Alder Creek Natural Area–Lake Washington, 10 sights is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Washington Park Arboretum near Hunts Point, WA. The route passes Lake Washington, SR 520 Viewpoint, SR 520 Viewpoint and 5 more before reaching Alder Creek Natural Area at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 245 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi16 – 141 ft11.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: SR 520 Trail 47.63684, -122.23417
Nearest town Hunts Point, WA
Directions
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Alder Creek Natural Area–Lake Washington, 10 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 245 ft · 3 hr 21 min
Elevation 16–142 ft
Out & Back · Washington Park Arboretum
Trailhead: SR 520 Trail · 47.63684, -122.23417
Weather Aug 4: Clear, high 84°F / low 59° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:50 AM · sunset 8:42 PM
Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Evergreen Point Road stop 195 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on SR 520 Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Lake Washington.
- 0.2 miPass SR 520 Viewpoint.
- 2.9 miPass SR 520 Viewpoint.
- 150 ftPass Montlake Cut.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Arboretum Waterfront Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Washington Park Arboretum Beach.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 200 ftSharp right onto Foster Point Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miPass Washington Park Arboretum Beach.
- 500 ftPass Foster Point.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Arboretum Loop Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Azalea Way, heading W.
- 300 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Lookout Loop, heading S.
- 250 ftPass Lookout.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftPass Alder Creek Natural Area.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftReach Alder Creek Natural Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Azalea Way, heading SW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Arboretum Loop Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 200 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Foster Point Trail, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Arboretum Waterfront Trail, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto SR 520 Trail, heading N.
- 2.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
70% paved20% gravel5% other5% dirt
Weather
ClearTemperature 84°F59°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity66%
Rained 0.1″ 2 days ago
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 5:50 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:42 PM
Wed
89°63°
Thu
95°61°
Fri
88°59°
Sat
86°57°
Sun
84°58°
Mon
84°59°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 8:17 PM for the 8:42 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM — 17 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Evergreen Point Road stop 195 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from SR 520 Trail Trailhead
- Wetherill Nature Preserve & Lake Washington via SR 520 Trail 1.1 mi · ▲ 30 ft
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