North Creek Park Boardwalk, Bothell, Washington

Looking for more parks to explore around North Seattle?
Check out the trails at the Brightwater Center, Magnuson Park, or Saint Edward State Park.

GOOD TO KNOW

The boardwalk is in a city park, so no permits or passes are required, and you’ll find amenities including restrooms, a playground, and picnic tables. Because it’s in an urban setting, you’ll see some houses and hear freeway traffic in the distance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Many birds make the wetlands here their home. We saw an eagle on the hunt, smaller birds of prey, and a variety of ducks.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The wobbly floating boardwalk sure is fun! Check out the water for fast-moving currents and little whirlpools, and try racing sticks downstream when the water level’s high. The birds were pretty cool, and in the warmer seasons, you may find other animals. A couple of colorful signs showcase the various creatures that make the wetlands their home. Plus, there’s the playground!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

If you live in the general North Seattle area, this park makes for an easy outing that will only take a few hours of your time. But if you have extra time on your hands and are feeling hungry, the McMenamins Anderson School is only a 15 minute drive south. Another nearby park worth exploring is the Brightwater Center, with three miles of fun, interconnected trails.

Almost as soon as our house was out of sight, the rain, which had been merely a few scattered drops, grew heavy. It wasn’t the kind of day that made you long for the out of doors, but we had a plan to meet friends at the trailhead, so onward we drove. Once at the park, we put the well-known Scandinavian maxim of “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,” into practice, pulling on rain pants and jackets. Our friends also admitted that, had it not been for our plan to meet up, they likely would have stayed snug at home.

Fortunately, a boardwalk makes a great outing in any weather. It wasn’t muddy, or even especially slippery, and (perhaps because of the weather) we had the place to ourselves. The boys ran ahead, peered into the water rushing under our feet, finding bubbles and whirlpools, and tiny plants growing green just beneath the surface. Flocks of ducks rose from the marshes, and an eagle swooped overhead. After a few minutes, it returned, marsh grasses trailing from its talons. We assumed that meant a successful hunt.

The trail ends abruptly near the duck pond at the opposite end of the park, not far from some old sheds and an abandoned trailer home. As we headed back, the rain lessened, then stopped. The kids enthusiastically ran to the playground as soon as we reached the parking lot.

“We should have come later,” my husband said. “We would have missed the rain.”

“Well, or just get caught in the rain on the way back when it starts up again,” our friend said. Sure enough, only minutes later, the rain returned. We called the kids over from the playground to head for home.

Still, we were all glad to have made the effort to get out, and the rain certainly didn’t dampen the kids’ enthusiasm. Maybe we’ll return in spring, when new growth will flood the park with green. And if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll spy frogs or turtles in the marsh.