Bridle Trails Park Foundation

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Bridle Trails Park Foundation

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Established to protect, maintain and enhance Bridle Trails State Park

Bridle Trails Park Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 which raises money to protect Bridle Trails State Park. We also work closely with the Washington Parks Ranger and the agency to promote proper use and enhancement of this public facility.

10/08/2026

1 Mile Scavenger Halloween Hike in Bridle Trails State Park
Costumes are encouraged
Professional ecologist on hand with some “CREEPY” native animal specimens
There may be some “not so spooky” friendly horses in costume
Participants MUST be on the trail by 1PM
Dress accordingly as this event is rain or shine
Note that parking in the parking lot requires a Discover Pass
PLEASE RSVP by 10/30 with number of children to ensure enough treats for all

www.bridletrails.org/halloween-scavenger-hunt

09/17/2026

WELCOME PARK RANGER ELLEN MOLINE!
Growing up on the park's edge, Ellen spent countless hours volunteering with her father removing invasive plants alongside Ranger Mary Welborn. Years later, Ranger Scotti Stephens recommended she apply for a Park Aide position while earning her degree in Recreation Management. During the summer of 2015, Ellen began working at Lake Sammamish as a seasonal Park Aide alongside yet another favorite of ours, Ranger Matt Birklid. Over the past eleven years, Ellen has spent time working in Federation Forest State Park, Ollalie State Park, Sucia Island Marine Park and in 2022 she returned to the area and became a Park Ranger at Lake Sammamish State Park. Ellen shared that she's got some, "big shoes to fill," but feels very lucky to have this opportunity to serve the park and the community. The Foundation feels very lucky that she's landed back in the neighborhood. Please be sure to give Ellen a warm welcome the next time you find yourself in the park!

08/26/2026

Sunday Sept. 13 - Forest Ecology Walk - register on Bridle Trails Parks Foundation website at https://www.bridletrails.org/sep13-forest-ecology-walk

08/05/2026

Salal & Summer!
Join us Saturday, August 15th, from 9am-noon as we investigate what the plants are up to during these warmer months in Bridle Trails State Park.
Spotted coral root, spreading wood fern, Star flowered Solomon’s seal, Salmonberry, Sword fern….and so many more. Park plant list can be found on sign up page. Please come with questions and curiosity!
Botanist Clay Antieau will lead the walk. He is past president of the Washington Native Plant Society, an experienced restoration ecologist, teaches master gardener and native plant identification classes and LOVES PLANTS. :)
Please register in advance: www.bridletrails.org/aug15-botany-walk

07/08/2026

It's July in the Forest!
Join us for an ECOLOGY walk on Sunday, July 19th. What is ECOLOGY?
Ecology is the scientific study of how living organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment. Close to 500 acres = tens of thouands of interactions happening each and every minute. Come learn about how these organisms adapt, survive, and impact this unique urban park.
Please register in advance here: https://www.bridletrails.org/nature-walks

06/24/2026

EQUESTRIAN RINGS WILL BE CLOSED NEXT WEEK: MONDAY, JUNE 29th THRU THURSDAY, JULY 2nd FOR TREE TRIMMING.
STATE PARKS ARBORISTS WILL BE IN THE PARK WITH CHAINSAW CREWS ALL WEEK.
Signage will also be present. We will send out an update if they finish early. Be safe and we'll see you soon in the park! 🐴🌳

06/13/2026

Ranger Matt Birklid is Moving On……

After 10 years with State Parks, Matt is making an exciting step toward supporting his upcoming degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington. He has accepted a summer research internship with the Ocean Data Lab at UW, where he will be assisting investigations utilizing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to monitor salmon vocal behavior and sound production. This work will support marine energy development.

The Foundation has been grateful for Matt’s organization, kindness, and forever positive attitude while playing an integral role working with us to implement important park enhancement projects and wonderful community events over the years.

Ranger Matt is working tomorrow (Sunday 6/14), Tuesday (6/16), Thursday(6/18), with his last day on Saturday, June 20th.
Be sure to stop by and wish him well on his new adventure if you can. From forests to fish, so cool!

St. Edward Park Ranger Daryl Kline will oversee operations at Bridle Trails for the foreseeable future and will be working closely with Senior Park Aide, Wyatt Swanson. Daryl was the Park Ranger here at Bridle Trails for a couple of years and knows the park, its events, and the community very well.

Happy Summer – See you in the Park Soon!

05/28/2026

While you may not want to go “clubbing” here, please consider joining 20+ year park trustee Jim Erckmann for a FOREST ECOLOGY walk on Saturday, June 13th. He’ll be discussing how the forest is changing over time, its amazing plants and animals, and why preservation efforts are so important now. Jim Erckmann is a retired ecologist with a PhD from UW and has done considerable research on the history and ecology of the park.
Please register in advance here: https://www.bridletrails.org/jun13-forest-ecology-walk
Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus) - Photo K. Quinn

05/06/2026

Ever seen one of these? We're hopeful to discover some rare hidden plant gems this Saturday, May 9, from 9am-noon in Bridle Trails State Park. Botanist Clay Antieau will lead the walk. He is past president of the Washington Native Plant Society, an experienced restoration ecologist, and teaches master gardener and native plant identification classes.
Please register in advance at https://www.bridletrails.org/may9-botany-walk

04/18/2026

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2026!
It was a gorgeous spring day in Bridle Trails State Park with 30+ volunteers working to keep invasives out.
Today’s targets: periwinkle and shiny geranium.
Students from six different high schools, members from local running clubs, neighbors (some with their awesome kids), our beloved previous park Ranger for 30 years (and her husband), our amazing Park Ranger and Senior Park Aide (always smiling Matt and Wyatt), along with Park Foundation members and their families supported the event with sweat equity, traffic assistance, pizza pick up, and brownie baking.
A GREAT DAY TO BE TOGETHER AND ALL IN FOR THE PARK! ❤️

Address

5300 116th Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA
98033

Telephone

+14253073578

Website

http://www.bridletrails.org/

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