South of Seattle in the Kent Valley the Green River flows on.  The trail I have been following has now gotten past Southcenter and mile after mile of visible warehouses.  I had left off at the Green River Natural Resource Area on Russell Road.  That was where I parked and started walking down the road.  The Green River Trail follows along this old country road at this point. Some cars think they are on the freeway but most are respectful of us on two legs or wheels.

This is primarily a bicycle trail-path.  Kent has posted this map and there is a sculpture too.

This piece of the Green River Trail has another pedestrian bridge.  It crosses to the west side of the river where Frager Road is only open to walking and biking.

Metal bridge over Green River

Trail bridge to other side of river.

Pedestrian Bridge over river

Green River Trail on Russell Road

After I passed the bridge I found a couple of houses and a red barn that were boarded up. I assume they are being demolished to give us more natural space and park.  The barn seemed to have some recent activity in it, so I am not 100% sure what is going on.  If you read my prior post about the old house I had investigated as a girl and was scared out of my wits, you will know I have not stopped looking at empty houses.

Red Barn behind old House

Next Door House is going too

Days gone by – barn roof vent

Barn seemed to have recent activity

Old House to become more park space

Everywhere I go I find Crow Families. No exception along the Green River Trail today. Here are three members in a tree.  I could hear a baby crow crying across the street but never could find him.  I even tried using peanuts to coax him out or convince his parents I wasn’t a bad human.

Walking up the road I was more and more convinced I was in a rural place even though I know Kent was only a few streets away.  Then unexpectedly I started seeing a modern bridge. Eventually the trail went under this bridge away from the road.

Bridge gets closer

Trail goes under mystery bridge

Under the Bridge we go

That was when I found the 12 mile Green River Trail sign.  Had I only made it 12 miles in my 7 or so trips to traverse the path?   I decided to celebrate my walking since that meant I had made it 24 miles in total.

As I got closer to my turn around point, I came upon a large development of houses next to the trail.  And looming above them was the ever-present Mt. Rainier.

Here the river bends and on the river side I was taken back to the country by a small flock of ducks swimming with the river current.  I leave you with some final still photos and a small video of the ducks.