Japanese Gulch

This beautiful hike in the heart of Mukilteo is perfect for a quick getaway in the middle of the day. It features so many points of interest for young and old alike. Airplanes overhead, trains on one side, and a babbling creek on the other make it a fun hike for kids. From the parking lot, there are two options. Head towards the shelter and take the foot trails up along the mountainside, but use caution. These trails double as mountain bike trails and are maintained by a local mountain biker’s club, so bikes are often seen zipping through the area. There are plenty of fun obstacles for the bikes and kids, such as a “broken” bridge, logs, and steps cut into the trails. These trails are windy, but it is fairly easy to keep track of where you are. Eventually the trails will all lead out the the main trail that runs along the train track. The second way is to walk around the gate at the end of the parking lot and down towards the tracks. At the bottom of the trail there is an amazing year round puddle, so make sure to wear some waterproof shoes for maximum fun. Go right, past the puddle, and begin the climb up the wide dirt trail lined with blackberries and bigleaf maple trees. This trail gets a lot of water during the winter months, so waterproof shoes are also recommended for adults. At .5 miles, you’ll begin to hear the rushing waters of Japanese Gulch on your right, and every so often a clearing in the forest will allow you to approach the waters edge. There is a great little bridge that crosses the stream further up, but it may be slippery. At 1.2 miles, the big trail intersects with the Boeing train tracks. This is a great place to sit and take a break before turning back if you have tired little ones. If you choose to continue, the trail will eventually lead all the way to the receiving doors for a total hike of 5 miles roundtrip.