AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Park pond pads - panoramio.jpg
Scott Thompson · CC BY 3.0
Washington Park Arboretum

Alder Creek Natural Area–Lake Washington, 8 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Alder Creek Natural Area–Lake Washington, 8 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Washington Park Arboretum near Montlake, WA. The route passes Lake Washington, Montlake Cut, Washington Park Arboretum Beach and 3 more before reaching Alder Creek Natural Area at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi16 – 115 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: SR 520 Trail 47.64570, -122.30142
Nearest town Montlake, WA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Alder Creek Natural Area–Lake Washington, 8 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 16–115 ft

Out & Back · Washington Park Arboretum

Trailhead: SR 520 Trail · 47.64570, -122.30142

Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 76°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:51 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Montlake Boulevard East stop 220 m from the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Washington.
  3. 50 ftPass Montlake Cut.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Arboretum Waterfront Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miPass Washington Park Arboretum Beach.
  6. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 200 ftSharp right onto Foster Point Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miPass Washington Park Arboretum Beach.
  9. 400 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 100 ftPass Foster Point.
  11. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 250 ftTurn right onto Arboretum Loop Trail, heading SW.
  14. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 450 ftBear right, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Azalea Way, heading S.
  19. 350 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  21. 150 ftSharp right onto Lookout Loop, heading SW.
  22. 400 ftPass Lookout.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  24. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  26. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  28. 0.1 miReach Alder Creek Natural Area, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  32. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  33. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftSharp right onto Azalea Way, heading SE.
  35. 300 ftContinue straight onto Arboretum Loop Trail, heading N.
  36. 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  41. 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  43. 250 ftContinue straight onto Foster Point Trail, heading N.
  44. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 0.3 miSharp left onto Arboretum Waterfront Trail, heading N.
  46. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lookout-foster-point-out-back-8-viewpoints-6-km-bf3a

Trail surface

58% gravel18% paved15% other8% dirt1% boardwalk

Weather

OvercastTemperature 76°F50°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity62%
Hourly temperature
80°50°
Sunrise 5:51 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:41 PM
Tue 83°57°
Wed 88°59°
Thu 96°58°
Fri 89°57°
Sat 87°56°
Sun 85°56°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Montlake Boulevard East stop 220 m from the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from SR 520 Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Montlake, Washington