Weowna Park

Location: Bellevue.

Length: Several miles of bark/dirt trails.

Level of difficulty: Moderately steep climb from the eastern trailheads; otherwise, level-to-moderate trails and staircases roller-coaster up and down throughout the park.

Setting: This 80-acre little-known gem harbors some of Bellevue's largest conifers, along with an award-winning engineering project. Originally, the waters of Phantom Lake flowed north, which created widespread wetlands in the area during the winter. To drain the land for farming, an industrious pioneer dug an eastern outlet for the lake in the 1890s which diverted water down to Lake Sammamish.

However, over the years, the stream cut a steep canyon into the unstable ridge of loose glacial debris. To stabilize the streambed, concrete was sprayed onto eroding banks (although you'd have to know where to look, as lines of pebbles simulate old streambeds within glacial deposits). The streambed currently contains water (and two small waterfalls) only from late fall through late spring.

Highlights: Well-marked guideposts at junctions keep you from getting lost in the wilds of Bellevue. To protect the land from being developed, the area was acquired by the parks department through community efforts. When thinking of the park's name, don't think ancient Salish origins; instead, think "We own a park."

Facilities: Vault toilets and water at Phantom Lake off 156th Avenue Southeast.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect; no bikes allowed.

Directions: Take I-90 east to Exit 13, and turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp onto West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast (heading west on I-90, take Exit 13 and turn right off the ramp). In 3 miles, pull off to the left at the Heron's Gate trailhead (parking for four cars; another trailhead leads off West Lake Sammamish Parkway 2.2 miles from I-90, but lacks parking). The western trailheads for the park are in Bellevue along 168th Avenue Southeast at Southeast 16th Street and Southeast 19th Street (park on street). Parking is also available at Lake Hills Park, 1200 164th Ave. S.E.

Information: www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/page.asp?view=10107 or 425-452-6881

Cathy McDonald is co-author with Stephen Whitney of "Nature Walks In and Around Seattle," with photographs by James Hendrickson (The Mountaineers, second edition, 1997).