Reflective reading:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) -- “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
"Grant us the strength and the courage to change the things which can be changed, the patience and serenity to accept the things which cannot, and the wisdom to distinguish between the two." -- Reinhold Niebuhr
The number THREE (3) is significant in Christianity as it references the concept of Trinity...God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit...three as one.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) -- “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
"Grant us the strength and the courage to change the things which can be changed, the patience and serenity to accept the things which cannot, and the wisdom to distinguish between the two." -- Reinhold Niebuhr
The number THREE (3) is significant in Christianity as it references the concept of Trinity...God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit...three as one.
Trail overview: Two-part (south & north sections), mostly level, paved trail along Green River and Black River through residential, commercial and industrial areas.
Trail highlights:
South trail (4.7 miles) -- Fort Dent Park // Sounders training facility (WC + W) // Black River Riparian Forest // Waterworks Garden // Confluence of Green and Black Rivers
North trail 5.8 miles) -- Tukwila Community Center (WC + W) // Duwamish Garden Project // Cecil Moses Memorial Park (WC + W) // Duwamish Gardens // Duwamish Hill viewpoint // Green River & SEATAC departure viewpoint
Trail highlights:
South trail (4.7 miles) -- Fort Dent Park // Sounders training facility (WC + W) // Black River Riparian Forest // Waterworks Garden // Confluence of Green and Black Rivers
North trail 5.8 miles) -- Tukwila Community Center (WC + W) // Duwamish Garden Project // Cecil Moses Memorial Park (WC + W) // Duwamish Gardens // Duwamish Hill viewpoint // Green River & SEATAC departure viewpoint
Trailhead location:
South trailhead -- Subway restaurant at 7100 Fun Center Way, Tukwila, WA
North trailhead -- Tukwila Community Center (TCC = 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila)
South trailhead -- Subway restaurant at 7100 Fun Center Way, Tukwila, WA
North trailhead -- Tukwila Community Center (TCC = 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila)
Trail description:
South trail -- Entry to Green River Trail is behind the Subway restaurant (WC + W) near the large electrical tower. Walk over pedestrian bridge (wide) #1, stay right to walk along river and behind the business park, cross river again using pedestrian walkway (narrow) #2, loop around and under the bridge to stay on River Trail. Pass by soccer fields and Seattle Sounders FC training facility. Just before you cross the third pedestrian bridge, take the right fork onto the Black River spur trail.
You can read the placard describing the fate of the Black River when the ship canal and locks were opened. We will learn more about this (both good and bad) on tomorrow’s hike (Cedar River hike #4). Walk under the railroad bridge, cross Monster Road, keep right on the other side and follow the trail into the Black River riparian forest. The trail winds along the north side of the forest and eventually exits into a shady business park. You will see the headquarters for the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate on the left. Continue down to SW 7th Street and take a right. At the stoplight continue straight ahead across Oakesdale Ave. Don’t be put off by the warning signs, for just past the bridge you will see a downhill “on-ramp” footpath leading to the main trail.
Shortly thereafter take the left uphill “off-ramp” footpath followed by another left at the next fork onto the dirt path....just remember to keep left!
You now enter Waterworks Gardens and will see a series of terraced storm water ponds as you continue on a slightly uphill path. At the very top is a viewpoint that looks southwest towards Renton and Tukwila.
At the end of the footpath, turn right on Monster Road and walk downhill to Oakesdale then turn left. Just past KP Corp you will see the Black River spur trail again on the left. Retrace your steps and pass underneath the railroad bridge.
Once you reach the Green River trail junction, take a quick right and walk onto the bridge. To the right you will see where the Green and Black Rivers join. It is not much to look at now, but historically this was a significant and strategic location and the reason that Fort Dent was established here during the Civil War years.
Retrace your steps and join the maintenance road at Sounders training facility and walk around the parking lot and by the Watershed Cafe (WC). Continue along the sidewalk, through the parking lot and cross 2nd (narrow) bridge again. This time, stay straight, walk along roadway past Tahoma Clinic to rejoin the path. Stay straight on Interurban Trail, re-crossing first (wide) pedestrian bridge and return to Subway parking lot.
North trail -- Exit TCC parking lot and turn right onto 42nd Ave S, past Harry’s Market, cross over river using the wooden pedestrian bridge on left, continue straight on 119th St until you can turn right onto Green River trail, continue under Marginal Way bridge and the hwy 99 bridge then loop around and over the river to north bank and continue, past six carved planks of the Duwamish Tribe, over another pedestrian bridge to Cecil Moses Memorial Park (WC & W).
Now, retrace steps until just before the Marginal Way and light rail bridges; turn right up a short dirt path to street level and cross river on bridge to explore Duwamish Gardens Park. After exploring this nice little river park, carefully cross Marginal Way and continue down S 115th St then turn left into the Duwamish Hill Preserve. Follow the footpath and take the right fork (uphill) to view both the lower and upper viewpoints. When descending, walk into the residential neighborhood on S 133th St until you get to the bottom of the hill and turn left on 115th St.
Continue along the river and re-cross the pedestrian bridge, but this time at the end of S 119th St, turn left onto the Green River Trail; you are now walking south on the west bank of the Duwamish River. Continue on Green River Trail and cross under the 42nd Avenue bridge, note picnic tables for rest stop, continue along Green River (sidewalk first, then paved trail resumes) until you cross a small bridge by pumping station; just past that on left is a covered bench with nice views of the Green River and airplanes departing SeaTac and Boeing Field. This is the turnaround point, so retrace your steps to 42nd Ave bridge, cross the bridge this time to return to TCC parking lot.
South trail -- Entry to Green River Trail is behind the Subway restaurant (WC + W) near the large electrical tower. Walk over pedestrian bridge (wide) #1, stay right to walk along river and behind the business park, cross river again using pedestrian walkway (narrow) #2, loop around and under the bridge to stay on River Trail. Pass by soccer fields and Seattle Sounders FC training facility. Just before you cross the third pedestrian bridge, take the right fork onto the Black River spur trail.
You can read the placard describing the fate of the Black River when the ship canal and locks were opened. We will learn more about this (both good and bad) on tomorrow’s hike (Cedar River hike #4). Walk under the railroad bridge, cross Monster Road, keep right on the other side and follow the trail into the Black River riparian forest. The trail winds along the north side of the forest and eventually exits into a shady business park. You will see the headquarters for the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate on the left. Continue down to SW 7th Street and take a right. At the stoplight continue straight ahead across Oakesdale Ave. Don’t be put off by the warning signs, for just past the bridge you will see a downhill “on-ramp” footpath leading to the main trail.
Shortly thereafter take the left uphill “off-ramp” footpath followed by another left at the next fork onto the dirt path....just remember to keep left!
You now enter Waterworks Gardens and will see a series of terraced storm water ponds as you continue on a slightly uphill path. At the very top is a viewpoint that looks southwest towards Renton and Tukwila.
At the end of the footpath, turn right on Monster Road and walk downhill to Oakesdale then turn left. Just past KP Corp you will see the Black River spur trail again on the left. Retrace your steps and pass underneath the railroad bridge.
Once you reach the Green River trail junction, take a quick right and walk onto the bridge. To the right you will see where the Green and Black Rivers join. It is not much to look at now, but historically this was a significant and strategic location and the reason that Fort Dent was established here during the Civil War years.
 |
| Duwamish River convergence |
North trail -- Exit TCC parking lot and turn right onto 42nd Ave S, past Harry’s Market, cross over river using the wooden pedestrian bridge on left, continue straight on 119th St until you can turn right onto Green River trail, continue under Marginal Way bridge and the hwy 99 bridge then loop around and over the river to north bank and continue, past six carved planks of the Duwamish Tribe, over another pedestrian bridge to Cecil Moses Memorial Park (WC & W).
Now, retrace steps until just before the Marginal Way and light rail bridges; turn right up a short dirt path to street level and cross river on bridge to explore Duwamish Gardens Park. After exploring this nice little river park, carefully cross Marginal Way and continue down S 115th St then turn left into the Duwamish Hill Preserve. Follow the footpath and take the right fork (uphill) to view both the lower and upper viewpoints. When descending, walk into the residential neighborhood on S 133th St until you get to the bottom of the hill and turn left on 115th St.
Continue along the river and re-cross the pedestrian bridge, but this time at the end of S 119th St, turn left onto the Green River Trail; you are now walking south on the west bank of the Duwamish River. Continue on Green River Trail and cross under the 42nd Avenue bridge, note picnic tables for rest stop, continue along Green River (sidewalk first, then paved trail resumes) until you cross a small bridge by pumping station; just past that on left is a covered bench with nice views of the Green River and airplanes departing SeaTac and Boeing Field. This is the turnaround point, so retrace your steps to 42nd Ave bridge, cross the bridge this time to return to TCC parking lot.