Walkabout: Clark Lake Park Trails

Location: Kent.

Length: About three-quarters of a mile, round-trip.

Level of difficulty: Level-to-gentle dirt/bark trails with a section of boardwalk.

Setting: This peaceful 123-acre park has open meadows, wetlands and clumps of forest, with its namesake lake providing a welcome haven for waterfowl. Originally a smaller King County park, it was turned over to the city of Kent in 1996, and an additional 78 acres acquired. Additional land acquisitions will eventually make the park a nice 167-acre chunk of protected land in a bustling suburban area. Generally, the main trail runs north-south through the park. Plans are to close some of the smaller parallel trails to minimize impact on the land, as well as create additional trails within the park.

Highlights: A public meeting last May solicited ideas to improve the park (notes available on the Web site below). Some improvements have already been completed; the removal last year of blackberry thickets extending into the lake's outlet stream resulted in the arrival last fall of more than 400 coho salmon, much to the delight of fisheries biologists. Plans also include adding more layers and varieties of vegetation, and interpretive signs.

Facilities: None.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect.

Directions: Take Highway 167 south to Kent, and take the exit for Highway 516/Willis Street. Head east on West Willis Street, and turn left on Central Avenue. Turn right on East James Street, which turns into Southeast 240th Street as you head up a long hill. The main parking lot for the park is on the right a few blocks past 124th Avenue Southeast (which is on the left). However, this lot is closed until Oct. 15 for restoration; to access the southern entrance, continue on Southeast 240th Street, turn right on 132nd Avenue Southeast, then right again on Southeast 248th Street. The park entrance is located on the right across from the elementary school.

More information: www.ci.kent.wa.us/ParksPlanningDevelopment or 253-856-5100

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