Exploring our natural areas is always a treat, but experiencing them by water is to see them in a whole new light. Rally the family to rent a canoe and take a ride through the Arboretum or Mercer Slough. The equipment is provided; all you need is a few hours to have some fun!
Despite the constant roar of traffic on the 520 bridge, you can paddle a canoe from the University of Washington's Waterfront Activities Center across the Montlake Cut to the Arboretum for a neat little adventure.
Once across and into the Arboretum, the waters are calm – a peaceful oasis. Beach your canoe at one of several spots in the Arboretum to eat lunch and wade into the cool water. Be on the lookout for herons and baby ducks. Touch the lily pads and the concrete pylons of the bridge as you float through.
The choppy water of the Montlake Cut can make paddling a challenge. Fortunately, boaters are cautious and are required to slow their speed. Try passing through with other canoes to increase your visibility if it makes you nervous.
Reservations are not accepted for the Center's fleet of canoes, so there can be crowds waiting for boats on sunny days. Come early and bring something to occupy your time while you wait.
Rentals cost $12 an hour. Rentals are available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 am. to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays in the summer. Call 206-543-9433 or visit the IMA's website for more information.
Mercer Slough Nature Park is one of our most beautiful urban wetlands. On weekends, you can rent canoes to paddle the slough (starting May 3) or take part in three-hour guided canoe rides, led by Bellevue park rangers (starting Memorial Day weekend).
There's no need to worry about motorized boats on this adventure. Be on the lookout for herons, otters, beavers and, if you make it that far, the swallows that nest on the underside of I-90 – an interesting juxtaposition of concrete and nature.
On the guided tour, paddlers meander through the channel past scores of birds, blueberry fields, an occasional office building and a salmon ladder. The group links up every so often to learn about the animals and plants in the park and how the different ecosystems function. The rides are open to anyone ages 5 and older, but someone must have experience canoeing; it's a four-mile trip and takes some brawn.
If you opt to explore the slough on your own, rent a canoe through Cascade Canoe & Kayak and tootle around for a few hours. Both voyages kick off at Enatai Beach Park.
The guided trips, held rain or shine, are held Saturdays May through September and Sundays in July and August, with no tours on the first weekend in July or the first weekend in August. They cost $16 per person for Bellevue residents and $18 per person for non-Bellevue residents; preregistration is required. Cascade Canoe & Kayak is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Canoe rentals cost $21 for the first hour and $10.50 for each additional hour. Call 425-452-6885 or visit ci.bellevue.wa.us/mercer_slough.htm or canoe-kayak.com to learn more.
Editor's note: This updated article was originally published in May 2014.
