We recently visited the town of Edmonds, Washington, which sits in Snohomish County outside of Lynwood, a bustling area along Interstate 5. Edmonds though isn’t a straight drive. You must pick your winding road there, from many directions, to get to the water side town.
Parking is free overall, and the town is easy to navigate. The main focus is the ferry terminal, that takes cars and people across the water to Kingston, which is at the top of the Kitsap Penisula, and is often how Seattle folk head to the Olympic Mountains quickly. Park above, and get walking….you won’t get lost. There is free parking down on the water, but we were between the upper town and the water this way.
We took a walk around the seaside town, and then went down to Brackett’s Landing Shoreline Sanctuary Conservation Area, along the water. Even in the pandemic most restaurants are open, and many offer outdoor dining (using 3 sided clear walled shelters and propane heaters), though on Monday Snohomish County will open up to 25% capacity in restaurants. The sidewalks pass by many of these as you walk gently downhill towards the ferry dock, and the waterfront. If heading down Main Street, the ferry dock is straight ahead. You will pass the ferry holding lanes to the left. You can walk to the left or the right once you cross the train tracks at the bottom of the hill. We choose the right, and headed towards Brackett’s Landing North.
The ferry pulling into the dock, with Hansville and the upper Kitsap Peninsula.
Brackett Point. Whidbey Island is across the water. It isn’t far away, in fact the train track you cross to the park, the Sounder train stops at Edmonds, then the next stop is Mulkiteo, and the ferry dock to Whidbey Island. It’s just a bit convoluted to get here, that is all. The view is to Possession Point (which is home to Possession Point State Park) and into Cultus Bay. The island continues past Possession (which is in the front) and carries onto Useless Bay and Mutiny Bay, along the Western side of the island. I could even barely make the bluffs of Ebey out, far away.
The sand is nice here, great for children to play on. There is a paved path out to Brackett Point, at the edge of the water. The water is very clear here, a testament to the cleanup that happened on this water, only a few decades ago the shoreline was nearly dead and polluted.
It’s a nice stretch for the legs. Not wilderness, this is urban walking. But the breeze is nice, and the views are so soothing, especially on a cold January day.
Notes: Dogs are NOT allowed in this area (unless a service dog), drinking alcohol, using pot and smoking/vaping are all not allowed. There are public bathrooms. Free to use.
~Sarah