing Creek Trail, and turned left to head back uphill and rejoin the Forest Loop Trail. Now on familiar ground, we all recognized this as the same route where we began our hike from Shoreview Park. The sun drew us forward as we made our way back toward the parking lot.

After the hike, the kids played at the playground while the adults chatted nearby. There’s nothing like the golden glow of a mild autumn evening to make one want to linger. And linger we did, savoring the beauty of our surroundings. It’s good to know that nature is always close at hand, and all we need to do is take a make the most of these moments and enjoy it.