| McLane Creek | |
| Name Etymology: | After William McLane, settler |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Source1: | Capitol Forest |
| Mouth: | Mud Bay in Eld Inlet |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 47.0347°N -122.9906°W |
McLane Creek is a stream in Thurston County in the U.S. state of Washington. It enters Puget Sound at the southern end of Mud Bay in Eld Inlet.[1]
McLane Creek was named after William McLane, a pioneer settler and territorial politician. In 1999, ashes of Kurt Cobain were scattered in McLane Creek by his daughter.[2]
The headwaters of the creek occur in Capitol Forest and the waterway passes southeast and then mostly north near the McLane Creek Nature Trail area. The brook continues a northern trajectory passing west of the Black Hills, and the cities of Tumwater and Olympia, before emptying into Puget Sound at Mud Bay.[1]
The McLane Creek Nature Trail is a 1.1miles looping trail, with an additional 1miles extension, and is located in a eastern portion of Capitol Forest. The course is managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The flat trail, with a mix of boardwalks and natural pathways, contains platforms geared for wildlife viewing and visitors can walk to the creek and through wetland areas. The site includes second growth forest and remnants of prior railroad tracks that once crossed the grounds. Along with the aptly named Beaver Pond, visitors can view avian wildlife such as Canadian geese, kingfishers, and mallards. The creek is host to migrating chum salmon, usually in December.[3]