Wallace Falls Lake Loop

Wallace Falls can be very crowded (deservedly so, as it's one of the loveliest and most accessible hikes here in Snohomish County), which is why I chose it on this warm, sunny Sunday. My wife worries when I hike alone, so I assured her that being alone wouldn't be an issue here.
Not wanting too much company, I arrived fairly early at 8:30. There were already a dozen other cars in the lot (when I finished my hike at 4:30, the lot was full and there were two dozen other cars parked a quarter mile from the park entrance, so an early start is advised on nice weekends). I set out to do the big loop of the park, heading up the trail to the falls while the crowds were still (relatively) sparse.
The trail was remarkably mud free, considering the torrential, anyone-seen-a-pair-of-zebras rain we had Saturday, and it was an easy but moderately steep climb up to the top. From the upper falls, a trail leads to the top of the ridge, hard to discern, but fortunately there are blue markers attached to trees that show you the way. A short uphill grunt and you come out on the DNR road (closed to all but the occasional logging truck) that leads to Wallace Lake.
There's a nice short side trip here. Instead of heading left towards the lake, go right about 100 yards and you'll find access to the banks of the Wallace River just before the falls, a pleasant place for a snack and a rest. From here the walking is easy, following the wide, level road for about 3 1/2 miles to the lake. The signage here is great, with every turn marked and maps posted with "You Are Here" markers.
The first thing you'll notice as you head along the road is that it's very quiet. As the sound of the river recedes, it is replaced by the chirping of birds and the occasional whine of an airplne engine in the distance. This is second growth forest, but ferns and wildflowers are returning, so the walk has a very park like quality to it, and after leaving the falls you've left most of the crowds behind as well.
Wallace Lake is usually ignored by visitors to the park, and today was no exception. A party of four was picnicing by the outlet stream, two people were fishing (lake season opened Saturday) and a couple was enjoying the view from the beach at the lakes west end, but that was it.
Once I set off for Jay Lake, I had the trail to myself. A short, easy mile later you come to the lake and a few campsites, available by permit only (contact the ranger for info). There were four tent pads, a picnic table and a fire pit surrounded by log chairs forming a sort of a "Wallace-henge". The fishing is probably good here too. When I stepped on a partially submergered log on the lakes shoreline, a group of about 50 trout fingerlings scattered away.
From here the "trail" to Shaw Lake is a bit challenging. You won't see a path on the ground, but some brush has been cut back and there is orange and pink flagging tape tied to branches every 50' or so.
As I was fighting my way through the brush, I heard the sound of something low to the ground and definately heavy crashing through the undergrowth. I didn't see what I'd scared off, but a few yards later I came upon a big, steaming pile of cougar poo. Anybody camping at Jay Lake would be well advised to keep the kids and dogs on a short leash.
When I arrived at a crossing of Shaw lake's outlet stream, the orange blazes showed the trail proceeding up a steep hillside full of unstable looking debris. I was within 1/2 mile of the lake, but at this point I reconsidered. I told my wife I was only going as far as Jay Lake, I was alone, the trail was dodgy and that cougar was somewhere nearby, so I let caution trump adventure. I turned around.
The trip back was a delight. Other than the two fishermen still at Wallace Lake, I didn't see another soul until I reached the Railroad Grade trail. I followed the Greg Ball trail, built by WTA youth volunteers (thanks everybody!) along the North Fork Wallace River. The forest is rather uninteresting at first, second growth with lots of dead sticks and little else, but as you descend there is more and more understory vegetation and wildlife (I was scolded by a chattering marmot for invading his privacy).
I followed the Railroad Grade trail back to the very crowded parking lot, a trail which is basically just another logging road. A shorter and more scenic route back is via the Woody trail.
The falls are pretty and well worth seeing, but the real gem here is the quiet and peaceful hike to the lakes. This is also a wonderful snowshoe hike up the DNR road to Wallace Lake, with an easily accessible trailhead.

Spencer Island

Although I've never listed an urban hike on this site, I'm making an exception for the Spencer Island trail because of its amazing diversity of wildlife so close to a big city.
The trailhead for Spencer Island is situated in the Snohomish River estuary between Everett and Marysville, less than five miles from the center of either town. This was formerly farmland and cattle grazing, but the dikes were breached in the 1990's, exposing the site once again to tidal influence and creating over 400 acres of marshland.
Follow the signs for Langus Park, but instead of parking at the end of the paved road, follow the gravel road another 1/4/ mile and park in the small lot next to the sewage treatment plant. From here it's another 1/4 mile walk to the bridge across Union Slough that is the park entrance, but keep your eyes open on the way and you'll probably see ducks, coots and herons enjoying the small ponds along the road.
From here there is a 3 1/2 mile loop, crossing the center of the marsh and following the outline of the southern half (the northern half is used for hunting in season, and the breached dike no longer allows you to get all the way around, but short spurs can be explored on the east and west sides), with Steamboat Slough to the east and Union Slough to the west. Note the many boats parked along Steamboat Slough, an array of vessels from a century old wrecked barge to a modern working tugboat to craft of varying sizes and purposes, from small pleasure boats to improvised housebaots.
The marsh is home to resident and migratory waterfowl, and raptors abound, because of the plentiful food sources and the numerous perches that were created when the salty tidal waters that were reintroduced killed a number of trees along the marshes edge. I seldom visit here without seeing eagles, osprey and hawks. There are also river otter, beaver, racoons, coyotes and deer. The marsh is rearing ground to juvenille salmon and the sloughs contain sturgeon.
The best time to see some of the more shy residents, like otters and deer, is at first light, but birds are there throughout the day. Just remember to stay on the trail, especially during the spring nesting season, and leave rover at home since dogs are not allowed here. The best time to have solitude is also early in the morning, especially weekdays, when we usually have the park to ourselves.
If you want to extend your hike, nearby Langus Park has a 3 mile paved trail along the Snohomish River and Union Slough, ending at the entrance to Spenser Island for a 7 mile loop hike of both parks if you begin at the Langus parking lot and return via the gravel road.

Big Four Ice Caves

After being unable to reach the trailhead for Ashland Lakes due to snow on the road, and lacking time for a longer hike, we decided to take the short hike to Big Four Ice Caves as a consolation.
On the way to the parking area, we came across a black bear (although his fur was more reddish brown) heading down to the Stillaguamish River, probably looking to do some fishing. This was about halfway between marten Creek and Deer creek, and judging by his appearence the fishing must be good, because he looked plump and healthy, none of that "skinny, just woke up from a long winters nap, having a bad den hair day" look about him. Seems Mr. Ursis is up and about early this year.
There was a couple inches of slushy snow in the Big Four parking lot, and the walk to the ice caves was a bit like walking in sand, feet slipping back a little with each step until I stopped and put on some YakTrax.
As soon as you cross the wetlands you'll first smell and then see lots of skunk cabbage blooms, like the bear a sure sign of spring, even if the trail looks more winterish than it has since last year. The snow increases a bit as you gain 200' in elevation, with maybe 5 inches on the ground at trails end.
The cave itself is fairly large and well formed now, but please stay out. You can see some large blocks of ice that have recently fallen from the roof, thankfully while no one was under them. There were quite a few small avalanches while we were there, perhaps one every 2 to 3 minutes, beautiful little white "waterfalls" of snow, noisy but (usually) harmless. "Don't like the weather? Just wait 15 minutes...". We had sunshine, rain and a few feeble snowflakes, occasionally all at the same time. Tomorrow promises to be more eventful, lots of wind and snow, but alas I have to help a friend move Friday. Too bad. I love stormy weather!
Speaking of storms, check out the forest edge by the caves, where trees in an an area of almost 100 square yards have been sheared off 10 to 15 feet above ground and lay like a giant set of pick up sticks, victims not of an avalanche but of a devastating microburst of wind.