The Mercer Slough Nature Park is a 320-acre wetland with ferns, bushes, flowers, several species of berries, and wooden walkways. You may go on footpaths through the woods to observe wild animals and beautiful scenery, visit the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, tour the Winters House, pick blueberries at the seasonal Blueberry Farm, or explore the Park by canoeing up the Slough Channel.
This park is a nature lover’s paradise, with plenty of trails for hiking and kayaking. The park offers three primary pathways: a 0.8-mile Bellefields Loop Trail, a 1.1-mile Heritage Loop Trail, and a 4-mile Periphery Trail. Canoeists and kayakers may enjoy the 2.6-mile Water Trail that meanders throughout the Park’s length. If you’re starting on the east side of the Park, this is the route for you. You’ll cross open fields and rolling hills until you reach a three-way split; home to Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center (MSEEC). Be sure to stop by the Visitor’s Center before journeying on. inside, you can grab ahold of a trail map, and explore an interactive library dedicated to all things concerning the Park–from animals, plants, and more! The Visitor’s Center hours are 10 am – 4 pm daily.
Continue past the Visitor Center for 0.1 miles south on the sidewalk to 118th Avenue SE and follow down the street. Turn right to enter the Bellefields Loop Trail after passing a sign for the Bellefields Trailhead. Follow the dirt road down, stopping to enjoy the bubbling stream that welcomes you at the end. As you continue down the path, bear right and walk in a counterclockwise direction. Keep an eye out for yellow petals from Creeping Buttercups and red berries from Sitka Mountain Ashes; both should have interpretive signs nearby that explain the regional animals and plants found there.
The Mercer Slough Nature Park is home to a seasonal U-Pick Blueberry Farm! To participate, simply head over to the farm and register your name with the attendant at the fruit stand. After you’ve had your fill of blueberries, return back to the fruit stand to pay for them. Note that cash or check are currently accepted forms of payment – credit and debit cards are not yet supported. The Blueberry Farm typically operates from mid-June until mid-September during these hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
The Winters House is on the west side of the Park, near the Blueberry Farm. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The House has water sources and restrooms as well as seats in the courtyard outside, which visitors are welcome to use. A ramped walkway and toilet facilities for wheelchairs and strollers are available at the property. Around 33 parking spaces are available in total. Overflow parking is accessible at the South Bellevue Park & Ride and Blueberry Farm.
Driving Directions To Overhead Door Company, A Puget Sound Garage Company, From Mercer Slough Nature Park
Driving Directions To Meydenbauer Bay Park
