Miles: 6.9 miles one way
Elevation Gain/Highest: 50ft/98ft
Favorite Eats After Hike: K Fresh, Valley Organic Deli, Sol Food Bar & Grill, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike Details:
The Mill Town Trail is an urban walk around the northern peninsula of Everett, WA. All on paved sidewalks, the path takes you through quiet neighborhoods and along the Everett waterfront to the Pigeon Creek beach access point at the end of the Port of Everett. Views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains are possible on a clear day and soaring eagles can be spotted where the Snohomish River empties into Port Gardner.
My hike:
4/4/2020
I guess today would have officially started Spring Break and I should be in DC with 50 middle school students. But alas, it turns out to be a good thing I am not.
In thinking about how to make this next week more memorable than the last 3 (outdoor adventure wise), I have decided to see how many trails I can walk to from my house where I can walk the entire trail in addition to the extra miles of walking there.
So, today I made a successful thru hike of the Mill Town Trail! I have previously section hiked most of it but today I was able to complete the entire trail with a loop along Hewitt and Everett Ave for a total of 11 miles. Wahoo!
I started from my house around 9:15am and headed south for Hewitt Avenue so I get to the eastern terminus along East Marine View Drive and Riverside Park. I had to go off trail near the Everett Arts Center due to construction but luckily no cars were coming down the street.
At .75 miles, I turned east on Hewitt Ave, passed the events center and crossed Broadway at James Hill Park. Then it was up and over the overpass with views of the PUD building and transit station on either side. So far I had the trail all to myself!
I followed Hewitt under I-5 and SR 2, continuing as it wove near the train tracks and Snohomish River, making a right at the junction of Harrison and Everett Ave almost 2 miles into my trek.
Riverside Park appeared where Everett Ave becomes East Marine View Drive and I stopped at the overlook. The Mill Town eastern terminus was to my left, marking the official “end” of the trail.
Here the trail was wide and well maintained with several sturdy culverts over runoff drains. Trees lined my right and through them the Cascade peaks appeared through the clouds. I could spot Mt. Pilchuck and Three Fingers through the clouds in the next mile.
At 3 miles in, I passed under I-5 again and could see across the Snohomish River at Langus Park and the trail there. Hmmm, that could possible be another trail attempt. I think it is about 6 miles from my house…
Viola Oursler Viewpoint had a panorama of the Cascades but clouds obscured most including Glacier Peak which I should have been able to see the tip of. Oh, well. Another day. In 4.5 miles I rounded the point of Everett and connected with 529 and West Marine View Drive. So far I had enjoyed quite a bit of solitude.
Passing by the old Weyerhaeuser lot, I spied a bald eagle perched high above me. I peered between the trees in hopes of spying Mt. Baker but again the clouds denied me. I stayed straight at the junction with Alverson and descended towards the marina and Port Gardner around 11:15am and a little over 5 miles into my walk.
Here is where the number of hikers increased and the trail got busy. Folks out walking their dogs and families enjoying the sunshine. A spry waterfall cascaded from the clogged gutter of an abandoned warehouse and pink blossoms lined the path. I stopped at a bench and had a snack, removing a fleece layer as the day warmed up.
At 5.8 miles I reached the first of the two beach viewpoints along Marine View Drive and decided to walk out on the beach for part of my hike and avoid a crowded parking lot where people were blocking the trail as they stood and chatted.
The sand was much firmer than my Mill Town section hike last weekend and I was able to carry on a few hundred yards. When I ran out of shore, I did a brief scramble up the breakwater back to the trail and continued south.
I stopped for another snack at the Port Gardner Bay South View Area at 6.2 miles, luckily there was a bench away from the parking lot a bit as folks were milling there, too. Jetty Island stretched out on the horizon and boats floated by.
Shortly the trail joined the Waterfront Place Trail and passed under the slowly constructed Grand Park overpass at 6.9 miles. This required yet another off trail bypass around on the pier deck to come out at Lombardi’s. They have takeout, BTW!
Then it was a stroll past the Navy Base, Bayside Pea Patch and old Scott Paper plant, now an empty lot. When will they ever agree on what to do with that piece of land??
At 8 miles on the dot, I turned west on Everett Ave and made my way down to the Pigeon Creek access beach. There were a handful of cars parked at the trailhead and with the number of walkers and bikers I knew it would be busy. Thankfully all but a few people were working on the social distancing thing.
The trail headed through the gated area between the port and railroad tracks at 8.3 miles and I was soon at the western terminus of the Mill Town Trail at just over 9 miles! I did it!!!
The tide was in and I rested on one of the cement barriers up from beach to keep a good distance from the other people there. It was a beautiful day, it is no wonder that so many folks were out. And when I say many, it really isn’t compared to other places. I’m pretty lucky to have this close to my house.
From here I backtracked up to the junction Marine View Drive and continued up Everett Ave. I had thought about stopping at the Sno-Isle coop for a cold beverage but nature was calling and I had to scoot. 2 more miles and I was back home where magically my husband had simultaneously returned from his bike ride to REDMOND with a cold beverage from the co-op for me. How lucky am I??
Directions: The western terminus has parking at the west end of Everett Ave, where it crosses over the railroad tracks and ends at the Port. Street parking is available. The eastern terminus is at the Riverfront Park at the east end of Everett Ave. Some street parking is available. There are no facilities.
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