Green River Trail - Duwamish Trail

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The Green River Trail is one of the longest paved trails in the Puget Sound region stretching from the south edge of Seattle to Kent. Most of the route hugs the shore of the Green River and Duwamish River. The two rivers are really the same but the name changes in Tukwila at Fort Dent Park. Long ago, the Black River and Green River converged together in Tukwila forming the Duwamish. Today, the Black is gone so we are left with a river that just changes names for no apparent reason. The trail route along the Duwamish is often called the Duwamish River Trail but all signs along the route say Green River Trail. This north segment is around 5 miles making a nice and easy out and back trip for families. There is parking at both ends.

The north end point of this trail just ends suddenly with a sign saying "end of trail". There is parking at this spot along West Marginal Place South but the safer parking is just south a bit at a little park called Cecil Moses Park. From there, to Fort Dent Park, the trail passes mostly office buildings on one side with the river on the other. Several bridges are crossed which the kids always find exciting. Even cooler is Interstate 5 crossing over the trail and river. Even one old neighborhood is passed through, totally surrounded by commercial development. Picnic tables and viewpoints have been developed in some spots, probably by the local businesses for their employees during lunch breaks. One small section of trail does leave the river going along the road in front of the Riverside Casino and the Foster Golf Course. Reaching Fort Dent Park you find a bunch of athletic fields along the river. There is lots of parking here but sometimes weekend events try to charge money for entrance. The park has some really nice play equipment for the kids if you leave the trail several hundred feet east. A good end point is here or continue another mile to the intersection with the Interurban Trail. The path leaves the park, goes under the bridge to the park and follows a big horseshoe along the Green River. A big trail map sign marks the intersection of the Interurban and Green River Trails.

From Interstate 5 southbound, take Exit 158, turn right off the exit ramp on the South Boeing Access Road and turn left on Tukwila International Boulevard. Turn right on South 112th Street, and park at the end of the road by the river. Heading northbound on I-5, take Exit 157, turn left on South Boeing Access Road, and follow as above.

Directions to Cecil Moses Park

Map showing the north section of the Green River Trail

Map showing where the Interurban Trail meets the Green River Trail south of Fort Dent Park

Map showing the north end of the trail where it ends just north of Cecil Moses Park

Bridge across the Duwamish near Cecil Moses Park

View of the Duwamish River from the trail

The Green River Trail as it parallels I-5

The Green River Trail as it parallels Highway 599

The Green River Trail at the intersection with the Interurban Trail

The end of the Green River Trail at the north

Play equipment in Fort Dent Park

Cooling off in the fields below the trail in Fort Dent Park

One of several historic markers in Fort Dent Park (text below)

Crossing the Green River at the south end of Fort Dent Park

Green River Trail in Fort Dent Park

Fort Dent was named after Colonel Frederick T. Dent of the U.S. Army. Colonel Dent, Aide-de-Camp to Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, was said to have supervised construction of the fort located at this site in 1856. Native Americans referred to this site as Mox la Push (translated river with two mouths) signifying the flowing together of the Duwamish and Black Rivers.

Green River Trail - Duwamish Section