Meadowdale Beach Park — Attraction in Lynnwood

Let's just be honest in the beginning, I'm out of shape,I had on shoes that didn't have the best traction and I could feel every rock and slid once. We have a senior dog with knee issues and arthritis and there were moments where she was struggling. This was the first time we have been there. There were alot of people going up and down the trail of all different ages and abilities. There trail has varying degrees of difficulty, widens and narrows in different areas which causes some congestion especially when it comes to dogs and children. There are a bunch of stairs in a few different spots. Our dogs mission was to get to the water as quickly as possible but being our first time we just kept repeating "we're almost to the water". She decided we were lying and every chance she saw a water area along the trail she got into the little streams which also made quick rest stops and I thanked her for that on the way back up. There are a few benches to sit but there aren't that many places where they fit where you would need them on the way back up. Here's your reminder you have to walk back up. The scenery all around was pretty. They are doing construction and I'm assuming the buildings they made will be bathrooms. Maybe, it will also have an indoor eating area/snack bar or maybe it's going to be an information area. I didn't get close enough to see what it was going to be but definitely bathrooms. The only bathroom was the port a potty in the parking area all the way at the top. There was a bridge crossing over the stream with a metal bottom my tennis shoes were sliding on it. There were two new picnic benches beyond that as you continue to the water and I believe one more after going through the tunnel by the water. With the amount of people walking down, I expected there to be more people at the water. I'm not sure if there were other trails or not.There were several areas to swim. Behind us, there were children in a smaller area and a dog trying to fish. I thought it was a leash on only area but a few dogs had leashes off. I didn't see any trash or recycling bins anywhere or dog waste bags. The beach area and water are both rocky although I was pleasantly surprised that there was sand which is not something you typically find in the area around here. It was nice to hear the little waves crashing without being on a costal beach. We didn't stay until sunset and I know those pictures would have been amazing. The view was pretty perfect and exactly what I needed. There were several adults,children and dogs but it was still very quiet,calm, peaceful and relaxing. My boyfriend and my dog both got into the different water ways. I saw a board by the picnic tables about the fish in that area and I did see several new birds I haven't seen before. With all that said, on the way back up, I was debating all of my life choices. I was breathing hard and sweaty. I had to make more stops than I thought. A girl and her dad walked by and she was crying and her dad said "we're almost there" I told my boyfriend that I was going to be doing that next. I told him to leave me there to save himself and my grandpuppy and that I'm just going to live there with the squirrels. But, did I die? Obviously not or I wouldn't be writing a review. I finally made it. I thought I was going to sleep good when I got home but nope, I'm writing a review. I'm sure this is an easy path for people who do this regularly but I'm not that kind of person. Did I mention I'm actually pretty clumsy? I am and I didn't fall but I did hear other people slide and fall so because and wear better shoes than I did. There were absolutely no strollers, wagons or wheelchairs. My senior dog was limping when we got home so she got some medicine and is out. She loved it but struggled alot at times. This isn't a place where I feel she could go again so I'm glad she enjoyed it. I on the other hand came to the quick realization that I need to lose weight and get more cardio in before I decide to go back but eventually, I would love to go back to see it at sunset....

The first time I visited there was no parking and we had to wait and come back. The second attempt a police car was facing out up the way we came from the back by the bathrooms and I felt uncomforted by this. The third time I was pregnant and had no idea how far of a walk downhill it actually was to the beach. Thank god the dog I was walking could pull me up enough with him. There at the bottom was a place with running water and sinks and counters in an open area near a green grass field and encircled with outer areas dotting the rim of bbqs and picnic tables. Beyond that a little ranger building was there I didn’t see anyone really in or around it. I saw a lot of birds and squirrels. Many people walking dogs. All of them were very friendly and polite along the way. There were many benches to stop for a break to rest. I swear it was 6 miles round trip. It was such a gorgeous day outside today the blue sky called us to the beach. I wasn’t so excited for the hike as the dogs were. The trail is steep and had sticky wet slick mud with a bunch of fiery maple leaves falling all over. We checked out the stream to see if the dogs wanted a drink. Neither of them did. I looked at the water…it wasn’t very rapid. Not sure why and never noticed before but the water had bubbles, many bubbles which stayed afloat on top of the water as it ran down towards the sound…I saw few that actually popped. Something about this didn’t seem right I’ve swam in rivers and played in whirlpools before. I’ve seen the bubbling geyser that methane that makes the areas around where it begins to surface sort of pale and shimmery but those bubbles even pop immediately at the surface and smell like eggs. Hmmm…guess we will give them tap water when we get to the beach area…then finally reach it almost to read a sign that says there is no beach access because the beach is under construction and it’s gated off. Only…I see no construction and what exactly could they be constructing pushing some sand around on a Beach? Maybe the train tracks needed repair down there but I doubt it. There was no estimated time of completion for this mystery construct? Not only that but if I see no workers or equipment or project what is the real reason we can’t go down there and have a labor or time estimate and also why did we just walk all the way there like they couldn’t have posted that sign at the top of the trailhead before we went to our dooms? We just wanted to play some disc gold and nerf tennis ball launching gun…and get some non bubbled water..,so what’s up with the water and the beach really? I’m beginning to question everything they say and especially what they don’t say anymore. Sand castles maybe better done at home with kinetic sand…until...

This park is a slightly hidden gem in Lynnwood. We drove down 156th St. SW to get to the parking lot at the top of the ravine that comprises the bulk of the park. A well maintained path down through the ravine is an easy walk of about a mile to the beach. The path winds along Lunds Gulch creek that burbles along charmingly as you walk. There are several points along the route with benches where one can sit and enjoy the forest and creek or rest while on the way back up. The park is undergoing a significant improvement to its amenities with the construction at the lower end of the park. New restrooms and sheltered picnic areas are adjacent to a restored estuary environment. Picnic tables are scattered around the estuary and a path goes under a new railroad bridge for beach access. Handicap parking is available at the bottom of the park adjacent to the new restrooms for easy access to the beach. I saw people parking there but I did not see signs outside the park as to how to gain access to that parking spot. The beach is small but picturesque with views up and down the coast and across the Sound.

Overall a very pleasurable park that is not too busy particularly on weekdays. The walk to the beach is an easy workout and for those who get tired on the way back up, there are those benches. A great place for a family outing and picnic with real lessons on the local environment and the salmon fry that use the estuary...