Looking for outdoor activities in Bellevue, WA? Rain or shine, a walk under the canopy of the lush second-growth forest in Coal Creek is guaranteed to satisfy your soul. Located in South Bellevue, a mere fifteen minutes (7 miles) from bustling downtown Bellevue, the Coal Creek Trail offers 3.7 miles of well-marked easy hiking trails weaving through a 440-acre park.
Wildlife and Nature Along the Coal Creek Trail
The park is home to a vast eco-system that includes three kinds of owls, enormous pileated woodpeckers, Red-tailed and Northern Goshawks, bright blue Steller’s Jays, Great blue herons, and a variety of small songbirds. Walking on a combination of dirt and wood-chip surfaces, foot bridges cross creeks and flowing water as the trails pass by small waterfalls.
Enormous stumps scattered throughout the park are evidence of once-abundant, old growth tall trees. Today, new growth Douglas fir and Western hemlock reach high into the sky – these “youngsters” are only one hundred years old, or less. Spruce, Cottonwood, Bigleaf and Vine maples fill in the gaps. And Western red cedar, revered by Pacific Northwest Native Americans as the “Tree of Life” is making a comeback.
The Return of the Salmon to Coal Creek
One of the most exciting things to happen along the Coal Creek Trail is the return of salmon to the creeks. Working closely with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s Fisheries Department, the City of Bellevue and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Coho salmon have been re-seeded into the streams. This is part of an environmental effort to restore local waterways which once teemed with salmon. Imagine walking by the Red Cedar trailhead and witnessing the return of the salmon as they swim upstream to their spawning grounds – it will take your breath away.
Learn more about Salmon in Bellevue.
Coal Creek Natural Area Trailheads
Thanks to passionate volunteers working with the City of Bellevue, the Coal Creek Natural area makes ongoing trail repairs and boasts clearly marked trailheads, “green” stormwater infrastructure, bridge crossings, staircases, signage, and several kiosks that describe the area’s natural and man-made history…