Along with repel a convertible and walking a dog , running is one of those activities that does n’t look like much playfulness in Seattle until it ’s summertime , when suddenly , any excuse to be alfresco is a good one . Thankfully , the Emerald City proffer lots of places to blank out about the construction , the dealings , and the impending month of spoilt weather and plainly breathe in the smell of cedar tree while getting hum on that runner ’s high . Now get off that lounge , put the pho down , and get to stepping .
Washington Park Arboretum
If you ’re expect to course without having to concern about trip out over a tree diagram root and topple over yourself , assure out the Arboretum ’s snarl of well - kept trails . Part of UW ’s Botanic Gardens , it boasts more than 20,000 plants , like beautiful flowering bushes and trees , plus hayfield and small lakes to distract you from how much running suction . The walk along Azalea Way is three miles circular - stumble , but the park is a web of connect trails decorated with benches to avail you catch your breath . The pathways are not as well marked as you ’ll line up in Discovery Park , but just think of all the extra cardio you ’ll get in if you get turn a loss !
Discovery Park Loop Trail
This 2.8 mile trail offer a wide - opened feel , more Dominicus than most lead , and a stunning view overlooking Puget Sound . Enter the park from W Government Way and Mungo Park near the visitant ’s center to pop the loop topology . The altitude change is only 140 ft , but mid - style through you ’ll find yourself on a bluff overlooking the S Sound and the sand below . If you ’re feeling spunky , take the side lead after the lookout to jog another half - Roman mile down to the beach and the West Point Lighthouse . If you ’re not in the mood , just keep trudging along on the grommet and you ’ll be back to your car before you know it .
Green Lake
Dammit this trail is just lovely . cover the banality and have a jog around a effervescent 50,000 - year - old glacial lake with the rest of Seattle . But be smart . prove to get there ahead of time , or you ’ll find yourself nearly jogging in stead in a gridlock of Bugaboo strollers and Lululemon pants . The path is 2.8 miles , but you may sum up another sea mile by curl around Woodland Park on the south end .
Burke-Gilman Trail
If you ’re training for a marathon , this paved trail might be your go - to for more than 18 mile of jogging . This trail is a tour - First State - Seattle - vicinity , crossing Ballard , Fremont , Wallingford , and the University District . If you ’re looking to harness the entire affair , start at Golden Gardens Park and take a deep breathing spell whilst enjoying the sentiment of Puget Sound . Then watch out for the roots that have lift the sidewalk while manoeuver toward the Ballard Locks . The trail sound on - road for about a mile , but then meets back up with the former railroad tracks route all the path to Kenmore .
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop
circle this buzzing lake in the middle of the city gives you almost precisely a 10k . Mostly paved , it takes you past Gas Works and Lake Union Park . If you ’re more into urban scenes and people watching – rather than trees and squirrels – this running will offer you eyeshot of the Space Needle and Downtown , and give you a fortune to determine the seaplanes land amid houseboat and bridge . It ’s most commodious to get started at Gas Works Park at the northward end of the lake and maneuver east , thieve up with a component of the Burke - Gilman Trail . This well - marked loop topology will take you across the Fremont Bridge , where a two - block detour can have you taking atrollfiebefore finishing up your run .
Interlaken Blvd
You ’ll scantily consider you ’re still in the city when you start at Roanoke Park and head up Interlaken , where a belt of green trees will envelop you in a steep and winding road . However , you are most assuredly still in the city , so lookout for cable car , as visibleness around the curves is limited and the point of exercise is to livelonger . When you necessitate a immediate but challenge jog , the pitch of Interlaken , gain a few hundred feet of acme in just about two miles , will do the trick .
Seward Park
This park offers a paved 2.5 - nautical mile loop around the peninsula beside Lake Washington . Set on 300 Acre , it also pop the question unpaved lead run throughout . You ’ll get sun on the shore eyelet , but the Department of the Interior of the car park is thickly shaded and nerveless . Benches throughout pop the question cheery touch to perch and relish the persuasion of the H2O .
Volunteer Park
Set on about 50 Acre of land , this park offers pavement and gravel trail along with open meadows . To diligently crop off those cronuts , hit the 107 step in the Water Tower and agree out the reflection deck , where on a clear-cut 24-hour interval you’re able to see Mt Rainier . A few loop in the park is serious for about two mi , but you could also run along fourteenth – and surrounding blocks – to check out the beautiful home plate there ; just watch out for the extra janky sidewalk . The net jury is still out on whether ramble in burial ground is OK or not OK , but people often do it through Lake View Cemetery , to the north of the Mungo Park , to visit the site where Bruce Lee is laid to sleep .
Rattlesnake Ledge
This four - mile loop with an tiptop gain of 1,160 ft will have you huffing and puffing and marvel why the hell you ’re doing this to yourself . Until , that is , you do out on the rock bluff to a sweeping view of the lake and wall unripened mountains , including Mount Si . The trail is well - maintained but in use , so get there early if you need to keep your own pace . If you ’re looking for more of a challenge , you’re able to continue on to the East Peak another 2.4 mile out from the overlook .
Elliott Bay Trail
you’re able to come after the shores of Elliott Bay for about five miles on this mostly paved lead , which runs from ( near ) Safeco Field to Smith Cove Park in Magnolia . You ’ll mainly follow Alaskan Way , with some on - road segments , passing Pike Place Market and the Olympic Sculpture Park . you’re able to enjoy some art as well as horizon of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline to keep you from getting blase on the trail . Just seek not to rip off the road when you smack Le Panier .
Flickr/Seattle Parks
Flickr/WingsOfMan
Flickr/Jeffrey Zeldman
Flickr/Seattle Parks
Flickr/Michael Camilleri
Flickr/Zach Taiji
