The Lowell Riverfront Trail in Everett is a bit of a twofer.
If you like an easy 1.5-mile stroll on a paved, 10-foot walkway along the Snohomish River, it’s for you.
No need to rush. You can amble along the river and watch an eagle or an osprey soar overhead or see a seal or maybe even some otters swimming by. Or you can stop at one of the many picnic tables, have a snack, hydrate, and watch the river roll along.
On weekdays, the river is mostly calming and quiet with a heron or two searching for a meal. On weekends, there’s a lot more action, including boaters and anglers.
The river is one option.
The other is a graveled path through reed-choked ponds used to harbor runoff water from nearby I-5.
The water is piped from the freeway on an overhead aqueduct and splashed onto some rocks to create a waterfall. There, the runoff flows into a couple of ponds, where the reeds take out road debris and other bad stuff before the water wends its way into the river.
The manmade wetland was established a few years ago when I-5 was revamped with new exits and entrances and 41st Street was extended. They needed a place to put the runoff from all that new pavement. They could have followed the usual practice of digging a big hole for the water and putting a chain-link fence around it, but instead they piped it to Lowell and created a wetland as part of the river trail system.
The wetland has its own environment, attracting a lot of insects, different birds, and different animal life than that of the river.
On a recent walk, I saw ducks, red-winged black birds, lots of frogs and tadpoles, dragon and damsel flies, and even a small beaver. It reminded me of the areas I used to hang out at when I was young, but those areas didn’t have a nice gravel path to make things easy.
For that reason, I think I like the wetlands better, but there’s no reason that you can’t do both. The ponds are just a short side trip from the riverfront trail.
And the riverfront trail alone offers lots of options.
During recent walks, I saw individuals and groups, families, people of all ages, dog walkers, skate boarders, babies in strollers, and bicyclists. The walk has been spectacular during the recent clear and sunny weather. But it would also be good on a rainy day in winter.
Barry Martin of the Everett Parks Department said the riverfront trail is an easy one for people of all abilities because there’s no elevation gain and the asphalt paving makes for solid footing.
“It’s such a beautiful trail,” he said. “There are people on it every day except when it snows.”
Martin noted that in addition to the abundant wildlife, the trail also gives people a hint of Everett’s days as a logging community. “It’s an interesting link to our early history,” he said.
He noted that the old lumber mill was cleared away long ago, but you can still see pilings along the river where workers handled the logs.
The trail links up with Rotary Park a short distance upriver. It has ample parking, water fountains, and portable restrooms.
To get there
Head east on 41st Street in Everett and pass over I-5. Turn right on S. Third Avenue. Take a left on Lowell-Snohomish River Road/Lenora Street. The park is on your left after you cross the railroad tracks.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
