What a great way to “Say goodbye to 2024 and ring in 2025” hiking and enjoying the day with CAI PNW friends!

The hike goes down a lushly forested ravine with a babbling creek to its estuary as it empties into Puget Sound. Heading to the beach, enjoy the panorama of Brown’s Bay, Puget Sound, the islands, and the Olympic Mountains. Watch seabirds and gobeachcombing to look for crab shells, anemones, and other treasures.

At the bottom of the staircase (how many stairs you ask…there are 90 gentle stairs!) you start hearing Lunds Gulch Creek. It is named after John Lund, who homesteaded here in 1878. The trail levels out and follows closely along the creek. The forest is now open mixed forest with big leaf maple, Western red cedar, Sitka spruce, and a salmonberry understory. Note the impressive stumps of old growth Western red cedar that were left from logging, with the lumberjacks’ springboard notches still showing.

Closer to the beach, the forest becomes alder forest. There is a covered area for our lunch/snacks and a privy. Or we can sit on logs along the beach, enjoy the view and have lunch. Be sure to fuel up on lunch as the hike back to the parking lot is mostly uphill and includes the stairs!!

As we know, the weather often does not cooperate this time of year! If rainy, we will regroup and enjoy breakfast at the Family Pancake House, a family-owned and operated restaurant in Edmonds. They serve delicious meals made from scratch with fresh, local, quality ingredients.

Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip- out and back hike

Gain: 425 feet

Entry Pass: None

Bring: lunch, snacks, water, waterproof clothing, and binoculars

More detailed information will be emailed to those who sign-up.

RSVP to Kendra by December 28, 2024

Klwanzie2 at gmail.com