spencer island park

Not far from I-5 this place has a wide paved bike and walk path to the island. The island is actually a bird sanctuary and is almost other worldly due to the marshy environment. There's ample opportunity to examine lots of plants, draw pictures of log formations, or just walk along and enjoy the scenery. If you want to go to a nature preserve that's not far from the city this is the place to go. Make sure to take water with you, though, as there's no water available and not a lot of shade on a hot day.

Great park and good for birding with lots of marsh trials. Parking is a little sketchy so be careful with your car.

Spencer Island provides a wonderful range of walking options, up to several miles, in the shadow of the freeway and sewage treatment plant. It is a large restored wetland in the Snohomish River delta just north of Everett. The south end is a wildlife preserve (no dogs allowed here), but hunting (waterfowl) is allowed on the northern part. To get to the island you have to walk under the freeway and past the sewage treatment plant. But once there, one forgets about those unpleasantries while watching bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, ducks, gulls, and countless other birds. Once I watched a weasel carrying a mouse to its young across one of the many foot-bridges between the dikes. You can see picturesque boats (sadly, some are abandoned "derelict" vessels polluting the waters) on the river also. It's a great place to go when you want to soak up the sunshine and don't feel like hiking in the deep, dark forest. For a longer walk, park at nearby Langus Riverfront Park, where you may see rowing teams in their shells practicing on the Snohomish. (Note: there is a paved trail to the island, but once then it is "hog fuel" (basically sawdust) surfaces, so you would likely need a specialized wheelchair to move about the island.

Spencer Island is a little know and lightly visited gem. One will find wildlife everywhere from Bald Eagles to seals and fish. This is a great place for a quiet walk and don't forget your camera.