Walked the eastern most end of the venerable Burke Gilman trail from Bothell back west to the Tl awah-ah-dees Park in Kenmore Friday morning.  We parked at the Blyth Park in Bothell which has relatively plentiful free parking and nice full restrooms.  Total roundtrip mileage for this section is an easy 3.3 miles.  The trail remains typical wide, fully paved mixed use rail-to-trail style.  The surface condition is fine but this section is getting a bit brushy late in the season with bushes well out into the travel lanes causing potential unsafe interaction between cyclists and walkers..  Maybe if anybody at King County sees this they could get their Brush-A-Matic 5000 out for a few hours.  Otherwise this section offers some nice views of the Sammamish Slough, the old Wayne Golf Course property and other areas that were adjacent to the old rail line.  Keep your eyes open along the slough, we spotted three smaller river otters way off in the distance playing then scurrying up into the tall grass shoreline.  Also don’t miss the short side trip to one of just a handful of remaining sections of original red brick road along with nice historical information posted.  Lastly, lots of nice blackberries along much the route w/in easy picking distance.  

We did this on bicycles but almost all of it can be also done walking. Seattle now has an amazing system of protected bike paths. This 20 mi lollipop Loop is on protected separate bike path for 98% of the way. It also goes by all kinds of interesting features in Seattle. 

We started down by the T-Mobile baseball stadium around 10:00 a.m. The game didn't start until 1:10p so we got a prime free spot right next to the field. We rode up the brand new bike path that goes up the waterfront. This is an excellent path with lots of interesting landscaping and city sights. It continues on through Myrtle Edward Park which is one of the prettiest parts of the trip. We then headed up the interbay section which is mostly protected bike path but narrow. 

Biking over the Ballard bridge is interesting but the path is very narrow so if you come across another person you have to get off your bike and walk it. 

We did a side extension over to gas works Park and then back to Ballard and over the Ballard bridge. Next along the waterfront of Lake Union and then down Bell Street and back the way we came. We then did a out and back extension to the West Seattle bridge for an interesting view of Seattle and the loading dock area. You could continue on protected bike path all the way to Alki point. Very few cities have such an amazing system of protected bike paths.

At the end we walked over to T-Mobile and watched some Mariners baseball. Unfortunately it wasn't successful but it was fun nonetheless.

20 miles

Starting at a friend’s house in Wallingford we walked to the Burke Gilman Trail and over to see the cherry blossoms in bloom at the UW Quad. We hit the trail at 10:15 it was sunny skies and 48 degrees. The trail was busy with a bustle of users (walkers, runners, bikers, strollers and more). As we neared the UW district people were out everywhere. Once we headed up the Rainier Vista pathway towards the fountain hoards of people were enjoying the day. This was the largest crowd I’ve ever encountered when coming to see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom. Most likely the trees were at peak bloom and it was a great, sunny, warm spring day. Great for people watching… we saw a UW rowing crew decked out in their race uniforms with oars taking group photos, a bridal party in their wedding outfits, families with small children and numerous UW graduates in cap and gowns posing for the just right photos. We left UW district on surface streets and headed west on 45th to Wallingford and had a great lunch at Blue Star Pub and Cafe.

To celebrate Washington being named the "Most Bike Friendly" state, I rode this loop.  USGS Map

  From Ballard Fred Meyer (snacks!):  across the Ballard Bridge, Elliott Bay Trail along the waterfront parks to Alaskan Way, which is never busy now that it doesn't go through.

Past the new Overlook Walk, Ivar's, Coleman Dock.  To the stadiums, turning back north through Pioneer Square.  Up to Second and the protected bike lane, eventually over the high point at Virginia, and down to Bell, heading E.

This takes one to Lake Union, where I didn't feel finished.  So I went around the E side of the lake, when I got closer to the freeway I walked my bike up to and through I-5 Colonnade Park and to Harvard Ave.

Going N above the freeway to Miller, finding the trail at 11th that takes one down to Interlaken Boulevard.  Followed this all the way to Lake Washington Blvd., and across to the Arboretum.  Took the trail along the road to the new Montlake Lid Park, then out the 520 Trail far enough for good views.

Back along Montlake, to Husky Stadium, where I took the Burke Gilman, past Gas Works Park to where I started at Fred Meyer (drinks!).

You could walk this but it would take all day and your feet would be sore since it's all paved.  You could drive to and visit one or two of these places before calling it a day, but why not bike and do it in an afternoon!

23may2024 THU, ~05:30, i arrived and parked at the Lower Ravenna Park. Partly cloudy and cool 50s_F. And OUT i went for my 10-of-10 "section-walks" of the Burke Gilman Trail and the neighborhoods.

Today's route: Parking > ~1.8 miles of Burke Gilman Trail > N Portage Bay > Montlake Bridge > Bill Dawson Trail > S Portage Bay > University Bridge > Parking.
{ Clocked: Distance ~7.8 mi, Total Time 2:38 }

~95% of the "road link connectors" were Sidewalks. Traffic was "light" - "moderate" (on the Bridges).

During my 2+ hours of walk, encountered only 12 people and 4 dogs walking; 3x cyclists - everyone was courteous and friendly. Saw a few small birds and heard some singings, and 3 squirrels. And in the Portage Bay were 2x solo and probably 15+ team kayakings 👍

i very glad that following my this morning ~1.8 mile walk of Burke Gilman Trail, i have completed ~99% of the ~27 (??) miles of Burke Gilman Trail {that spans from Golden Gardens Park -to- Bothell} 😅

Cheers!