Sunday, April 18, 2026 @  9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Backup Bad Weather Date)

Leaders: Ken Schroeder and Dolly Owen

Join leaders Ken Schroeder and Dolly Owen for a half-day exploration of the Bass Lake Complex Natural Area. We do a one-way walk to explore three different lakes in this lowland basin along a well-maintained trail, for a total of 1.8 miles. There are only a few gentle uphill sections. We go slowly for birding and nature study. With luck we will observe some spring migrating birds, and possibly a glimpse of the Mt. Rainier Elk herd. Our walk ends at the mysterious “Sinkhole Lake” with a well-deserved reputation of being bottomless.

The Bass Lake Complex is a ten-minute drive from Flaming Geyser State Park. We will meet at Whitney Bridge Park at the intersection of SE Green Valley Road, and 218th Ave SE. This intersection is just west of Flaming Geyser State Park. Look for our vehicles parked in a gravelly pull-off at this intersection.

When all guests have arrived, we will caravan to Sinkhole Lake. Two cars are parked here while the other two cars shuttle all birders to our starting location at Bass Lake. At the conclusion of the hike, we shuttle back to the starting point and go our separate ways. Stopping for lunch at the nearby, and world famous, “Black Diamond Bakery” is optional.

We must have a total of four cars that each seat four to shuttle between the starting and ending points. This bird hike is capped at six guests, plus two leaders for a total of eight. We remain together for the entire outing.

Bring hiking boots, a water bottle, a few snacks, rain gear, binoculars, an optional hiking pole, and your sense of adventure. If the weather is bad, we will postpone to the following weekend.