3 Urban Hikes to Explore in Seattle
Author: Kailyn Swarthout, Education Programs Coordinator
FIUTS would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe. Urban hiking is a great way to better understand the city you live in – we encourage you to research the native people, territories, and languages of the places you visit. This Native Land interactive map is a great place to start!
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The Pacific Northwest is known for its world-class hiking. Between two mountain ranges, the Pacific coast, and our many inland bodies of water, the scenery is hard to beat. But lucky for us, we don’t even have to leave the city in order to have an excellent hiking experience. Whether you’re looking for mountain views, salty beaches, calming forest trails, the best bird watching, or just a way to explore a new neighborhood, Seattle urban hikes have something to offer everyone. Here are a few FIUTS favorites near the UDistrict:
Union Bay Natural Area
Union Bay Natural Area. Photo by Kailyn Swarthout.
Distance: 2-3 miles round-trip
Highlights: Bird watching, Lake shoreline, Rainier (Tahoma) views
Union Bay Natural Area connects the University of Washington’s athletic facilities to the Laurelhurst neighborhood through four miles of restored lake shoreline and several miles of well-maintained trails. Entering from NE Wahkiakum Lane (between the Husky soccer stadium and outdoor track) be sure to check out the waterfront trail loop on the south side of the natural area. This is one of the best birding spots in all of Seattle plus you’ll get great views of Husky Stadium, Bellevue, and even Mt. Rainier (Tahoma) on a clear day! As you continue west, you will find the Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH) and one of the locations of the UW Farm. While CUH and farm buildings are currently closed, both offer lots of great resources about plants and urban agriculture on their websites, linked above. Union Bay Natural Area is part of the UW Botanic Gardens. If you’d more of a tree person than a bird person, check out the other half of the Botanic Gardens, the Washington Park Arboretum, another beautiful walk only a short distance from campus.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop
Distance: 6 miles round-trip
Highlights: City views, street-end parks, houseboats
Just like the Burke-Gilman, the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is a multi-use trail popular with joggers and bikers, but walking the loop is also one of the best ways to get to know the area between UW and downtown. You can choose to walk the loop in either direction, though with current construction it’s a little easier to stay on the trail if you walk in a counterclockwise direction from the UDistrict.
To begin, take the Burke-Gilman west to the Fremont Bridge. Once you cross the bridge and head left down the hill on Westlake Ave. N, you will merge with the pedestrian/bike path that will take you all the way to MOHAI (currently closed) and Center for Wooden boats at the southern end of Lake Union.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop. Photo by Kailyn Swarthout.
As you continue the loop on the east side of the lake, follow pedestrian signs closely as they will take you on a series of scenic streets rather than a single path. On this side of the lake, take your time exploring the adorable street-end “pocket parks” along the way. There are many hidden gems; you can decide which are your favorites! This is also a great area to get a glimpse of Seattle’s famous houseboats (Sleepless in Seattle anyone?)
If you get off course at any point, Eastlake Ave E will take you on a more direct, but less fun route back to UW. For more information, check out:
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Map.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop. Photo by Kailyn Swarthout.
Burke-Gilman Trail: UW to Ballard
Distance: 5 miles, one-way
Highlights: Gas Works Park, Fremont, Ballard, City views
Burke-Gilman Trail. Photo by Kailyn Swarthout.
The Burke-Gilman Trail (“The Burke” for short), a rail trail that began its transformation from railroad to multi-use path in the 1970s, is a main thoroughfare for bikers and pedestrians in north Seattle. It is indeed multi-use, so keep an eye out for cyclists, runners, rollerbladers, cross country ski trainers, dog-walkers, and other surprises! Always be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to trail signs that designate pedestrian areas.
Entering the trail from 15th Ave. NE and NE Pacific St. you can enjoy a self-guided tour of the neighborhoods on the North end of Lake Union. Heading west on the trail (away from campus), your first main attraction will be Gas Works Park in the Wallingford neighborhood. With its iconic kite hill and views of Downtown, this is well worth the short detour off of the trail.
Continuing west, the path will take you through Fremont, a neighborhood known for its quirky and creative atmosphere. Along the path you will see the historic blue and orange Fremont Bridge, Dinosaur topiaries, and the canal-front Google and Adobe campuses. Within a short walk from the trail, you can also explore a variety of public art (Center of the Universe Guidepost, Fremont Troll, Lenin Statue etc.), get tasty take-out from one of many local restaurants, and even pick up some unique chocolate treats from Theo Chocolate Factory & Retail Store. For many people this is a great spot to turn around and head back towards the UDistrict.
If you’re looking for a longer walk, you can continue along the path all the way through Ballard. On the way to Ballard you will encounter a “missing link” in the trail after passing the Fred Meyer store. Don’t be discouraged! You can follow NW 45th St and Shilshole Ave. until the trail picks back up at NW Market St. Seattle’s maritime roots will be obvious as you walk through the industrial area between Ballard’s trendy core and Salmon Bay. Once reopened, the Ballard Locks make a great stopping point for this urban hike, though the trail does continue all the way out to Golden Gardens Park - a great spot to enjoy a sunset behind the Olympic mountains!
Looking for more to explore? Check out 6 Beaches to Discover in Seattle by FIUTS Executive Director, Era Schrepfer! Additional content available on the FIUTS Blog.
Interested in being a guest writer for FIUTS? Please contact Annie Lewis, Operations and Communications Coordinator at: annie@fiuts.org.