The Mercer slough is a lovely place to walk...if the temperature has consistently been under 45. Ya know what a slough is? It's a swamp/marsh/wetland/mosquitoes-will-murder-you place. Overall it's a beautiful place to walk. The trails are well maintained and there are some great views. This area has a few different trails to choose from that appear to be mostly loops. It's close enough to the freeways that you get a good amount of traffic noise, but if you go early in the morning it's not too bad. The mosquitoes are most certainly the worst part of this area. Either way, I think it's great we're letting nature be nature. read more

Since moving back to the Far East (aka Eastside) I was worried about places to walk our not-so-dog-friendly dog. Admittedly, having Green Lake at our front door was both a blessing and curse. Now we live right across the street from Mercer Slough, and it's been great! Nature right at our front door without the crowds!!! If you walk/run the perimeter it's about a 10k. Inside you'll find trails that are great for just about everyone. Beware you may see garter snakes, but also the occasional otter, beaver, and rabbits too! It's also great for birdwatching. Parking is VERY limited, especially with sound transit light rail being built by Bellevue Way. There is a small parking lot off 118th Ave SE, and some parking along that road, but check the road signs. There is also an Environmental education center and event spaces available. Overall, I enjoy being able to just go across the street and walk my pooch without fear of being run over by bikers and skaters. read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Mercer Slough Nature Park is a hidden getaway in downtown Bellevue. Located by the U-Pick Blueberry Farm along Bellevue Way, it's hidden away, especially now that there's a lot of construction going on for the new light rail. But despite the rapid growth of Bellevue, this nature park takes you away from all of that. The City of Bellevue has done a great job at preserving this area, there is a board walk that you can walk along. There are signs, indicating the history of the area, including the first days of the blueberry farm. Along the trail you will pass by the blueberry farm, which is a gem in itself in Bellevue. But the trail connects you to many other sights and parks, including the Winter's House. If you go far enough you can take this trail to Renton and Newcastle. Before you get upset about all the bugs around, remember you're walking through a marsh. It's what is to be expected! It's very serene here, with greenery everywhere and even a view of the downtown Bellevue skyline. I just like seeing when people canoe and kayak here since the trail goes along the slough. It's a fun summertime activity. But for any season - the Mercer Slough Nature Park will provide a nice walk if you want some solitude or just some fresh air. read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park - Boardwalk by the new light rail - Parks Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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I visited in the winter time so wasn't sure what to expect. The parking is somewhat limited due to the transit line construction but there was no issue for me because it was winter. At first I didn't know what path to take but walking around the area was nice. The only unfortunate incident was when the homeless man under the bridge near Factoria started yelling at me. The trail itself was nice and there were a few people who were running, biking or walking. Took the long way around and walked back to the parking area and it was a nice walk. read more

Can somebody please tell me where you're suppose to park? I used to park at the Park & Ride and walk here, but they got rid of it to build light rails that's probably not going to be done until 2050 so where do I park now? Lol. Anyways, beautiful scenery and trail. I think it almost look even more beautiful when it's raining and wet as there's a lot of wood structure going on. Amazing how close it is to Downtown Bellevue, yet there's a sense of peacefulness inside here. There's a cool looking bridge that is very photo worthy. My only suggestion is that walk with a friend, it seem very quiet here which is a perfect opportunity for serial killers to snatch you and to bring bug spray since it's very forest bush like so there's might be mosquitoes/critters flying around. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park - That one bridge everybody likes to take photos on - Parks Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

This is a beautiful park with lovely facilities and well maintained trails. It would be amazing except for the millions of blood-sucking flying hell beasts ready to eat me alive. Unfortunately any place with mosquitoes is not a place I will return to. Otherwise this would have been a delightful outing. Alas I spent it jogging back to the car with swarms of beasts chasing after me like a cloud of doom. read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

One of my friends has been working in Bellevue for a few months, but mostly life goes work-hotel-work, so since I was going in birthday celebration mode this weekend decided to try something different that for sure, knowing his more static than dynamic ways, he would not know it exists. And here you, it was a total surprise to do some 'urban-rural hiking' at the Mercer Slough Nature Park. I call it urban-rural because it is so close to the 'city' high rise buildings that you don't feel you are out of the beaten path. In fact, all the paths inside in this nature park are very well designed for different levels, and the indications of the mileage to walk or run are very clear signed. I saw also people kayaking. This is a great not-so-hidden area for runners and walkers alike. I adore these autumn fall leaves and the fresh air...not sure if running in muddy waters? No worries, there is wood pavement in many areas. Great, free experience both for locals and visitors. read more

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Not sure I see the appeal. It's right along the freeway and not peaceful at all. We were walking so maybe it's better if you are riding a bike. We quickly decided it was too noisy and left. read more

Lovely trail and river just south of downtown Bellevue. There is a nature center and I have seen people using a pedal boat down the slough (river). The trail is easy and a good walk for children. It connects to a longer trail that has a boat launch, blueberry farm, and pioneer house of the original owners. Parking near the nature center and Bellefields trailhead. -What I will say though is that the area/trail is quite boggy. I got mosquito bites in the summer, and was trudging through mud in the winter--so keep that in mind. read more

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Awesome trails in the middle of Bellevue. We parked just past the park and ride at Winter's house where there is a trail head. We ended up following it around the back of the blueberry house and towards the learning centers. We could of walked on and on, but eventually had to turn back. The signs are very helpful to get you where you want to go and the scenery is beautiful. read more

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First of all, I'm glad to include a photo that nobody else has yet :) Always nice to feel like I'm contributing. This is a wonderful park for running/walking. The terrain is mostly flat and has sections of dirt, asphalt, wood planks, and mulch. It has been very kind on my joints and has enough turns to allow for longer runs. In the afternoon hours, the south trail that's parallel to I90 has bike commuters, but I havent had any near misses. Tons of parking at the park and ride. In warmer weather, expect lots of bugs as the water is bot fast moving. If the rain falls while you're out there, avoid them completely, or walk the planks! Arr matey! read more

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It's really a testament to the greater Seattle area that a place like this exists in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the region. Situated between Bellevue Way and 118th, this park is very easy to get to and offers a lot of different activities in a pretty big space. The park is a total of 320 acres and includes a blueberry farm, kayaking, the Winter House (which I didn't get to), a visitor's center, and of course lots of great walking opportunities. There's a walking path that goes around the perimeter of the park and there are also numerous trails on the interior to explore. Everything is well marked, I don't know how the other reviewer had trouble navigating around. Also, be sure to read the various markers posted throughout, they have some pretty interesting info on them. The day we went it was one of those absolutely perfect PNW summer Saturdays and the place was still deserted. We probably saw about 10 people the whole time we were there, and it felt like we were all alone. Except for the traffic noise of course, which you can hear throughout. There is supposed to be a nice variety and abundance of wildlife about, but we didn't see very much, probably because it was the middle of the day and 80 degrees outside. Great place to get in some walking and "get away" if you don't actually have the time to get away ; ) read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park - A look at the slough with DT Bellevue in the background - Parks Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Less than mins from DT Bellevue and you feel like you're out in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful scenery, waterways, wetlands and blueberry farms. Very convenient to stop by after work by parking at the park and ride on Bellevue Way. From there you can loop through the Lake to Lake Trail and the Heritage Trail for a roughly 1 hour walk. All the paths are clear and well maintained and it rarely gets crowded. You can even rent a canoe or kayak at Enatai park and paddle through the slough. My one complaint is I wish the signage was better. There were several splits in the path with no signs. I guessed wrong both times and it lead me out the park to the street. Each pathway is very short, so it was no big deal. Ended up taking a picture of the map at the trailhead. Part of a great trail system that connects all across Bellevue down to Renton. At some point I want to walk down to the Newcastle Beach which would be a 5 mile round trip walk. If you want to feel like you're out in nature while still in the city, this is a great place. read more

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This is a pretty nice, expansive park to walk. There are many different, short trails that you can walk around and forget all about Bellevue (aka city environment). Many of the walks are around different ponds, water ways, small shrubs and farms so it's interesting to see different settings and different types of animals around there, too. I suppose the best times to walk in this park would be late springs/summer, when all the trees/leaves start to grow back and when the animals are back out from hibernation. The paths are very well-paved and very clean. I also saw that their visitor centers offer some program for young adults to learn about environment too, so it could be a good opportunities for you to let your kids learn about nature/environment. read more

I said, GOD IM ALL YOURS TODAY. GUIDE ME. I was walking and walking and walking enjoying the greenery of the area. I observed a bridge in the distance and made my way toward it. Ran across freeway, down a little dirt hill to a pond. I sang a song. I WROTE 2 songs!. I continued walking and discovered a path, a swamp, some moss, and complete remoteness. Shouting praises to my Maker from the depths of my diaphram, the core of my heart as bicyclers spead past. Who knew this place existed? I sure didn't. Im new here. The Creator brought me to this place and I declare it holy. read more

Nice trails. We went in through the Bellefield Loop Trail which is on 118th street near 405. Beware of mosquitoes. There is a lot of them in some of the shady areas. My daughter got bitten bad. There are some blueberry bushes along the trails and a plum tree near the park and ride area. There's also a blueberry farm. read more

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I give the Mercer Slough itself and the Polliwog Preschool five stars because my son attends the school there. I'm forced by Yelp to choose 1 star. The 1 star is just for safety and not anything else. The park is beautiful and the school is great with the sweetest teachers. However, during pick up and drop off times there have been cases of car break-ins. My car got broken into today-literally. The driver's side window was smashed and there was glass everywhere. The burglars took my diaper bag with all my belongings. Imagine coming back to that scene with a newborn and a hungry preschooler. Not good. Something needs to be done about the safety. Otherwise, the park itself is beautiful and so is the preschool. read more

Great produce and we got to pick our own blueberries! They provide buckets, big and small. It wasn't crowded on the sunny Sunday I went with friends. We were practically alone on every row we picked. Fun, fun day! read more

Great hidden gem in Bellevue. I've walked a bit of the trails and took my canoe out on the slough. Beautiful, great escape from the city life. read more

If you enter the Slough, it will be a while before you get out, so prepare for a longer walk, though easy (no hiking). I particularly like it for running on a nicer day. It tends to be pretty quiet, and at certain points, you won't believe you are so close to a metropolitan city. If you are a fan of nature or want to feel outside the city while still nearby, this is the place. You can also pick blueberries at the attached farm, as well as fresh produce. read more

Mercer Slough Nature Park is a great park! There is a U-Pick blueberry farm nearby, if you want to check that out when it is blueberry season. This park also has a nice boardwalk to walk around at. This place is great for a little walk or jog, to get some fresh air!! Would definitely recommend this park. read more

My girlfriend and I decided to venture through a park one Sunday morning. The nice part was that because it was a chilly day, there were not too many people out. The bad part is, we had no idea where we were going. We ended up just going around the loop trail. Unlike some other parks, the trails did not have many nice views. To top it off, all the bathrooms were locked! Maybe I will go back in May to see if I have a different experience. As of now, my two star rank stands. read more

Watch out !!! There are millions of mosquitoes there. Although there is a nice trail and beautiful scenery, I had to come back in 10 minutes because of mosquitoes. read more

Great place to explore nature. Trails are great for family's and beautiful scenery. Kids can go at their own pace and enjoy nature but trail is wide and long enough for great exercise too read more

A very nice [and quiet] nature park to walk on. Going south on Bellevue Way from 112th, you first reach the Winters House, a historic house with meeting rooms. Then you can continue East to the Heritage Trail, where it follows along the border of Bill Pace's blueberry farm. You can cross a bridge over the slough, which sooner or later will reach 118th Ave SE, or go right, where it passes an AM radio transmitter [likely for KIXI/880], the Park & Ride, and ends at the I-90 trail, where you can go either left to Issaquah or right to Mercer Island and Seattle. The elevation gain is minimal, except for around 118th, where it climbs slightly to the sidewalk where the trail ends. It also has an interpretive center, where another trail goes around the center and spits out near the start of the Bellefields Trailhead. A very nice trail for people who don't really like elevation gains! read more

A wonderful place to run. Extensive clean trails with miles of loops and turns. If you are training for 5ks or half marathons, the slough is a fantastic place to train. Minimal foot traffic as well so it is quiet and peaceful. read more

It's amazing that you can go picking fresh blueberries right within the city limit pretty much. Just 15 mins from downtown. We went here on the Sea Fair weekend, and had Blue Angels fly overhead while we were punching (picking + munching) blueberries. Just one tip: bring water and a hat, cause it gets hot. read more

I am a camp counselor for a day camp on the island, and we went to the blueberry farm for a field trip. The staff of the produce section told us to go to rows 1-4, and I went to row 4 with my group of 10 six year olds. It turns out there is a wasp nest in that row, and 7 of my kids got bad stings. The staff knowingly sent us there and had revived precious reports of people getting stung. The experience was awful and maddening. I advise you to stay away from row 4. read more

Came here to check out the trails. The little welcome center was small but had a map. Worker was limited in his friendliness. We headed off down a trail. I was surprised at the up and down in the beginning. I had heard it was pretty easy trails here, but the initial half mile would have been too hard for my mother. However, once down that initial up and down part, the trails flatten out. It was a hot day, but with the tree coverage it wasn't as sunny/hot underneath. The bugs however are here under that lovely tree coverage. We had grabbed a scavenger hunt sheet from the welcome center and had fun looking for different things. Out in the middle it crosses water and we enjoyed watching the kayakers going past. Definitely would come back here to kayak! We think Entanai park has rentals. There was more trails out beyond where the water was, but we had a plan to just do the short loop that day. We did pass people a lot on the trails, but it wasn't so crowded we walked behind others. There are multiple parking places to access these trails. We will be back to do the rest of the trails and kayak in this area. read more

Great place to go walk the dogs. Very tranquil and scenic. It's easy to forget how close you are to the city and freeways. Convenient location and well maintained. read more

I like all the trees. I'm considering asking my dad if I can go to camp there this summer it's wonderful.

The bureaucrats fenced off the trail access from the parking lot making it inaccessible for wheelchairs and the less nibble. Typical stupidity. Otherwise, nicely maintained walks, bridges and a great place to visit if you don't mind '4 wheeling'.... Just don't take granny. read more