Scriber Lake Park trails

Location: Lynnwood.

Length: About a 1-mile loop (when all trails are accessible).

Level of difficulty: Level-to-gentle paved paths, bark trails and boardwalks.

Setting: Although record-breaking rains have flooded the bark trails closest to Scriber Lake, it's actually a good time to get out for a stroll and a Wetlands 101 lesson. The lake is actually a rare peat bog, where dead vegetation is gradually accumulating, and time and pressure are turning the material into peat.

Highlights: Pass the trail map and the restrooms, and take the bark trail to the right. Tall thickets of shrubs topped by brown seed plumes surround you. This is hardhack, a native wetlands plant that loves standing water, named by settlers because its dense stands were "hard to hack." You'll feel as though you're walking on a saturated sponge here. This valuable, hard-working soggy ground holds the area's rain and runoff, stores it and filters it. Water flanks the sides of the trail and eventually floods it.

Retrace your steps to the restrooms, and take the trail to the left that soon turns to pavement. An overlook on the left offers a peek at the lake; the next left leads to the flooded bark trail that you just left. Along this trail, notice the abrupt change in vegetation. On the lake side are blackberry-looking plants (but with no thorns) called salmonberry, which always indicate moderately moist conditions. There are also some cedars on this side, too, which don't mind "getting their feet wet" as much as some of the other local conifers. On the other side of the trail, a small hill rises quickly; this upland forest marks drier conditions.

Facilities: Restrooms and seasonal water fountain.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect for pets. No bikes on sawdust trails. Please do not feed the waterfowl.

Directions: From Interstate 5 northbound, take Exit 181A and turn left on 44th Avenue West. Cross under the freeway, and in several blocks turn left on 196th Street Southwest. In .9 mile, a long block shy of Highway 99, turn left on Scriber Lake Road, which is across from 58th Avenue West. Take the first left, on 198th Street Southwest, and the park entrance is on your left. From Interstate 5 heading south, take exit 181, turn right on 196th Street Southwest and proceed as above.

Bus: Community Transit routes 114, 115 and 101 go near the park. 800-562-1375 or www.commtrans.org.

For more information: 425-771-4030 or www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

— Cathy McDonald, Special to The Seattle Times

Renton-based freelancer Cathy McDonald, a former geologist, has written about science and nature travel for 20 years. She's currently a travel guidebook editor at Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door.