9 Supercool Tree Houses, Forts and Lookouts Around Seattle to Explore With Kids
Photo:
Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center lookout tower. Credit: Stuart Heath for City of Bellevue
4. Tree house tower at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center
Tucked away in Bellevue near Interstate 405 is one of Bellevue’s largest and most wildlife-rich parks, Mercer Slough Nature Park. Start your exploration of the park’s wetland ecosystems at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, a complex of classrooms, stairways and lookout spots that allow visitors to see the forest from many vantage points.
The star lookout spot is the tree house. During the education center’s open hours, the ranger can unlock the tower for you. Climb the ladder and go through a hatch onto what is essentially an elevated platform with handrails and a roof. Here, you are at eye level with the surrounding forest canopy. It’s magical!
Info: The center is open daily, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., though occasional unscheduled closures do happen when you might find a sign on the door indicating the center is closed for the day.
Also don’t miss: A hike on the shady trails, which are almost never crowded. Grab a trail map at the center. A short walk from there you’ll come to the Bellefields Trail, which offers loops of several distances. At one point, you can cross the bridge over the main channel of the Mercer Slough, where visitors often see wildlife.
Next stop: Fort Worden State Park
