Sammamish Walks
The 2013 walks schedule is now available. The season begins on April 20 and walks are held monthly, typically on the third Saturday of the month. Walks start at 10 AM and last for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
- Walks are led by volunteers – wildlife experts, naturalists, photographers, parks commissioners and others – all of them knowledgeable and enthusiastic about our regional parks and trails.
- Bring your cameras or binoculars but leave your dogs at home as we will be focusing on plants and wildlife.
- To sign up, go to the Home page and click on the Events box.
Sammamish Commons “I Spy” Walk – April 20 – CLOSED
Our first walk of the season was an “I Spy” walk, held in conjunction with the Earth Day Event and led by Eastlake High School graduate, Chyena Markley, who is now a Parks and Recreation student at Western Washington University. The walk was aimed at children and their parents.
Pine Lake Park History Walk – May 18 – CLOSED
Join Sammamish Heritage Society members Nan Gordon and Steve Thues for a walk through Pine Lake Park. Learn about local history and about the geologic origins of the Sammamish Plateau as you move along the gentle trails that skirt the lake, cross wetlands and cut through dense woods.
Beaver Lake Park “I Spy” Walk – June 15
This will be another walk focused on children and their parents. Two Parks and Recreation students from Western Washington University will lead this walk, focusing on nature and encouraging children to take in their surroundings as they try to spot objects hidden in the woods.
Big Rock Park – July 20
Explore one of our newest parks. Formerly known as “SE 8th Street Park,” this beautiful property has now been renamed in recognition of the huge boulder, deposited during the last ice age, located along one of the beautiful and well-marked trails. Sammamish Heritage Society member, Steve Thues, and former Parks Commissioner, Judy Petersen, will focus on the origins of this park and plans for preservation of historical buildings and artifacts.
Evans Creek Preserve – August 17
Sammamish Parks Commissioner Brad Conner will lead this walk along trails and boardwalks constructed by volunteers and city staff over the past two years. Unlike our many densely-forested parks, this 179-acre property provides views of meadows and wetlands as you walk along newly-constructed trails and boardwalks.
Beaver Lake Preserve – September 21
Join Parks Commissioner Hank Klein and Audubon member Janice King on a 1.2-mile walk through one of our least-visited city parks. Spanning both sides of Beaver Lake Drive, this 67-acre forest, with mature trees and 1600 feet of Beaver Lake shoreline, is home to a variety of wildlife, including wood ducks, barred owls and the northern red-legged frog.
Soaring Eagle Park – October 19
With 640 acres and almost 13 miles of trails, every walk through Soaring Eagle is a new experience. Our guide, Randy Jackson, knows every twist and turn in this fascinating and complex trail system and he will stop from time to time to explain the trail markers, talk about wildlife and discuss the origins of this 640-acre King County Park.
