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Starting Point: Carkeek Park, Education Center at Main Entrance, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road Destination: Carkeek Park Trails Total distance: 4 miles Espresso Stop: Starbucks, 9999 Holman Road NW (bottom of map, at end of blue line). Terrain: Hilly. Walking sticks recommended. Walking Time: 2 hours |
Description: Click here for detail trail map. From the parking lot, walk behind the Education Center to the Education Center Trail. Follow this trail until it meets the road (the Metro Plant will be across the road). Turn right, cross a stream, and turn right again to Hillclimb Trail. Immediately after the second hairpin turn, turn left onto North Traverse. Follow this trail until it ends at Grand Fir Trail. Turn right onto Grand Fir Trail and continue past Signpost #2 to Signpost #1. Here turn left then immediately turn right to continue on the Grand Fir Trail. At the next intersection, turn left onto North Bluff Trail. Continue south to a picnic area (restrooms are available here). Continue past the fire pit to the base of the bridge over the railroad tracks. Do not cross the bridge. Keep right onto the continuation of the trail. The trail passes a pond on your left and continues to an open field. Turn left and cross the field to a small parking lot. In the parking lot, turn right and enter the Clay Pit Trail. Follow this trail to the South Ridge Trail at Signpost #3. Turn left and follow the South Ridge Trail past Signposts 6 and 7 (go straight at each of these signposts) until it meets the Piper's Creek Trail at Signpost #8. Turn right onto Piper's Creek Trail and climb up to the Eddie McAbee Entrance on NW 100th Place. Cross the street and walk between the apartment building and the QFC to the parking lot. In the parking lot, turn right and walk to the far end of the QFC. Starbucks will be on your right
After expresso, return through the parking lot to NW 100th Place. Cross NW 100th Place and turn right. NW 100th Place becomes NW 103rd St. which takes you out to 3rd Ave. NW. Turn left onto 3rd Ave. NW. Just after passing Viewlands School, turn left onto NW 107th St., then right onto 4th Ave. NW. Turn left onto NW 110th St. Follow NW 110th St (which becomes Carkeek Park Road) back to the park main entrance.
Directions to Starting Point: From Greenwood Avenue NW, turn west onto NW 117th St. Drive to the end, turn left, then take the right fork. This becomes NW 116th St. and then Carkeek Park Road. The park main entrance is on your right. Immediately after turning into the park, turn right into the Education Center parking lot.