Mercer Slough Nature Park

Nice park with about 4 km of trails split into two loops. The paths are quite wet and muddy overall, so waterproof shoes are recommended. I spotted a few snakes along the way, so keep an eye out. There's plenty of parking, but the road down to the lot from the main street is very steep—drive carefully.

Great spot for easy trail access and Blueberry picking in the summertime. Nice soft trails for running and great views of wildlife like Herons and turtles. The facilities are great and have environmental education opportunities.

Ah, Mercer Slough Nature Park. This place is a gem—just outside downtown Bellevue, but somehow feels like you’ve wandered into a nature documentary narrated by someone who’s mildly confused but committed. It’s called a slough, which dictionary.com defines as “a swamp or swamplike region.” So yeah, it’s wet. Like, bring-a-second-pair-of-socks wet. Especially November through April, when it rains approximately 33 days a month. That’s not a typo. That’s just Bellevue. Pro tip: Park at the South Bellevue Park and Ride unless you enjoy climbing hills that make you question your life choices. The Environmental Education Center is lovely, but the incline around it feels like it was designed by someone who hates knees. The trails are well-maintained. Some boardwalk, mostly wood chip, which is nature’s way of saying “we tried.” There’s a bridge over the slough that’s an engineering marvel. I don’t know who built it, but I assume they had a PhD in swamp physics and a vendetta against soggy shoes. Wildlife? Oh, it’s here. Birds everywhere. You’ll see an owl if you’re lucky. Or unlucky, depending on the season. Spring to early summer, they get ornery. Like, “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” kind of ornery. Twilight hours are basically owl rush hour. You might also spot snakes, but relax, none of them are dangerous. Unless you count emotional damage from surprise encounters. Rabbits, deer, coyotes, they all make guest appearances. And apparently, there may or may not have been a Bigfoot sighting in the 1970s. Which feels about right. If I were Bigfoot, I’d live here too. It’s quiet, damp, and nobody asks you to take attendance. Great hike for families. Easy trails, hidden letter boxes if you’re into scavenger hunts, and just enough mystery to keep the kids interested without needing a search party. As Rocky, the longtime caretaker, once said while hosing down a boardwalk and talking to a raccoon: “It’s not a swamp—it’s a lifestyle. You don’t visit the slough. You survive it.” – Rocky, Philosopher of Mud and Maintenance

Great trails for running and walking (or walking and running). Nice and 'fluffy' after renewal, in great condition if no flooding has occured. Can't believe how many blueberry bushes, just so many (and different types). Peaceful and full of natural sounds, birdsong and whispering trees. Go anytime, watch out for mosquitoes, take your trash away with you.

The trail goes past a bunch of buildings which is great for those working in them but not a full nature experience. Though thanks to that there are several nice places to sit