Experience Bellevue’s Lake-to-Lake Trail
Bellevue's Lake-to-Lake trail stretches from Clyde Beach just south of Medenbauer Bay on Lake Washington to Wenona Park on the southwest corner of Lake Sammamish. My favorite portion of the trail is the 1.5 mile walk from Phantom Lake off 156th Ave SE & approximately SE 20th north to Larsen Lake at 148th SE & SE 1st.
Phantom Lake is always a delightful place to begin my walk since the natural beauty of the park area adjoining the lake immediately puts me in a good frame of mind. Picnic tables dot a large lawn area here, buffered from the world by the lake and small patch of woods. Bellevue has numerous informational signs strategically placed at visible locations the trail showing maps of the lake-to-lake trail and specific local highlights. The information sign near Phantom Lake mentions the agricultural history of the area plus cites evidence of Native American hunting and camping areas having been located around the lake. The City has constructed a public fishing dock, but they have limited car top boat access to the lake. Car top users have several tough yards to navigate from the parking area to the water. Local residents persuaded the city to limit the lake access Oto just a few boats at a time. Some of the local dock fishermen claim the lake contains planted trout, an assortment of panfish plus some monster-size largemouth bass. The picnic area comes complete with modern public restrooms Trails lead both to the lake and also north through wetlands along the fields historically cultivated by truck farmers.
The Master Gardener Demonstration Garden is a short block north of Phantom Lake.
The gardener area is an urban demonstration garden highlighting Bellevue's agricultural heritage. The Master Gardener user group holds workshops on Saturdays from 10:30 to noon on various topics plus they have a master gardener available to answer questions on plant, lawn and shrub problems both Wednesday and Saturday from 9AM to 1 PM. The area contains a P-patch garden plus some garden exhibits touch on planting for wildlife enhancement. Most years' truck farmers farm a plot just east of the Master Garden area plus on both sides of 156th SE, The flowers and vegetables they raise are typically marketed on site using a small nearby stand. Regrettably the plot now lies dormant.
The trail going north from the master garden area flirts with a nicely enhanced pond and wetland area, followed by a short walk through 2nd growth fir. Next comes a meadowø and finally the trail crosses Lakes Hills Boulevard near the Federal Little League play field, Semena Swim Club, and the Lake Hills branch of King County Library, If you are lucky in timing of your walk, a brief stop at the ball field will allow you to see some of tomorrows athletes beginning to hone their baseball skills. I love to see the enthusiasm of youth. Next the trail cuts through the Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm. If you elect not to follow numerous side trail options, the main trail eventually will lead you to Larsen Lake.
Larsen Lake is the jewel of the wetland area and adjoins the blueberry farm. Bellevue has provided a public fishing dock where I have often seen young fishermen proudly displaying their trout and panfish catches. A small net pen at the far side of the lake allows commercial fish to be raised. I normally turn around here and make a loop back to my car making the total walk roughly 3 miles round trip. The walk can be comfortably completed in an hour, unless of course there is a baseball game on, the fish are biting or plans for a picnic justify spending just a bit more time.
