Islanders can now explore a brand new trail at Judd Creek, thanks to the work of community members and Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust volunteers and staff.
The new trail, named simply the Judd Creek Trail, is one leg of what is planned to be a trail that goes all the way to Burton. The new trail also connects to the pre-existing Judd Creek Loop trail and features newly-constructed boardwalks throughout.
The planning process to build the trail began around six to eight years ago, according to Land Steward Abel Eckhardt. At that time, the Land Trust was forming a trail planning process.
“It was a big community event to try and figure out what would be a good trail system for the island,” said Eckhardt. “So that’s what kind of started the push…we realized there’s this balance of preserving land for the sake of preserving it, and then allowing access to some of that land so people can come in and enjoy it.”
For the Land Trust’s executive director, Kate Riley, Judd Creek is especially significant, as it is “one of the most ecologically important areas on the island,” which continues to drive the Land Trust’s investment in the area.
Judd Creek is one of two major salmon-bearing creeks on Vashon. Coho and Chum salmon can be found in the waters of Judd Creek, along with cutthroat trout and the freshwater Western pearl shell mussel.
In setting out to create the new trail, Eckhardt described the process of becoming familiar with the land — inspecting the land from different perspectives, and imaging a route that is both protected but offers people interesting sights along the way.
“It’s not just me going out and finding the trail,” said Eckhardt. “There were so many people involved in putting this trail together.”
The Land Trust also has a yearly internship program Eckhardt leads, which has assisted in completing the trail, along with the help of volunteers.
“Every Tuesday morning he’s got an incredible cadre of community members that had come out rain or shine and just slowly cleared the trail, and made the boardwalk,” said Riley.
The new trail crosses four private properties. King County purchased conservation easements to two of the properties, and then allowed the land trust to cross the protected land. Two other property owners donated trail easements in order to allow the trail to be located on the route.
Overall, said Eckhardt, people in the community were excited to contribute to the project, noting that islander Bob Powell, who is a metal manufacturer, did not charge the Land Trust for the brackets he built for the project. He also said that Steve Kazinski, of Ellisport Engineering, also did pro bono work for the project.
“The people that are donating land, people that are donating their skills — then there are all the volunteers who donate their hours, so it’s a real community trail in that sense that everyone’s made it happen,” Eckhardt said.
The Judd Creek Trail opens to the public on Oct. 27, and it is the hope of the Land Trust that people can experience the surrounding nature and become connected to the habitat surrounding Judd Creek.
“It’s more than just a trail, it’s an experience,” said Eckhardt.
Note: The parking lot for the Judd Creek Trail is located at 20429 111th Ave SW. As an important note, all dogs must be kept on a leash at all times when visiting the new trail.
