AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights

12 mi · ▲ 1,425 ft · 4 hr 43 min

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights is a 12-mile out-and-back in Seattle Public Utilities near Lake Marcel, WA. The route passes Swans Mill Pond before reaching Seattle City Light Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,425 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi341 – 784 ft · steepest grade: 20%12.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.71012, -121.85746
Nearest town Lake Marcel, WA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights

12 mi · ▲ 1,425 ft · 4 hr 43 min

Elevation 343–783 ft

Out & Back · Seattle Public Utilities

Trailhead: 47.71012, -121.85746

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 72°F / low 49° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Yellow, heading E.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Sneaky, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 150 ftBear left onto Ridge, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  8. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left onto Sticks, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Stones, heading SE.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miBear right onto Swan Loop Road, heading NW.
  17. 1.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  18. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 0.1 miPass Swans Mill Pond.
  20. 150 ftSharp right onto Swan Mill Road, heading W.
  21. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miReach Seattle City Light Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  26. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  27. 0.1 miSharp left onto Swan Loop Road, heading S.
  28. 1.3 miBear left, heading E.
  29. 1.7 miBear left, heading W.
  30. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  32. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 0.2 miTurn left onto Stones, heading W.
  34. 0.2 miBear right onto Sticks, heading W.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  37. 0.4 miBear left onto Ridge, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miBear right onto Sneaky, heading NW.
  39. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.1 miTurn right onto Yellow, heading N.
  41. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  42. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  43. 0.2 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/swans-mill-pond-swans-mill-pond-out-back-17-km-4fa7

Trail surface

5% dirt95% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 72°F49°
Precip0%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity77%
Hourly temperature
75°45°
Sunrise 5:48 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:41 PM
Tue 81°56°
Wed 87°60°
Thu 90°58°
Fri 82°52°
Sat 79°52°
Sun 81°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.8 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lake Marcel, Washington