Chambers Creek Loop trip report 08/16/2008

Trip Details:

Arrive parking lot	08:02AM
Start hiking	08:10AM
Out of woods	08:37AM
Restroom (NE corner of trail)	08:45AM
Golf Course clubhouse dining	09:10AM
Complete Loop	09:23AM
Complete meadow loop	09:43AM
Snow	On Puget sound in August? Really now...
Bugs	City walk. None.
Weather	Pleasant/clear a bit hazy. Went early to beat the heat.
Crowds	Lots of locals/exercisers. The later it got, the more crowded it got. Only saw one person on a bike. Everyone else was walking/jogging.
Scenic Value	This is a unique experience as you circle the old gravel pit (now Chambers Bay Golf course site of the 2015 US Open). You get to see the golf course pretty good without paying the $175 to play/walk it.
Difficulty	Paved trail. Climb about 500 feet in the loop, mostly in the NW corner.If you can walk 3 miles with a hill thrown in you can do this trail.

Narrative:

Well due to various circumstances, I opted to do something different. While this isn't really a "hike" per say it does have some interest/uniqueness. I decided to take the dog on a walk around the Chambers Bay golf course to get him out of the hot house as well. There is a trail that encases the perimeter of the course, even cutting through it in a few places on the west end. I got an early start to beat the anticipated heat, and was largely successful. I also beat a lot of the crowds. This is a walking/joggers haven. Having actually coughed up $115 to play the golf course about a month ago (twilight rate even), I was curious about the trail anyway. In my opinion the course wasn't in that good a shape (greens slow etc) so you can still get the views for free. This is all Pierce County parks. No cost to park or anything. But if you want to tee it up expect to pay $175.

I started from the low point down in the meadow past the golf course. You basically go to the golf course, but keep going down the road to the lower parking lot. I figured get the climbing part over as early as possible to beat the heat. Of course for NW hikers the 500 or so feet of climbing isn't really much of a climb.

Early on you see these structures. They used to hold gravel. They semi destroyed them and left for uniqueness as they border the 18th fairway. In 2015 you will probably be seeing these on TV a lot during the US Open.

On we go up the west side of the trail, above the busy rail road tracks. Another interest is the trains that go by every so often.

Round the corner with a partial of the Tacoma Narrows bridge and head uphill into the woods briefly.

Emerge back into the open for the duration of the walk. You are now basically at the high point and will remain there for a while as you wind around past the NE corner and back south towards the clubhouse.

Reach another parking lot with restrooms in the NE corner of the loop and continue south from there. You could also park here and start, but then you will be coming uphill to finish your walk.

We (Ricky & I) then passed the "clubhouse" with outside dining (I didn't partake, I don't think they welcome dogs...). I think at some point they are going to build a real/nice clubhouse. Also can be seen the "shuttle" busses which take the golfers from the upper parking lot (where the clubhouse is), down to the driving range/first tee areas.

Back down below I checked out the little loop meadow trail. If you want something really short and flat. This is it. The views aren't as good though as you are in the bowl.