Hike 11: NE 11th St to Fay Road (Carnation to Stillwater)

Driving there:  From Highway 203 south of Carnation, turn East onto NE 11th Street.  In about a block the paved road curves left, but you continue straight East on the gravel road.  Just before the sign "Griffin Creek Natural Area", turn left into a free parking area.

I figure we're about halfway on our trip to Puget Sound.  Today may also be the flattest section of the trip.  It's been a pretty dry winter so far, and we had another sunny day.  The trail crosses the Tolt river and goes through the back of Carnation, and past a "disc golf" park.  Ya learn somethin' new every day!

Tolt river

Most of King county is wooded and hilly, so I really enjoy the long views and straight lines around here.

Huh?

We went through the fields, across the highway, and past the beaver ponds at Stillwater, ending up in a hunting reserve on a beautiful January afternoon. 

Hike 10: 356th Ave SE to NE 11th St (Fall City to Carnation)

Driving there:  Take I-90 exit 22.  Go through Preston to Fall City.  Cross the bridge, and at the traffic circle go East on Hwy 202.   Take 202 about a mile to 356th.  Turn left onto 356th and go 0.4 miles uphill to where the trail crosses the road.  Free parking on both sides of the road.

We had a pretty good day for hiking, clear, frosty, and foggy in places.

Snoqualmie Valley east of Fall City

There were a couple of high trestles, the first one had a view across the valley.  There were a lot of views through the trees, but not many openings.  There were lots of unmarked side trails again.  Maybe mountain bikers use them.  We saw a few bikes and horses, but not too many walkers.