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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

Swauk Forest Discovery Trail is blazing with wildflowers in June, and we will amble through profuse flora and grand views. Birding can also be good, especially bluebirds, clark's nutcracker, and woodpeckers. This is a perfect hike to practice wildflower and tree identification, look for birds, and explore the ecology and geology of Eastside ecosystems.

Contacts

Thomas Bancroft
Thomas Bancroft
Primary Leader
  • Easy
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 2.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 530 ft

We will meet at 9 AM at the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail Parking lot just off Blewett Pass--about .25 miles up FS Road 9716.

Here is a google link to the trailhead. 

Bring your apps or field guides, we will walk the loop looking for flowers, trees, and anything else. Bring lunch and water, and appropriate gear for a hike. We will stop about halfway to eat lunch.

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

apps, water, lunch, good shoes for hiking, rain gear

day hiking gear

Trip Reports