Salmon and Art On The Central Connector Trail

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When walking across the Redmond Central Connector railroad trestle bridge we heard and saw salmon splashing in the Sammamish River below us. They were hard to see but persistence paid off. They migrate from August to November so there's plenty of time to see them. 

Eight panels of iron art are attached to the bridge. As you walk down the trail towards the Overlake Church these colored "boulders" welcome you for a rest. (Public Works Art?)  The entire trail is pervious and awesome for the environment but very expensive.  Low profile "street" lights line the trail.  

It was 4:15 and there was plenty of traffic.  An electric scooter zoomed by.  We saw three Limes.  Two were parked and one with a rider.  He told us he rides the Connector to Overlake then over the river and as far as the Burke-Gilman Trail.  He said it's fun!  We also saw about 3 bicyclists, a few joggers, some hikers and a couple dog walkers.  

Get out and watch those fish flip and flap!  We saw a 2 footer  jump completely out of the water!

-- Bob Yoder, 8/31/2021

Sammamish River Trail ranks #1 in Sunset's best bike paths in the West



 20 best bike paths in the West "Sunset," June 2012
"Get to know these Western routes the way the locals do ― on two wheels"

The Sammamish River Trail, 9- miles north of Redmond in Bothell

 [A double-bonus:  Sammamish River Trail runs north towards Sunset's 19th ranked Burke-Gilman Trail  which continues northwest around Lake Washington from Kenmore and south to Seattle's Gas Works Park  where you can take a refreshing dip before your return to Redmond.  49 mi rt BY.] 

1)  SAMMAMISH RIVER TRAIL, REDMOND, WA (11 miles)

The Sammamish connects to the northeastern terminus of Seatttle's popular Burke-Gilman trail (make a left at the fork after crossing 96th NE). The scenic 11-mile Sammamish, continues past the wineries in Woodinville to Redmond and the popular Redhook Brewery. Info: www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/regionaltrailssystem/sammamishriver.aspx
Read More >>

2)  SPRINGWATER CORRIDOR, PORTLAND TO BORING, OR (40 miles)

Portland is synonymous with biking thanks to trails like this one, which runs through the city along the Willamette River and over the famous, double-lift Steel Bridge (a boat, train, cars, runners and cyclists can simultaneously cross above or under it) to the town of Boring. This loop, which may eventually link to the Pacific Crest Trail, ends in Boring, however, it's anything but. Info: www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=679&action=ViewPark  Read more >>

Thanks to reader John Reinke for alerting Redmond Blog (RNB) to this article. 
Internet photo

"Grass Braid Art" discovered on the Sammamish River Trail



The grass braid is continuous and runs about 30 feet along the Sammamish River Trail just south of the 124th St. Bridge.   In the right picture the artist loops the braid.  Do you can see the River Trail.  The artist name is Sarah Kavage.   Do you like this?

iPhone photos by Yoder

 

Are there new possibilities for the western trail of the Sammamish River?

On the right is a photo of the artistic railing of the 116th Street Bridge.  It crosses the Sammamish River.  The bridge marks the northernmost beginning of the "western river Powerline Trail" paralleling the Sammamish River.  Mountain bikers, runners and hikers will use this mostly unknown, gravely trail.  The trail crosses over "Peters Creek" by the 90th Street Bridge storage centers and ends at Aegis Living near the 7/11.  The western river "Powerline Trail", with several bridges along the way, is a good alternative to the trafficy Eastern Sammamish River Trail. 

The 116th Street Bridge is known fondly as York Bridge, named after York (1897), a town once situated on the western bank. The art railing and bridge are separate, yet compliment each other.  The artist, Cliff Garten, worked with the bridge engineers to design an arc into the deck.  According to the county bridge plaque "the curving movements of the railing system are memory traces of the braided streams and salmon habitat of the Sammamish River prior to being channeled."

This Sammamish River picture (left) was taken from the York Bridge, looking south towards the city.  You can see both trails, the eastern river trail (left) and western river "Powerline trail."  Note the kayakers pulled up on the eastern banks.  A few years ago, a city consultant (Berger Associates) suggested the city consider diverting some of the hectic eastern trail bike traffic, over the river, to the western side.  His plan is to slow down the eastern side and transition it into quiet, grassy, gathering areas accessing the river.  What do you think about this idea?   Have you been on the Western Sammamish River (Powerline) Trail, yet?   The main trunk of of the western trail ends near a beautiful, huge willow tree and picnic area across the river from from Luke McRedmond Park and the new RiverPark Apartments.  The western trail isn't developed for road bikes at this time, but mountain biking, hiking, and strolling will "get you there.”   Do you think the city should route road bikes to the west for a stretch?

story and photos by Bob Yoder