Three Ten Trails Community Amenities You Should be Using this Spring 

Ten Trails has many community amenities for residents and the public to use including our award-winning Civic Park and miles of trails to explore. Here are three Ten Trails amenities that you must check out this spring:

Ten Trails Community Fire Pits 

Something magical happens while sitting around a fire with friends and family that does not happen in other situations. In this time when there is a huge emphasis on virtual connections and reliance on technology for socialization, an old-fashioned fireside chat with family and neighbors is the perfect low-tech way to reconnect. Ten Trails has fire pits for residents to use scattered throughout the community.

Ten Trails Community Ping Pong Table

Did you know Ten Trails has an outdoor ping pong table for residents to use? Grab a ball and some paddles and challenge your neighbors to a game! Ping Pong is a great activity to keep you fit, get you outside this spring, and is by nature a socially-distanced activity to do with others.

Ten Trails Community Bocce Ball Courts

Ten Trails’ bocce ball courts are located in Civic Park near the performance pavilion. If you are not familiar with the game, there is a sign posted next to the courts with instructions on how to play. All you need for a great time outdoors this spring is one other player and a bocce ball set www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Golf Courses Close to Ten Trails

Golf is one of many outdoor activities open during current Covid-19 restrictions. Lucky for Ten Trails residents, they have their pick of many fine golf courses all within a short drive of the community! Check with each of the courses listed below before your arrival to be updated with all current pandemic guidelines and be prepared for indoor dining areas to be closed during your visit.

Druid’s Glen Golf Course 

Located just minutes from Ten Trails in nearby Covington, Druid’s Glen Golf Course is ranked one of the top ten golf courses in Washington and offers championship golf and scenic views. This public course offers memberships as well as daily play fee options and is challenging for golfers of all skill levels.

Lake Wilderness Golf Course

Located in nearby Maple Valley, Lake Wilderness Golf Course is a fun, accessible course open for members and the public. The 18-hole course offers short, narrow fairways that test all skill levels, and the scenic setting is enhanced by the course’s many large fir trees.

Enumclaw Golf Course

Another local public course located just off Hwy-410, the Enumclaw Golf Course is an 18-hole facility that meanders through tall pines in a beautiful setting below Mt. Rainier. Enumclaw Golf Course is known for its reasonable fees, scenic fairways, and accessibility for all players.

Washington National Golf Club

Washington National is a popular local course that is well-known as the home course for the University of Washington’s men’s and women’s golf teams. This 18-hole championship course was designed by award-winning architect, John Fought, and features rugged transitional areas, white-sand bunkers and impeccably maintained greens. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Head to Nearby Franklin Falls for a Magical Wintertime Hiking Experience

Franklin Falls is located about an hour’s drive from Ten Trails and is a popular hiking destination in the summer months. In the winter months, however, the hike takes on a uniquely different quality because the majestic waterfall partially freezes as temperatures drop. At just a few miles roundtrip, this is a quick and easy hike that can be enjoyed by hikers of all ages.

Location and Driving Directions for Franklin Falls Trail 

Franklin Falls Trail is located near the Snoqualmie Pass and can be reached via I-90 and exit 52. During the winter months, the trail can be accessed via National Forest Road 58 (NF-58) which closes to vehicle traffic due to snow. Park in the West Summit lot and walk along NF-58 for about 1.4 miles before taking a right into the woods at the Safety Corridor sign. A five-minute descent through the wooded trail will reveal the waterfall.

Alternate Hike Along Denny Creek Trail

You can opt to take a shorter path along Denny Creek that is relatively flat with sweeping views of the river and cabins. Old growth trees provide ample shade and the river is fast-flowing much of the year.

Make Sure You Have the Proper Hiking Equipment

Because the trail is covered in snow in the winter, you will want to make sure you bring the proper snow hiking equipment for a safe and enjoyable excursion. Waterproof hiking or snow boots equipped with microspikes or crampons are essential for ensuring you do not slip on the snowy trail. Snowshoes would also be handy to have for the hike on snowy NF-58 and gaiters to keep snow from going into your shoes. Many snow hikers also opt for stability with trekking poles and other winter hiking gear. For suggestions of what gear and supplies you may need for your winter hike outing, visit REI’s website. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043      

Ways to Beat the Winter Doldrums

As we settle into the post-holiday season, many of us experience a seasonal mood shift. With this winter being especially unique due to Covid-19, it can be more difficult to find ways to break out of a dull winter mood. Here are a few tips for keeping the winter blues at bay until we welcome spring in a few months:

Find Time to Take a Walk in Nature

Many studies of longer (60-90 minute) and shorter walks (15 minutes) in a natural setting have shown that participants benefit after from a lower heart rate, lower fight-or-flight response, and feelings of being more relaxed. Walks in nature have also been shown to boost memory and decrease feelings of anxiety. Walks in urban settings are not shown to provide the same benefits. Ten Trails is located close to area hiking trails and many state and regional parks, giving you ample opportunities to get outside in nature. You do not need to even leave the community to benefit from a walk in nature, however! Our community nature trails are the perfect place for a daily stroll.

Listen to Music that Lifts Your Mood 

Scientific studies show that music has a positive effect on emotional well-being, including improving mood, decreasing anxiety, and helping stress management. Our brains associate specific pieces of music with certain happy memories and music has also been shown to have an effect on the release of dopamine in our brains. Next time you are feeling the winter blahs, put on a song that you remember listening to during a happy time like your wedding, graduation, or a favorite concert and see if it shifts your outlook.

Schedule Daily Exercise

The health benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical! Numerous studies have shown that exercise has a positive impact on mood. Proposed theories are due to exercise’s impact on blood circulation and the resulting influence on the brain and HPA axis. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins in the body which produces a feeling of well-being. This feeling is often commonly referred to as a  “runner’s high.” Ten Trails has many paved paths and nature trails that are ideal for use for daily exercise like jogging, walking, or biking. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043