Beaver Lake Loop–wetland wonderland on Lord Hill
Location: Lord Hill Park near Snohomish
Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks
Roundtrip: 2.2 miles
High Point: 650 feet
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: easy
Contact: Snohomish County Parks
Notes: Dogs must be on leash; Map available online
Access: From Everett, head east on US 2 for 8.0 miles and take 88th Street SE Exit. Turn right onto 88th Street SE (which eventually becomes 2nd Street) and drive 0.6 mile. Then turn left onto Lincoln Ave which becomes the Old Snohomish-Monroe Highway and drive for 2.7 miles. Next turn right onto 127th Ave SE and proceed for 1.6 miles to park entrance and trailhead on your left.
Good to know: dog-friendly, kid-friendly, snow-free winter hike, good trail running destination
Note: During the Stay At Home order addressing the COVID19 Pandemic, you are allowed to get outside to walk, run or hike–but you should only access local parks that are open.
Stay Local, Stay 6 Feet Apart (Social-Distancing), and if you arrive and it is crowded, go elsewhere. Help Flatten the Curve.
The crown jewel of the Snohomish County Park system, Lord Hill contains over 1,460 acres of undeveloped ridge along the Snohomish River between the bustling communities of Snohomish and Monroe. Traversed by more than 30 miles of trails and several old woods roads, the park offers plenty of good hiking options. Enjoy quiet woodland walks, wetlands explorations, riverside rambling, and a couple of scenic viewpoints, too. A popular and fairly easy trip and one that can be enjoyed by hikers of all ages and abilities is the 2.2 mile Beaver Lake Loop.
From the main parking area and trailhead set out on a fine wide path for .4 mile gently dropping to a junction. You’ll be returning on the path to the right, so head left through a tunnel of alders. After another .4 mile reach a junction with the Pipeline Trail, a main thoroughfare through the park along a buried pipeline. Marshy wildlife rich Beaver Lake (not quite a lake actually) lies just to the left. Scan the reeds and snags for avian life.
Now continue south along the lake’s shore and after another .3 mile reach a four way junction. The Pipeline Trail continues straight ahead remaining high on a forested ridge. The trail left heads to Temple Pond, a nice one mile side trip loop. Check it out or head right on the Pipeline Cut-off Trail reaching the park’s Main Trail after another .1 mile.
Now follow this trail right avoiding side trails and return back to the trailhead after 1.0 mile. This loop is a good choice any time of year, but it particularly makes for a good late fall or winter walk. And when the rare occurrence of a blanketing snow covers the park, the Beaver Lake Loop makes for an excellent introductory snowshoe route. The wide trail and gentle grades extends a friendly welcome to novice snowshoers and cross-country skiers.
For detailed information on the trails of Lord Hill and many other trails and parks throughout Western Snohomish County, Whidbey Island and Camano Island; Pick up a copy of my Urban Trails Everett Book (Mountaineers Books).
