A Walk through Federation Forest fueled by the Black Diamond Bakery

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Susanne Swanson

Talk about social distancing! Yesterday Bob and I had the trails to ourselves at Federation Forest as we walked under the canopy of old growth evergreens with the sound of the White River flowing nearby.

To get there we headed south on the Maple Valley Highway, stopping by the Black Diamond Bakery, which has been serving customers since 1902!

After fueling up we continued past the scenic countryside of Enumclaw

and onto Highway 410 to Federation Forest.

There wasn’t a single other car or visitor as we entered the quiet beauty of the woods

and soaked in the strength of the aged trees reaching high into the heavens

and the gentle beauty of the trilliums springing from the forest floor below.

I think Robert Frost said it best in one of my favorite poems,

“The woods are lovely dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

~ Susanne

Category: Nature, TrailsTags: black diamond bakery, federation forest, Forest, Green River, Highway 410, Hikes, Nature, Pacific Northwest, Poetry, robert frost, Trails, Washington State

17 Comments on “A Walk through Federation Forest fueled by the Black Diamond Bakery”

Laci
April 16, 2020

Love this! I’m glad you can escape! Thank you for sharing!
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! We’re fortunate to have the forest so close to home! 🙂
  - Laci
    April 16, 2020
    
    You’re welcome!
beetleypete
April 16, 2020

Lovely shots, Susanne. I was surprised to see the bakery open, (ours are all closed) but delighted to see the delicious cakes!
Best wishes, Pete.
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  Thanks Pete. They’re open for takeout only, practice social distancing in line and doing well. Their donuts are fabulous!
  - beetleypete
    April 16, 2020
    
    I love doughnuts! 🙂
Sherrey Meyer
April 16, 2020

Susanne, thanks for sharing these lovely images. Federation Forest is a place my Bob and I have never explored. A little bit of a drive for use, but sometime we just might travel up and walk the trails.
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  I’m so glad you enjoyed them. It’s a wonderful tract of old growth forest, with lots of trails, next to the river! And it makes a nice stop on the way to Mt. Rainier. 🙂
Graham
April 16, 2020

Looks like a proper Northwest trail, lots of tall trees and masses of moss. The bakery looks pretty good too. Glad you’re able to get out and enjoy it.
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  Thank you! I’m happy to have such wild beauty so close to home. And the donuts were fabulous!
johnrieber
April 16, 2020

What a gorgeous escape into nature – fueled by doughnuts as well!
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  Thanks John! I just love getting out into the woods and am thankful to have them nearby. And the donuts were fabulous! 🙂 🙂
Elizabeth
April 16, 2020

Showing those donuts was cruel! We had the first trillium open here. Our version seems a little smaller than the ones I remember from Oregon and which you share here.
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  So sorry to tempt you with the donuts! I’m just happy this little shop has remained open – seems only fair after 118 years! As far as the trilliums go – everything’s bigger in the West! 😉
  - Elizabeth
    April 18, 2020
    
    LOL. The mountains for sure. Here hills are called mountains. Very disappointing.
Don Ostertag
April 16, 2020

Thanks for taking me on your walk,Susanne. Even if it did make me hungry.
- Susanne Swanson
  April 16, 2020
  
  So glad you enjoyed it! Sorry you didn’t get to experience having a donut! But trust me, they were delicious! 😉