By Marianne Lincoln

It is a hidden place on private property now, but when the Naches Trail hosted wagons from Eastern to Western Washington in the 1850’s, the spring near the Trail’s end was a valuable resource. Officially, the Naches Trail ended at the Mahon Farm. Most of that farm later became the Brookdale Golf Course. It is now being developed into a housing area called Trail’s End. That development will have some signage regarding the historic nature of the Trail.

Clover Creek crosses Military Road at the bottom of a hill on the west side of the Naches Trail Park. Although the road goes up the hill, the historic wagon trail ran along the bottom of the ridge on the back side of the creek. Beyond the two current houses, there is an open space where the wagons could stop and the spring provided fresh water. That spring still keeps the creek from drying out in that section in the middle of the summer.

The trail and waterway is owned by Tacoma Public Utilities. The adjacent access is from the Rhine and Tallman private properties. I was permitted access in July of 2017 during a celebration of life for Virginia Rhine’s father. They even provided a golf cart and private tour. For this I was grateful.

In this photo is the actual site of the spring.

The creek continues along the bottom of the hill from the spring, behind Naches Trail elementary and crosses 152nd Street toward Brookdale Road.

The water coming from this spring is likely the same that feeds Stoney Lake, Frederickson Pond, and the stream along 22nd Avenue and 192nd Stret. It ducks underground along Waller Road and 176th. The is also and oxbow that head back toward 22nd avenue at about 158th. In 1995, we saw that area flood during a heavy year of rain.

According to Clover Creek School history, that same area flooded the farmer on the property and he took over the log cabin style school building built by the Mahan family as a place to live because it was on higher ground and his home had flooded. That first Clover Creek School site is in the northwest corner of a lot about to be developed with houses, formerly owned by the Akers. That lot is at the northeast corner of 22nd Avenue and Military Road.

The underground fresh water in the Chambers Clover Watershed (WRIA12) is a precious resource. It is fed only by rainwater and subject to draught and flooding issues. We should all keep in mind the impacts of development to this resource is a critical issue for us all.

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This article is dedicated to Al Schmauder, who learned I had a photo of the spring. But until today, I had forgotten where I filed it.

A few more photos of the area.