Miles of wandering in a backyard wonderland

Discovery Park is the largest and justifiably one of the most popular parks in Seattle, its 534 acres encompassing seven miles of trails that offer good hiking any time of year.

The park consists of four major habitats -- forests, meadows, beach and ponds. Most of the forest is in the north section of the park and throughout the bluff area. The meadow is at the south end of the park with postcard views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The meadow near the bluff is a great spot to fly kites on a windy day, but tread carefully as it's a fragile area with ground-nesting birds.

The beach can be accessed from the South Beach Trail or the forested Hidden Valley Trail. A short nature trail and a series of ponds are just east of the Daybreak Star Art and Cultural Center (the north parking lot) and are home to a variety of aquatic plants and wildlife.

Before settlers came to the Northwest, the land was a fishing and clamming area for Native Americans. Fort Lawton was created in 1898 and the first troops were assigned to it in 1901. After the Korean War, fort activity declined and many buildings were demolished. Most of the fort was declared surplus by the Army, and the federal government was allowed to give surplus lands to cities and states to be used for parks and recreation (the lands were transferred to the City of Seattle in 1972). The park is named for English explorer Captain George Vancouver's ship, the Discovery.

The main trail in the park is the 2.8-mile Loop Trail that circles the park. It is easily accessed from the south or east parking lot. Park in the east lot and head west on the well-signed Loop Trail. The trail passes through forest and crosses meadows to the sandy bluffs above Puget Sound. The bluffs are also a great spot to watch the sunset.

For more exercise, descend the steep trail to the south beach, West Point lighthouse (the oldest lighthouse in the Seattle area) and West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The lighthouse was built in 1881 and is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

When tides are low, you can walk the beach in either direction. Children will enjoy exploring the tide flats, and amateur geologists can ponder the 300-foot cliffs. By including the beach, more avid hikers can even muster up some 500 feet of elevation gain.

If you want, you can extend the hike by including the short but sweet self-guided Wolf Tree Nature Trail. Pick up the brochure for this trail at the visitor center for 35 cents.

Start at the Environmental Education Center (visitor center) and get a map of the park ($1). You also can pick up several 25-cent brochures that elaborate on wildlife, flora, fauna, geology and habitat. Find out which 32 species of mammals have been observed in the park in addition to coyotes, river otters, muskrats and bobcats.

The park is also a birding hot spot, with 253 species of birds, ranging from the common to unusual. You can get a bird list at the center, and guided bird walks are offered during peak migrations.

Also available is a brochure that describes the geologic history of the bluffs and the glaciation processes that played a major role in creating them. Try to imagine what it was like 14,000 years ago when ice covered Seattle to a thickness of 4,000 feet.

The Wolf Tree Nature Trail is a 1/2-mile loop that can be extended by a visit to a series of small ponds. The trail is not signed, but the obvious route can be found heading downhill from the corner of the north parking lot (look for a green post). The trailhead sign is on the trail near the beginning.

The Wolf Tree is a massive red alder and is found at guidepost 12. It is estimated that the tree began growing between 1866 and 1870, after the site was logged. Also featured are Pacific yew trees. Yews may lack the visual drama of old-growth cedars and were considered weed trees by loggers, but Native Americans recognized their importance. Klallam people crushed and boiled the leaves, then drank the infusion for pain and internal injury. The Quinault people boiled the bark and drank the liquid for a lung medicine.

The trail is especially appealing now, as skunk cabbage, Indian plum and salmonberry are blooming, assuring winter-weary hikers that spring finally has arrived.

Plan a visit to the Daybreak Star Center, which was dedicated in 1977, if you have time. The center houses a Native American art collection. If the gallery parking lot is full, additional parking is available in the north parking lot.

GETTING THERE