Location: Woodinville
Address: 23210 Paradise Lake Rd, Woodinville
Acreage: 793
This enormous Eastside park was a completely new find for me recently, a tip from a hiking-loving friend.
If you are out of ideas for winter hikes in the lowlands, Paradise Valley is a worthy outing. Mostly flat trails–some a bit muddy–are easy on the knees and kid-friendly in length. Many hikers on the Sunday afternoon we visited were enjoying a walk with their dogs on leash. It’s apparently a very popular equestrian area, too, but we didn’t see any pets larger than a Labrador that day.
We did see a large number of mountain bikes, and for good reason. Bikers will find about 10 miles of single track, much of it good for beginning and intermediate riders.
The parking lot has an information kiosk, where you’ll find a great map detailing all the 13 miles of trails and what you’re allowed to do on each one. Several are multi-use, so expect to see bikes and horses. If you’re on foot and want peace and quiet, opt for the foot traffic only trails. Signage is excellent in the park, so while there are constant choices to make about which direction to turn, it’s easy to follow your desired route and find your way back to your car.
The Lloyd family homesteaded Paradise Valley beginning in 1887, raising sheep and cattle here. They also logged sections of their property, which is clear in the park as most of the trees appear to be fairly recent second, or possibly third, growth. Ownership of the land was transferred, in part with a donation from the Lloyd family, to Snohomish County in batches starting in 2000.
Signs indicate that bears have been spotted recently, and other animals that shelter in the park include deer, coyote, cougar and many species of birds and fish.
#495 (Visited 1/13/19)