By longstanding tradition, we visit the baby herons at Commodore Park on July 4th, with a hike from Ballard Locks to and through Discovery Park as an excuse. This year, there is no minus tide coincidentally on the same day, so we can spend more time on some of the lesser known trails inside Discovery Park. So...
We'll meet near the restroom beside the large lock at 9am (see Logistics for details).
We'll start by crossing over the locks and weir to Commodore Park, where we'll visit the heron rookery. Then we'll head on to Discovery Park, where we can sample some of the trails, before heading down to the beach, where we'll stop for lunch. Sadly, the tide will be in, so no beachcombing this time. After lunch, we'll head back to the Locks by different paths.
The exact route will depend on things like whether there is rain the day before (which can make some trails mushy), but may include some or all of: Kiwanis Ravine (to see where the herons used to nest before eagles drove them away), the Secret Trail in Discovery Park that everyone knows about, the three trees that we think are sequoias (would appreciate confirmation or otherwise by tree experts!), an advance check on our favorite blackberry picking spots (there won't be blackberries yet, so this is just to check out the berry-picking prospects and so folks know where these are).
Note: This year, we won't aim to scurry back to the Locks to be there in time for the Seattle Civic Band concert at 2pm, since most folks just headed home before the concert in the past few years. But if anyone would like to get there in time, we can split off a group for that. Also, our end time allows plenty of time for folks to get to the Seafair 4th party at Gas Works Park, which opens at 3pm, but concerts don't start til 5pm. Info about both events:
Concerts at the Locks: https://ballardlocks.org/free-summer-concerts.html
Seafair 4th at Gas Works Park: https://www.seafair.org/4th-of-july/gas-works-park/
Logistics:
Meet at 9am at the north side of the big lock, near the restroom:
https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/285289604#map=18/47.665953/-122.397013
Bring water, lunch, snacks.
There will be actual trails, including some social (informal) trails, and places that tend to get mushy. Wear hiking shoes or boots with good traction, that you don't mind getting mud on.
Bus riders: Buses will be on a Sunday schedule. The best bus is the #44 -- there is a run that arrives at Market NW & NW 30th at about 8:45am. (Note Google Maps and Metro Tripplanner will tell you to get off at 32nd NW. They don't know where the actual Locks entrance is. Get off at 30th NW, cross the street, walk south on the path between the apartment buildings, and you will be aimed at the entrance.) If you're coming from the south, you could take Link to the UW station -- there is a #44 stop just across the street, southbound on Montlake Blvd. Folks coming from downtown could consider taking the #33 to the end of the line at the north parking lot in Discovery Park, and walking to Commodore Park, and across the locks. (If you do this, you'll need to come meet us at the locks -- we are likely not going near the north parking lot on our way into Discovery Park.)
Drivers: The parking lot at the main entrance to the Locks likely does not have a time limit on the 4th, but if there's a worry, there is usually street parking in the residential area north of the Locks.
Cyclists: There are bike racks along the main walkway, before the visitors center. No, you can't walk your bike along the trails we're taking. :D
Use comments to coordinate.
