Field Trip 3 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course

Field trip: Introduction to the Natural World Course

Field Trip 3 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course - Swauk Forest Discovery Trail

Teanaway River area. We will be identifying the flowers, shrubs, and birds that inhabit the east slopes of the Cascades. Expect to spend a full day at this trip between the driving and the time hiking.

  • For Beginners (Getting Started Series)
  • Mileage: 2.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 530 ft
  • Pace: Very Slow Pace, we'll be stopping a lot.

We will meet at the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail parking lot at 9:30am.

Directions can be found here  https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/swauk-forest-discovery-trailthe WTA description.

You will need an interagency or Northwest Forest Pass.    

The mountains surrounding the North Fork of the Teanaway River are often sunny when it is raining in Seattle. Plus they offer acres of beautiful wildflower meadows, making this an ideal field trip destination to practice wildflower identification. Also, many shrubs and at least nine kinds of trees are present. After this field trip you may identify these species and more:

1. Jeffrey’s Shooting Star
2. Carpenter Ant
3. Pale Tiger Swallowtail
4. Spreading Phlox
5. Ponderosa Pine
6. Western Serviceberry
7. Spreading Stonecrop
8. Western Tanager
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Common Witch’s Hair
11. Engelmann Spruce
12. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Route/Place

Swauk Forest Discovery Trail


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

  • Binoculars, if you have them
  • Plant list
  • Poles are optional
  • Sun hat and sunblock!
  • Your Ten Essentials 
  • Field Guides and Books 
  • Camera 
Trip Reports