Experience wildlife “creekside” on the Salmon Creek Trail

The weather’s warming up, the rain’s falling a little less constantly, and people are thinking more and more about outdoor adventures. Luckily for you, there’s jogging, hiking, birding, fishing, rock hunting and much more running through the heart of your community.

Salmon Creek Trail spreads west from Klineline Pond, encompasses 368 acres of undeveloped “greenspace” from Interstate 5 to 36th Avenue and provides community members with a complete repertoire of wildlife and recreation possibilities.

“It’s quiet – everybody follows the rules,” says Salmon Creek resident Esther Diez. “There should be more green corridors so that wildlife can get to the river.”

She and partner Craig Bowen have lived in Salmon Creek for three years. They regularly walk their Golden Retriever-Poodle mix down the trail that snakes through the park, visiting anywhere from one to three times a week.

“When we bring our friends down here, they’re very impressed,” said Bowen. “It really breaths life into the community.”

That life is Salmon Creek, winding through the middle of the green corridor, and all the wildlife it attracts. From herons, ospreys and ducks to deer, turtles and the occasional nutria, there’s no shortage of opportunities to pop out your binoculars or camera and snap a piece of the wild to take home with you. You don’t have to be from the neighborhood to enjoy this local gem, either. Andrea Hewitt and her family come from downtown Vancouver to take a break from the city.

“It brings families together,” said Hewitt about the park. “They can’t build down here, so it keeps the greenery intact.”

If you’re coming from Salmon Creek Park and Klineline Pond, the trail starts under the I-5 bridge over the the corridor. Skirting the south side of the creek, it moves west from the pond to the Salmon Creek Sports Association Complex, home of the Salmon Creek Girls’ Softball Association.

The trail, a total of 3.1 miles from start to finish, leaves the developed land behind, heading into a “greenway” of wetlands, inlets, swamps and woods. Along the trail, you might notice a lot of new plants and trees going in. It’s part of the Salmon Habitat Enhancement Project, a partnership between Clark Public Utilities, its Stream Team and Clark County Public Works to bring back Salmon to the area.

Halfway through the corridor, Cougar Creek Trail descends into the park from Northwest 119th Street. The western half of the corridor opens up into more wetlands and a few small lakes. From there, the trail continues on another 1.3 miles to its uphill end at the Felida Bridge on 36th Avenue.

You can get an overview of the creek and corridor from the bridge. For people starting the trail from the east, there is on-street parking on 36th Avenue.

“There’s lots for the girls to look out for,” says Amy Nuff, an 8-year Salmon Creek resident, about why she brings her kids down. “I don’t have to do too much off-roading. I feel safe on the trail.”

The paved, shared-use trail is open to cyclists and equestrians. It’s dotted with benches for those who want to stop to observe the wildlife and scenery. Klineline Pond has restrooms, picnic areas (including tables and shelters), playgrounds, a beach and swimming holes.