Tickle Creek Hike

Overview

Sandy’s Tickle Creek Trail, opened to the public in 2011, runs south of the main part of town in a lovely cedar bottomland. While the area was logged over 100 years go, there are some large cedars and Douglas-firs shading the trail at its western end, which was acquired at a discount from the Iseli Nursery Family Trust. The trail roughly parallels Dubarko Road and uses its sidewalk for a short section. Six bridges cross the creek as the trail winds back and forth. The east end of the trail runs through a more recently logged forest with large nurse stumps sprouting western hemlocks. The account below describes the trail from west to east, but note that the eastern trailhead has better parking at a pullout off Dubarko Road. There’s an obvious trail post opposite Yocum Loop that marks a wide gravel path which leads between yards across a wide footbridge over Tickle Creek. Tall western red-cedars distinguish this forest, with some large Douglas-firs and western hemlocks mixed in. Sword fern and wood fern dominate a lush understory although traffic noise from 362nd Avenue reminds you that you’re in suburbia. Cross the creek on the second big footbridge, and pass an old cedar stump protected by a notched rail fence. A second venerable cedar stump has been split by a 100-year-old Douglas-fir that grew out of it. A side trail on the left leads back to Dubarko Road. You'll cross two more bridges over Tickle Creek before the trail arrives at Dubarko. Make a right on the sidewalk, and cross Sandy Heights Street. You'll pass a few houses and come to the play area at little Knollwood Park. A lumpy paved trail leads behind the park to reenter creekside woods. There'a another bridge over Tickle Creek, after which the trail becomes gravel again. Cottonwoods and alders begin to dominate. The trail crosses Dubarko Road and braids around an alder-shaded pond. Follow the sidewalk on Dubarko for 25 yards before crossing the street to resume the trail in a blackberry thicket. A single switchback takes you up to forested slope wi

Trail Stats

Photos

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