This is part of the Middle Bear Creek Watershed open space which is owned by King County but managed as a partnership between several geographically connected entities including Snohomish County, Cities of Redmond and Woodinville.
The site contains both mature, upland forest and areas of wetland associated with Bear Creek. About half of the property is located within the 100-year floodplain of Bear Creek. The site contains habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species.
The goals for the Bear Creek Natural Area are 1) to conserve and enhance the ecological value, and 2) accommodate appropriate public uses that do not harm ecological resources.
While you're in the area.. you may as well be doing a 3 day hike.. but this one won't take near as long as that.
The cache is a large preform tube very near a large Western Red Cedar. The intent of this cache is not to have you search for a needle in a haystack but to bring you to the edge of a nice quiet chunk of forest where wild animals won't see too many people. Following the intent of the natural area, the cache is placed just at the edge where the mowed grass eases into forest.