Tag Archive for 'Difficulty: Moderate'

Walking Schmitz Preserve Park

May 16, 2010: published by Troy Heerwagen at 8:29 pm - Closed

Schmitz Preserve Park is the only Seattle park with old-growth forest and is a beautifully forested area that makes you feel like you’re in the foothills of the Cascades rather than in West Seattle.


View Larger Map

Schmitz Preserve Park walking route

Schmitz Preserve Park walking route in green

Start at SW Admiral Way and SW Stevens St, which you can get to by the 56 bus. By car, the directions would have you take the West Seattle bridge to the Admiral Way exit and take Admiral Way across West Seattle and turn left on SW Stevens St, where you can often find street parking near the park entrance.

Enter the park entrance near the SW Admiral Way and SW Stevens St intersection. The road into the park used to be open to vehicle traffic until a landslide in 2002. Though this is a fairly small park, there are several different unsigned trails. If you take a wrong turn, it won’t be too difficult to find your way back. The trail can be somewhat uneven and muddy, but is not too difficult overall.

Walk along the main park road and, at the fork in the trail, veer right downhill. At the next fork, take a left before crossing the creek.

Continue walking and you’ll cross over the stream a couple times. Keep right at the next intersection (turning left will take you back to the entrance) and continue deeper into the park. There are some sections of the park soil that remain damp, though fortunately there are a few boardwalks that keep your feet dry over the worst parts.

You’ll approach an intersection of several different trails. The left-most path will take you into the surrounding neighborhood. Take the trail second from left even farther into the park. The other trails on the right will take you back along the other side of the creek.

This path continues along the stream. Turn right at the next fork to loop back, otherwise you will enter the surrounding neighborhood.

This section of the trail is fairly straight and a little elevated from the creek. Stay straight along this main trail and after passing a side trail to the left, you’ll reach another intersection. Turn right here to cross the creek and the next intersection may seem familiar. Turn left and then left again to return to the main entrance.

Highlights: old growth forest, quiet, not very busy, multiple trails, cool and damp, stream

Lowlights: can be muddy, unsigned trails

Share
Closed. Tags: , , , , , . walking route

Walking through Eastlake

May 3, 2010: published by Troy Heerwagen at 5:20 pm - Closed

Eastlake is a relatively quiet and historic neighborhood on the east side of Lake Union that is nice to stroll through.


View Larger Map

Start at the south end of the University Street bridge. You can find street parking nearby, or arrive here by the 70, 66, 71 (local), 72 (local), or 73 (local) bus.

At the east corner of Eastlake Ave E and Fuhrman Ave E is the location of the original Red Robin restaurant (now closed). At the south corner is the Martello, Eastlake’s most architecturally significant building in Norman French style. It was was built in 1916 as a private residence and converted to a furniture store in 1920. It currently houses Romio’s Pizza and Pasta as well as condominiums.

Head south along Eastlake Ave E on the west side of the street toward the I-5 bridge. Several condominiums have been built along Eastlake Ave on the north and south ends of Eastlake.

Harvard Ave splits off from Eastlake Ave to the left and heads toward Capitol Hill. Keep walking and you’ll pass Lake Union Cafe and a Psychic Palmist.

After crossing E Allison St and passing the Eastlake Bar and Grill, you’ll approach a wooded area on the right. This is the upper part of Fairview Park. Feel free to take a seat at one of the benches, though the trees obscure the view somewhat.

Head down the stairs toward the lake. If you desire an easier walk, feel free to continue along Eastlake. Once you’ve reached the bottom of the stairs, turn left to take the sidewalk along Fairview Ave. You’ll pass by the Eastlake P-Patch and then the sidewalk will end. Cross Fairview Ave where the sidewalk continues along the water.

At E Hamlin St, turn left up the hill back to E Eastlake Ave. Turn right at E Eastlake Ave and continue toward the heart of Eastlake. At E Roanoke St, you’ll see Rogers Playground, which was named after a former governor in time for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exhibition. You’ll soon pass a few restaurants and other local establishments.

You can turn around wherever you wish, but our route will end at Garfield St where you can cross and walk back along the other side of Eastlake Ave.

highlights: street-level retail, lake view, historic architecture, quiet, few traffic signals to wait for

lowlights: steep hill to the lake shore, not as many places to eat or things to do as other neighborhoods

Share
Closed. Tags: , , , . walking route

Walking First Hill

March 28, 2010: published by Troy Heerwagen at 7:52 pm - Closed

The tree-lined streets of historic First Hill are great for a pleasant walk, though the steepness of the hill can make walking here a little more difficult for some.


View First Hill Walk in a larger map

Start at Boylston Ave and Madison St near Swedish Medical Center. You can find street parking on the weekend or get there by the #2 bus.

Proceed downhill on Madison. Feel free to grab a smoothie from Jamba Juice to have on your walk. Continue past Boren Ave and be sure that you’re on the south side of Madison Ave. At Terry Ave and Madison St you’ll see the historic Sorrento Hotel, which opened in 1909. Turn left on Terry Ave.

Sorrento Hotel on Madison St

Looking along Madison St at retail and Sorrento Hotel

Continue a few blocks. You’ll pass O’Dea High School and Frye Art Museum on your left. The Frye was established in 1952 and is a free-admission museum featuring painting and sculpture from the 19th century to present.

Turn right once you get to James St and continue on James for a block before turning right on 9th Ave.

After a few blocks, you’ll see St James Cathedral on your right. The cathedral was dedicated in 1907 with a domed roof, but in 1916 heavy snowfall caused the dome to collapse and it was not rebuilt.

Turn left on Marion St and head downhill for a block. Turn right at 8th Ave and walk past the M street grocery.

Cross Madison St and walk along shaded streets past a couple old apartment buildings. After crossing Spring St, you’ll see Town Hall Seattle, a community culture center, in the former Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist.

Turn right on Seneca St and walk a block uphill and turn left at 9th Ave. These buildings are part of the Virginia Mason Medical Center.

At the end of 9th Ave is an entrance to Freeway Park, which spans I-5. Feel free to stroll through the park or to continue along University Ave.

Cross Boren St and cross Minor Ave. Feel free to stop and rest at First Hill Park before going SE on Minor Ave. On your left is the Stimson-Green Mansion. This part of First Hill is pretty quiet and residential. Cross Spring St and continue on to Madison St. Turn left on Madison St and return to where we started.

highlights: shade, architecture, old buildings, history
lowlights: not a particularly engaging streetscape, some hospitals break up the streets and the feel of the neighborhood, can be steep in some parts

Share
Closed. Tags: , , , , , . walking route

Walking Discovery Park Loop Trail

February 14, 2010: published by Troy Heerwagen at 4:00 pm - 2 Comments

Discovery Park is a popular place to go for a walk on a nice sunny day. While there are numerous trails, the Loop Trail provides an enjoyable and relatively easy 2.8 mile journey through the park.

Discovery Park has three main parking areas, a North Parking Lot, an East Parking Lot, and a South Parking Lot. You can also get there by taking the 19, 24, or 33 buses from downtown.

The park has directional signs at most intersections so it’s pretty easy to find the Loop Trail from wherever you enter the park. And, being a loop, you can go clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on your preference.

Our route will Start heading counter-clockwise at the East Parking Lot. Unfortunately, the walking route from the parking lot isn’t especially clear, but head toward the main road and you’ll soon see a sign for the Loop Trail.

Along the way, you’ll cross other trails that can take you on side trips, such as down to the water. However, the Loop Trail itself offers some good views. Most of the trail is forested with moderate changes in elevation. There are many trees and logs and in the winter months you’ll see plenty of moss.

Moss-covered rock

The moist winters can leave natural elements covered with a thick layer of moss

Aside from crossing a couple roads, some of which are no longer used by vehicles, there’s not much to interrupt the beautiful northwest forest. If you’re walking counter-clockwise, you’ll eventually cross a street and pass by a military housing development that is part of Fort Lawton. After ascending a hill, you’ll see a beautiful view of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound

People stop to rest and observe the view

After you’ve taken in the view, you can continue on. This section of the trail is very different, as there are no trees, possibly due to building Fort Lawton. You can read a little more of the history of the Park at HistoryLink.org. You’ll also see a large radar across the field.

Radar across a field at Discovery Park

Radar across a field at Discovery Park

Continuing on, you’ll pass by some public restrooms and will re-enter some more forested area and pass by the South Parking Lot. As you look to the distance on your right, you’ll see the Fort Lawton Cemetery. Though the trail splits off somewhat around this section, just continue walking and you’ll soon return to the Discovery Park Visitors Center and East Parking Lot

Highlights: beautiful natural area, trees, trail normally in good condition, forest, well-labeled, alternative trails, view, public restrooms

Lowlights: can be busy with children, dogs, and joggers, trail can be hard to find around parking lots

Share
2 Comments. Tags: , , , , . walking route