SE 39th Street- Fall City

WBA members who live in the King County area have a good butterllying area nearby. Close to Fall City is a natural area that has been a favorite of Idie Ulsh for many years. Those of you who have taken Idie’s Beginning Butterfl:0ng class may have visited this spot on the course field trip. Idie has identified at least 24 species of butterflies at this location, which is quite a few for the wet side of the mountains.

From the west or east: Take I-90 to the Preston exit. Go left if you’ve come from the west, or go right if you’ve come from the east. Goss over the freeway and follow this road through Preston and into Fall City.

From the north: Take 520 east to Redmond, turn right just past Marymoor Park onto the Redmond-Fall Gty Road and continue to Fall Gty.

Once you’re in Fall City, follow Hwy E 202 over the bridge in the direction of Snoqualmie Falls. Immediately over the bridge turn left onto Hwy N 203 (also called Fall City-Carnation Road). After .2 miles, turn right onto S.E. 39th Place and you’re there.

Look for butterflies along the road by the slough, then park at the gate at the end of the road. Hike up the hill; you can make a loop trip if you turn left at the top and walk along the bicycle path. If you turn right at the top of the hill, the bike path crosses a ravine and comes out to another access road

Reecer Creek Road

A favorite butterflying spot in central Washington is Reecer Creek Road, just outside Ellensburg. Reecer Creek Road is a good area to look for butterflies early in the season. The Road passes through flat pasturelands near town. Following the Road away from town takes you into the Wenatchee National Forest, towards Lion Rock and Table Mountain. You can find may species early in the butterfly season. Even on Ellensburg’s famously windy days there are sheltered spots that hold lots of butterflies. As the season progresses, you can continue along the Road to higher elevations, eventually to Table Mountain.

Directions to Reecer Creek Road.

From the west: Exit I-90 at Exit 106, (designated 97 North- Wenatchee). Turn left at the top of the exit ramp. Cross over the freeway, come to a four-way stop at Dolar Way. From the stop sign, drive approximately .7 miles to Reecer Creek Road. Turn left onto Reecer Creek Road at the opposite side of an overpass.

From the east: Exit I-90 at Exit 106, (designated 97 North- Wenatchee). Turn right at the end of the exit ramp, come to a four-way stop at Dolar Way. From the stop sign, drive .7 miles to Reecer Creek Road. Tum left onto Reecer Creek Road at the opposite side of an overpass.

G’num2003Vol4No3