In 1926, the city of Redmond purchased a piece of land from Weyerhaeuser, intending to use Seidel Creek as a water supply. More acreage was later purchased to bring the watershed to 800 acres, however water quality issues led to the use of other water sources. Now this beautiful wooded area is managed primarily as a nature preserve, with a focus on protecting its wide variety of habitats, including ponds and other wetlands. In the interest of protecting the quality of these habitats, the preserve has enacted the following rules:
no pets, no alcohol, no fires or smoking, and no firearms. Please abide by these rules in order to keep the outdoor experience pleasant for all trail users.
The park's trails are multi-use: popular for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Be prepared to share the trail and look out for horse droppings. An underground natural gas line and pipeline regional trail above it runs north to south through the middle of the park, and an overhead power line runs east to west. Several regional trails pass through the park.
You can pick up a brochure -- which includes a trail map -- at the signboard near the parking lot. The park has more than seven miles of trails, but take note of which ones are open to which kind of users. The Trillium Trail on the west side of the park is for equestrians and hikers. Siler’s Mill Trail on the east side of the park is gated and for hikers only. Each of the trail intersections is signed and has a map letting you know where you are.
To see as much of the park as possible, make a 4.5-mile long loop starting from the parking lot. Take the Trillium Trail and the Siler’s Mill Trail by connecting them with multi-use trails. The grade is gentle and the trails are mostly in good condition. The loop goes up and down and gains about 400 feet total in elevation. The trails run through second-growth forest of Douglas firs, cedars, cottonwoods and maples. The trees are covered with moss and the ground is covered with sword ferns. Enjoy the chirping of birds, the croaking of frogs, and the smell of fir trees.