A treasured green space

Once the site of a lumber mill, Dead Horse Canyon is where the two forks of Taylor Creek converge before emptying into Lake Washington. A 1.6 mile walking trail runs parallel to the creek, traversing it in two places via wooden footbridges.

Throughout the park are hundreds of breathtaking, mature trees—western hemlock, western red cedar, Douglas fir, grand fir, cottonwood, big leaf maple and more—some of which are easily more than a century old.

Native shrubs and ground cover, like Pacific rhododendron, salmonberry, Oregon grape and bleeding heart, flourish throughout Dead Horse Canyon, in part because our work to remove English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and other invasive species has made room for native species to thrive. Dead Horse Canyon is home to an array of native fauna, including barred owl, coyote, Douglas squirrel and at least four species of woodpecker.

Friends of Dead Horse Canyon meets in the park the third Saturday of every month from 9am - 1pm to weed, plant and water. Learn more about our advocacy work around this issue and add your voice to the discussion.