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Deadhorse Canyon forms most of Lakeridge Park. This deep, north-facing gorge provides sanctuary for wildlife and a quite place to walk-off your day or just to stretch your legs.
Although there are many 'locals' ways to access this park, the main trailhead on 68th Avenue South is the only one which has parking. From the sharp turn in the road access to the park is obvious. Taylor Creek, to your left, bubbles continuously through out this steep walled ravine, turned park. Sticking to the lollipop trail is not difficult although there are several paths which diverge to local neighborhoods. Much work by volunteer groups over the past 30 years has rescued and rejuvenated this urban gorge.
In the 1880s the Taylor Sawmill operated in this area. When nearby sources were depleted and the logging business moved elsewhere the land that wasn't salable for housing development, was deeded to the city of Seattle. At the southern end of the trail, where the gorge narrows and the trail ends; there are remnants of water diversion structures; likely remains from the mill.
Today this trail is in a recovering forest. Several grand firs and a cedar or two somehow escaped the bite of the loggers axe. Most of the ravine is a second growth mix of big leaf maple, alder, and a mix of other young trees. As this is a north-facing ravine, in our temperate rain-forest climate; moss and ferns reign supreme here. Sword ferns dominate the under-story and licorice fern climbs high towards the canopy on the trunks of deciduous trees.
This is a wonderful refuge from the city, or simply a place to introduce youngsters to the marvels of nature.
Trailhead
