Happy Trails to You: Lord Hill Regional Park

Sometimes it's nice to get out of town for a scenic mini-hike, especially to a place where the drive over is almost as beautiful as the destination.

I really like the trip down to Lord Hill Regional Park in the morning: fog rolling onto Lowell Snohomish River Road as the sun rises, downtown Snohomish completely empty and the trip through the lovely farms on Old Snohomish Monroe Road. From there, signs direct you up 127th, past the mansions I'd certainly ask my real estate agent about if I ever won the lottery.

Just when you think you must have missed the turn because the road is so long, the parking area appears.

You made it, time to explore // Christopher Bragg

You'll notice in the parking lot that horses are prohibited. Not from the park, just from that lot. They have their own entrance nearby, and you may encounter horses while you're there. If you've never shared a trail with horses before, keep in mind they have the right of way, and if you see a rider coming, step aside and make conversation in a calm, friendly tone so the horse isn't startled.

Signs throughout the park indicate which trails are for everyone and the ones that are too small for horses.

These trails are also labeled accurately in Google Maps! // Christopher Bragg

If you like lots of elevation gain while you walk, this is the park for you. It's not that there aren't any flat areas, you'll just constantly climb up and down to them. Keep going all the way up and you'll find some neat microwave towers and a bunker.

Like something out of Lost. Find this on the Springboard Trail. // Christopher Bragg

The park is huge, with lots of different scenery to enjoy. Look for the large ponds and make your way around them via the trails.

For expansive views of the area, enter via the south lower parking lot. The Pipeline Trail is a straight shot up the hill with a gap in the trees that lets you see for miles. Just be careful on the drive in, it's easy to accidentally take 522 instead of Tester Road, a wrong turn that'll take you a long way before you can turn around.

The trees are lovely but it's neat to see beyond them once in a while // Christopher Bragg

Also near the south lot, look for several gentle slopes that'll make you feel like you're walking through a screensaver.

With about ten miles of trails, you could certainly do the whole park in one day if you like to climb. I think it's better to visit occasionally and work on a different section of the trail system each time. Take some photos and the occasional break as you explore this 1,400-acre forest.