Meadowdale Beach Trail- Edmonds

If you're thinking you want to hike but don't want to drive for hours, or the winter weather has made getting up into the hills treacherous, there are also a lot of hikes closer in.  One of my favorites is the Meadowdale Beach Trail.  I have been on it numerous times, but needed a quick-ish close in hike for this weekend so I could get back in time for football so I went yesterday morning again. It was a beautiful day for fall leaves and autumn sunbeams cutting through the tree canopy. In the summer, this trail is a nice spot to find both blackberries and huckleberries.  It is a busy trail, so even when it is raining it's rare to have it to yourself, but I think that is pretty common for urban area trails.  The undergrowth is taller than I am in some spots and the sword ferns are huge.  Other ferns grow on the trees, and some are furry with them.

This trail goes through some pretty forest, and then winds along Lunds Creek to the beach.  Tiny tributaries cross the trail in a few spots, and though the creek is shallow, I have seen large salmon attempting to swim upstream to spawn.

Round trip, the trail is 2 1/2 miles to the beach and back up to the parking lot.  The first 1/2 mile is downhill, so bear in mind you'll be coming up that for the last 1/2 mile.  The steepest part has steps cut in.  There are benches and even a set of pull-up bars along the trail for resting or adding some extra exercise to your work-out.  Be aware that unless it is extremely dry out, there are muddy/slippery spots on this trail, although it is very well maintained.  At the bottom where it flattens out, you may notice that English ivy is a problem up the slope north of the trail.  Quite a lot of it was taken out by a work group, and hopefully they will be back for the rest.  If I find out when I'd be happy to join them.  A peace pole has also been erected along the end of the trail.

Just before the beach, you go through an underpass which passes below the train track.  This is the same underpass that Lunds Creek uses, and though it tends to flow beneath the boardwalk, it doesn't always stay put and sometimes joins the foot traffic above after heavy rains. 

You come out onto a nice sandy beach with driftwood logs, and a great view of the Sound.  I have seen seals and sealions out there, and yesterday saw two bald eagles flying overhead. 
Get out there!  : )