Nestled in the heart of Bellevue, the 320-acre Mercer Slough Nature Park offers a tranquil setting for a variety of recreational experiences: biking, hiking, canoeing , blueberry picking, and environmental education. The Mercer Slough is Lake Washington’s largest remaining wetland, containing hundreds of plant species and an abundance of water resources. The park provides a diverse habitat for over 170 species of wildlife. Interconnected boardwalks, soft surface trails, and asphalt paths transport visitors through this unique urban wetland.
- The Periphery Trail is an asphalt path circling the perimeter of the park. The trail is ideal for jogging, bicycling, rollerblading and strollers. A component of the Lake Washington Bike Loop and Mountains to Sound Greenway, the path provides connections to Newcastle Beach Park, Seattle, Factoria, Renton, and beyond.
- The Winters House Visitor Center provides interpretive exhibits, information, rental facilities, restrooms, trailhead parking, and is home to the Eastside Heritage Center.
- The Heritage Trail, located behind the Winters House, meanders past remnants of old greenhouses, though an abandoned rhododendron nursery, and parallels the historic blueberry fields.
- The Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm provides restrooms, trailhead parking, seasonal produce sales, and u-pick blueberries.
- The Bellefields Trail loops through upland forest, scrub-shrub wetland, and open meadow habitats to the edge of the slough channel.
- The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center offers educational classes on wetland ecology.
- The Canoe Trail allows visitors a unique beaver’s-eye view of the Mercer Slough. Canoe rentals are available at Enatai Beach Park through Cascade Canoe & Kayak Centers. The City offers guided trips on Saturday mornings, May-September.
To reach the trailhead:
West side of the park:
- Winters House Visitor Center, 2102 Bellevue Way SE
- Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm, 2380 Bellevue Way SE
- Sweyolocken Boat Launch, 3000 Bellevue Way SE
East side of the park:
- Bellefields Trailhead, 2101 118th Ave SE
- Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Ave SE
Activities:
| Wildlife Viewing | Walking |
| Hiking/Trail Running |
Directions:
East side trailhead parking is available at the Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Avenue SE or the Bellefields Trailhead at 2101 118th Avenue SE.
West side trailhead parking is available at the Winters House, 2102 Bellevue Way SE; the Blueberry Farm, 2380 Bellevue Way SE; and Sweyolocken Boat Launch, 3000 Bellevue Way SE
