The Sammamish River Trail runs 10.9 miles along the Sammamish River from Bothell to Marymoor Park in Redmond as part of the “Locks to Lakes Corridor.”

I’d first ridden the Sammamish River Trail unknowingly many years ago. My wife (then girlfriend) and I were living in Columbia City and decided to ride from our house near Seward Park to the Red Hook Brewery one sunny summer afternoon.

We started out along Lake Washington Boulevard, went through the Washington Park Arboretum and met up with the Burke-Gilman Trail, which we took all the way out to Red Hook. Apparently, we also crossed over onto the Sammamish River Trail for a few miles.

So today, I decided to ride northward on the section from Marymoor Park to the terminus of the trail across from Blyth Park in Bothell. I didn’t quite make it that far (it was cold), turning around at Wilmot Gateway Park in Woodinville.

But many hardy folk were also out on a cold winter morning. I saw more than 40 people walking, around 16 people on bicycles, and many, many dogs taking their owners for a brisk morning stroll. Along the stretch south of 116th street, I saw quite a few varieties of ducks, one that looked like a male Northern Shoveler, and a Double-Crested Cormorant that dipped into the dark cold waters as I slowed to get a better look.

It took me about an hour and a half to get to Woodinville and back, with one coffee break and bathroom stop. I probably wasn’t dressed quite warmly enough to start, but once I picked up my pace and got my blood pumping I was fine.

If you’ve got some time, I’d suggest getting out to this trail over the weekend. This popular trail is sure to be a bit more crowded, but early risers will get the trail mostly to themselves. If you do go later in the day, don’t forget your bell for your bike, or at least give walkers a shout before you pass. I got at least one “thank you” for the courtesy.

Check out this trail, and others in King County Park’s Regional Trails System on TrailFinder for more information and trip planning.