Mercer Slough Nature Park

Notes:  Every Saturday through September the Bellevue Parks Department leads three-hour canoe tours of the slough, they meet at Winters House; pre-registration not required.

Getting There:  Environmental Education Center & Bellefields Trailhead Directions: From I-405, take SE 8th Street exit, turn west. Turn left on 118th. Environmental Education Center and Bellefields Trailhead are on right before crossing under I-90.

Winters House, Blueberry Farm & Sweylocken Boat Launch Directions: From I-90, take Bellevue Way exit north. Sweyolocken, Blueberry Farm and Winters House are all on right along Bellevue Way before 112th Avenue SE.
 
Where to Go:  Just follow the trails which are pretty well maintained but can get very wet given the environment, be sure to bring appropriate shoes in the wetter seasons and enjoy the over 320 acres of wildlife habitat, agriculture, and freshwater wetland ecosystems including a unique canoe trail.

Setting:  This park has trails, a visitors center, environmental education center, picnic areas, waterfront, canoe launch, blueberry farm, and restrooms. The blueberry farm sells fresh seasonal produce.

Best Time to See the Birds:  There is always activity during all seasons, in spring you can see a lot of birds in their nesting activities, then later the insects become active and the swallows are active above the water.  In late summer and fall you can see salmon.

Birds Commonly Seen:  Great Blue Herons, many Ducks, Killdeer, Sparrows, Swallows, Red-tailed Hawks, Eagles, Towees, Kinglets, and Bushtits.

For more information: 

• Bellevue Parks
• Seattle P-I Hike of the Week