Sidekicks LbNA #4150 (ARCHIVED)

Blyth Park (http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/dept/Parks/parks/blyth.html)

Blyth Park – The Sidekicks Series
16950 W Riverside Dr
Bothell, WA

NOTE: AS OF THIS POST (JUNE 17, 2005), ONLY the 3rd box is in place -- first 2 are missing -- this will be fixed as soon as I can carve replacements!)

The City purchased Blyth Park from the Bothell Lions Club in the late 1950s. Located along the Sammamish River and the Sammamish River Trail, Blyth is Bothell’s largest park. Prior to becoming a park, this was the site of the brick factory. Extremely popular for group picnics. The two picnic shelters may be reserved through Bothell Parks and Recreation


Amenities: Bathrooms, BBQ pits, covered shelters, playground, picnic tables – this is a great little park, so enjoy!

Difficulty: Easy – feel free to take your kids on this one. Dogs are welcome in this park on a leash.

Driving Directions:
Blyth Park/Horse Creek, Bothell.
• From I-405 (south or north), take the SR 522 exit for Bothell.
o BEAR RIGHT onto 101ST AVE NE
 (LOOK FOR IT – this one is a right hand SPUR from the main drag you’re driving on and it’s decidedly UP HILL)
o Turn RIGHT onto MAIN ST
o Turn RIGHT onto 102ND AVE NE
o Turn RIGHT onto W RIVERSIDE DR

• From 522 Coming in from Kenmore (Bothell Way to most folks):
o Drive toward “Old Town Bothell” (away from Kenmore)
 At the Large Intersection where 527 is to your left and the freeway to Woodinville is at your right, GO STRAIGHT thru the intersection, ONTO MAIN.
o You are now on main.
o Rt on 102nd ave NE (also named 2nd st. – that’s the “old” name for it)
o Rt. Again on Riverdale (just after you cross the bridge)
o Drive down Riverdale till it dumps you into the Blyth Park Parking Lot.

Park at the Southern end of the lot (farthest from the entry point)

Now the fun begins.
HOPE YOU BROUGHT YOUR COMPASS – YOU’LL NEED IT!!!

NOTES: Maples are deciduous and Cedars are Evergreen. Douglas Firs are Evergreen too, but after looking at the grove on your way in, just figure if it’s Evergreen and NOT a Cedar, it’s probably a Doug Fir (or at least *I* think it is).

If you’re unsure what Cedar’s look like (and it might be useful to know as we use these for markers a lot), stand in front of the Flagpole and look 2400 – you’ll see a whole grove of Cedar. This should get you started. The only other trees you really need to know are Maple and Douglas Fir – here are some good images if you need them. Maple: (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=maple). Douglas Fir:
http://www.nps.gov/crla/pernot/pernot5c.jpg or http://www.interdendr.org/dfvegprofile.jpg The Bark is the important part as the only Doug Fir I use as a marker is old enough that the branches with needles are WAY up there and you’ll not be seeing them for identification. Honest.

Now you’re ready to start!

You’ll be headed SE onto the “Big Trail” (it’s all gravel) keeping the Playground (and the big tire hill) to your right (the trail starts with the Big Green Dumpster).

• When you see the Hiker’s sign on your left, head up that dirt path (about 100 degrees).
o Bear 40 degrees at the T intersection
o Stay on the main trail ignoring, for the moment, the spur to your left.
o Pass some small fences on your left
o Walk up some stairs (only about ½ of them)
o Bear 270 degrees (W) down a dirt trail as soon as your see one (again, about ½ way up the stairs)
• Reach a clearing (of sorts)
o 2 paths from here
 at 200 degrees, there’s a path to a larger clearing
 at Due North, there’s a trail that will lead back down to the playground and big grass field.
o Go 200 degrees.
• Now you should be in a Large Clearing with a LARGE Douglas Fir in the middle of it. Stand with it to your left and get your bearings – there are a LOT of paths out of this clearing and you’ll be using a number of them at one point or another. If you’re facing the Playground and Big Grass Field (from here you can see bits of both) with the Doug Fir on your Left, you’ll see the following paths:
o The one you came in on is at about 40 degrees
o The one just to the left of it (just downhill) is at about Due North
o In front of you is a path back to the park at about 280 degrees.
o To your left (that is, forward and left) is a path about 240 degrees.
o The Boardwalk path is at about 160 degrees
o Behind you is a path Due East

• From the Big Douglas in the Center, turn around so you’re facing the path that is Due East (it’s the only “uphill” path)
• Travel approximately 17 paces (remember, I’m short – so about a yard a pace is right)
• There’s a tree on your right – it’s a Big Leaf Maple with a Cedar Sapling to it’s right.
• Behind the Big Leaf Maple you’ll find a little nesting on the ground at the base of the tree. He’s small (he’s only a sidekick after all), but he’s melodious. Tweet, Tweet, you found Sidekick #1!
• Return to the Center of the Big Clearing, keeping the Big Doug Fir on your left.
ON TO #2
• Now head 240 degrees and pass UNDER the Cedar tree branches
o Across the (small) creek bed (which may have water in winter)
o Continue along this trail – you should be able to see the Volleyball pit to your West as you walk along this part of the trail.
• Where the path appears to end is a LARGE Cedar Tree
o Check to the SW side of the tree
o Here you will find one, very small, very insignificant little forest animal (be quiet, he scares easily). You’ve found Sidekick #2!
• Backtrack to the Big Clearing.
ON TO #3
• Take the path due North (the skinny one that’s closer to the playground, the other path is wider and has LOTS of evergreen needles on the ground (year round – and they’re brown).
• When you reach the T, bear 60 degrees (and yes, this should look familiar, the other direction is the beginning of the path).
• When you can, bear 20 degrees (first chance – it’s rather thin and it’s before the fences).
• Cross the Creek (this one had water running on the 1st of June, I won’t speak to it’s condition in August).
• Bear 260 degrees. Very quickly (10-20 steps) head due North.
• Pass under the watchful branches of a Cedar
• Then up 2 log steps
• Bear 100 degrees up hill
• Take about 10 steps
• Head due North (around the big fern)
• Up 4 more log steps
• Head due North again, into the shade of a BIG Cedar and a small clearing under it’s branches.
• At its base, on the West side of the tree, X marks the spot! You’ve found your 3rd Treasure – Sidekick #3!


Stop, have a snack (or lunch) and then track back to the park – stop and play at the playground or just watch the kids do so.