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Terrace Creek Park
February 21, 2008 - 02:25 PM
by Vince Richardson

Part of the Terrace Creek Trail cuts through a ravine.
This trail isn’t going to win many beauty prizes. But it has its scenic spots. It’s an urban trail that gets a lot of use — both legal and illegal. There were plenty of beer cans, beer bottles and other debris. There are, however, sections that are picturesque. You just have to look a little harder than usual.

Terrace Creek bubbles alongside the trail this time of the year when there is plenty of water looking for places to run. During the summer months, the creek isn’t much more than sections of stagnant water.

The trail also borders a disc golf course. Those metal contraptions are the course’s holes. The fact that the area is so overgrown means disc golfers must either be solid players or have plenty of discs in their bags.

Distance: 2 miles

Destination: Semi-loop trail

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation gain: Minimal

Getting there: Interstate 5 south toward Everett. Take Exit 179. Turn left on 220th Street Southwest. Turn right on 56th Avenue West, then left on 236th Street Southwest. Continue about 0.8 of a mile. At the stop sign, turn left on 48th Avenue West. The entrance to the park is on the corner of 48th Avenue West and 233rd Street Southwest.

The Trek: As far as scenery is concerned, this hike is not going to come anywhere close to an excursion into the Cascades. In a pinch, however, it does the job.

Park in the small lot by the playground and find the sign for the trailhead.

Hike on a sidewalk around the large grass field. After entering the forest, the trail changes to a mixture of gravel and mud.

At a gate, stay left and continue deeper into the forest. Springboard notches in several tree stumps are evidence that logging took place many years ago.

The trail seemingly comes to an end at a large clearing at the bottom of a ravine. There are several options at this point. Venturing right, the trail returns to pavement for a short distance before ending at 221 Street Southwest.

The more adventuresome can continue past the paved trail and head up a solid incline that is more gully than trail. Walk down the other side and once again meet the street.

If you have any interest in finding out where all the crud from neighborhood streets is deposited after it has been sucked up by street sweepers, well, here’s your chance. Take a left at the large concrete blocks and scramble up and over a hill of dirt to find out.

Behind the street sweeper dumping grounds lies another disc golf hole and tee box. Venture over the edge and bushwhack to the bottom of the gully.

There are a lot of trails that honeycomb the area. Many lead to streets or backyards.

To return to the rig, it’s best to turn around to return from whence you came.