West CrossTown Trail
00 Trail with historic Newcastle Cemetery on right
01 Trailhead on Newcastle Way near Middle School Ballfields
02 Hazelwood Park Access to CrossTown Trail
03 Rabbit on Trail
04 Trail eastbound on Boardwalk
05 End of Boardwalk on SE 74th St
06 Alternate Route on Sidewalk past Donegal Park Turnout
08 Trail on Easement into Public Open Space
09 Route southbound in Utility Corridor
10 Looking back towards Donegal Park
11 Trail on Utility Road curving east into Hazelwood Ridge
12 Looking north from Hazelwood Ridge Retention Pond
13 Trail crossing 126th Ave SE and turning right to SE 77th Court
14 Access east to China Creek Trail on north side of SE 77th Court
15 CrossTown Trail leaving SE 77th Court for Lake Boren
16 CrossTown Trail south of Hazelwood Ridge
17 Junction with China Creek Trail branching left
18 CrossTown Trail approaching Olympus Trail and Cemetery
19 Junction with Olympus Trail branching right
20 View of Olympus Trail looking south
21 Trail with historic Newcastle Cemetery on right
22 Looking back from 129th Ave SE at Cemetery and Signs
23 Trail on 129th Ave SE passing left of sign into Lake Boren Park
24 Trail on 129th Ave SE entering Lake Boren Park
25 Trail on Park Path approaching Fishing Pier
26 Fishing Pier in Lake Boren Park
27 View north from Fishing Pier in Lake Boren Park
Overview
2.0 miles 4 Roads, 21 Driveways
From Middle School via Lake Boren Park to Parkway at SE 79th Pl
Description
The West CrossTown Trail starts on the south side of Newcastle Way, at the crosswalk for 119th Ave SE (NE corner of Risdon Middle School ballfields). It runs south past Hazelwood Elementary School, heads east and south around the CCUD water tank, and continues through Hazelwood Park. It passes Donegal Park and the historic Newcastle Cemetery, enters Lake Boren Park near the fishing pier, and terminates on Coal Creek Parkway at the start of the East CrossTown Trail. See Extended Description and Future Plans below.
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1. The West CrossTown Trail starts on the south side of Newcastle Way, at the crosswalk for 119th Ave SE (NE corner of Risdon Middle School ballfields). It continues south in a narrow strip of woods just east of the ballfields, first on natural surface, then on asphalt to a point just below a cul-de-sac (119th Place SE). Here the main trail ascends on steps to the cul-de-sac, and an access trail branches right to Hazelwood Elementary School.
2. Turn left at the end of the 119th Court SE cul-de-sac to follow a trail that skirts the fence NE of the water tank. Ascend a combined trail and driveway to SE 73rd Place, and follow the sidewalk to the right most of the way around the cul-de-sac. Turn right up a driveway marked by a trail sign (officially OK for walkers, not parked cars) to Hazelwood Park.
3. Ascend a woodsy trail past the junction with the Hazelwood Trail (which branches right, heading west to Hazelwood School and 116th Ave. SE).
4. After ascending a broad curve to the summit (“Cowboy Hill”), descend steps and turn left. (To the right is a branch that goes to Lake Washington Ridge subdivision.) Descend steps toward Hazelwood Park’s main entrance at 121st Place SE, and continue through wetlands and over a boardwalk to SE 74th Street & 122nd Place SE one block west of Donegal Park.
5. Turn left at the sidewalk and follow it as it curves east to 123rd Ave SE. Cross 123rd and continue southeast along SE 74th Street with Donegal Park on your left. The sidewalk ends at a park path leading to the Porter Memorial Barbecue. Turn right, cross 74th Street, and continue south on a grassy trail in a utility corridor. At least one back yard extends across the trail, but don't turn back: the trail is on public land and easements. Enjoy the trees, and the views north and south. This is the north end of the Horse Trail, which connects Hazelwood to May Creek Park. It's been used by residents since the 1960's, but is no longer used by horses. The CrossTown Trail was rerouted past Donegal Park in 2019, but trail signs still mark the original route south along 122nd Place SE.
6.Turn left past the retention pond into the SE 78th Court cul-de-sac, at the west end of the Hazelwood Ridge subdivision. Turn right at the sidewalk, follow it east to 126th Avenue SE and go right to SE 77th Court, which runs east downhill to the China Creek Trail (in the cul-de-sac). Cross 77th, turn left, walk east a few feet, and turn right onto the new route of the CrossTown Trail. It passes between two homes, turns left, and descends to join the original route, which drops steeply to a power line corridor. To avoid the steepest descent, take the cutoff trail right to the Olympus Trail, ascending south on switchbacks. Take the switchback down to the CrossTown Trail, which continues east along the north side of the Newcastle Historic Cemetery to 129th Avenue SE.
7. Just past the cemetery’s main entrance, keep left along the road as the Waterline Trail goes south along the utility corridor. Continue into Lake Boren Park, and turn left along the asphalt pathway toward Lake Boren. Pass the dock and, keeping left, follow the pathway to the restrooms. Turn left along the Milepost Trail to the Esplanade at Coal Creek Parkway & 135th Avenue SE. Follow the Esplanade north to the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway & SE 79th Place.
Future Plans
The West CrossTown Trail is now complete: you can walk the entire route, from Risdon Middle School to Coal Creek Parkway, on public land or easements. But some sections need trail signs or other improvements. Additional work (planned or underway) includes updated and new trail signs, finishing work on the new section by the Middle School, and two reroutes:
1. Donegal Park Reroute. In the City's proposal for the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, the CrossTown Trail will be rerouted onto the alternate route (shown in website photos) via Hazelwood's Donegal Park. At the park it will turn south and follow the Horse Trail route into Hazelwood Ridge, where it will continue east on the current sidewalk route. This change requires approval of the new Plan, and will include some sidewalk/crosswalk work at Donegal Park.
2. South Lake Boren Boardwalk. As part of the planned expansion of Lake Boren Park to the east side of the lake, the West CrossTown Trail will be relocated to a more direct route on elevated boardwalks around the south end of the lake. From there it will ascend to the Parkway at SE 79th Place, the start of the East CrossTown Trail. The boardwalk will provide or enable several amenities:
(a) an essential link between the west and east sides of the park and lake;
(b) an elevated viewpoint for lake views and bird watching;
(c) completing the Stone Garden (& memorial) at the west end of the boardwalk;
(d) the final link in the Lake Boren Trail, completing a loop around lake Boren;
(e) replacing a sidewalk section of the loop with a nature trail along the east side of the lake.