I decided to finally post a trip report.  I've been recovering very slowly from a torn meniscus and then a subsequent fractured femur (at the knee end of things).  It happened on level ground at the end of a two week trip to Greece about a year ago.  No trauma - just happened.

But I've finally been out walking S L O W L Y at Discovery Park and decided to visit WTA and see what I've been missing to immediately be hit by a trip report to Ingalls Lake and LARCHES.  (sigh)

The loop is a good workout with level ground and ups (pretty fine) and downs (less fine).  But the forest and water views are definitely worth the trip.  (Oh, just don't go from from the Greenlake area when the Ballard Bridge is closed - last week's mistake!)

But it is just great getting out there and enjoying a great day.

Gorgeous day for a hike, parked in north lot and walked to lighthouse. 4mi RT and did a little painting too!

It's still pretty smoky in the Cascades with AQI at Snoqualmie pass around 80.  Good air quality in west half of Seattle (AQI=25), so Discovery park it was.  The trails are in good condition.  Not too crowded at 8am.

5.2 mi, 600 ft

Quick Sunday morning walk around Discovery Park.  Our route was a messy figure eight starting over at the Ballard Locks, crossing the super secret pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks, counter clockwise on the north bit of the loop trail, down to the beach on south beach trail and out over by the bluffs since the tide was low, then back up on the north beach trail and back around on the southern bit of the loop trail.  Mileage ended up at about 7.5 miles and gross vertical about 660’.  Parking is free and relatively plentiful in the main park lots and free over at the locks on Sundays - though both can get busy on nice days.  Restrooms are open and in relatively good condition.  The park trails are mostly in good condition with the one spot on north beach that is always muddy, was unsurprisingly muddy but completely passable.  The one area that is a bit problematic are a couple original elevated wooden stairs also on north beach trail that have several busted steps/railings and appear not long for this world, tread lightly.  

I love all the huge big leaf maples along the loop trail - beautiful and offer great shade when it gets hot.  There was quite a bit of wildlife out as well, osprey and seals on the beach, heron, a couple big ravens making their unusual call that honestly sound to me like somebody screaming way up in the trees, “Ahhh!  Ahhh!  Ahhh!”.  The one super interesting surprise was while walking the low tide beach south toward the Magnolia bluff, a pair of big coyotes sauntered up the beach passing really close, kind of gave a quick nod, “yo, ‘sup?” and went on their merry way.  A beautiful morning.

Link to more information about the park - https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/discovery-park

Link to more information about the super secret pedestrian bridge between the locks and Discovery Park - https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bridges-stairs-and-other-structures/bridges/33rd-ave-w-bridge

Link to more information about the history of the park and area - https://www.historylink.org/File/11161

It was a beautiful day for a sunset at the beach. We parked at the north parking lot and sort of wandered around aimlessly until we got to the beach, where we spent a few hours walking up and down the beach, then set up a small picnic to wait for sunset. The sunset colors were incredible, and we got to see osprey diving for fish. We stuck around until it was getting dark and the tide was coming in. It came in really quickly — we were surprised by it and had to pack up a little quickly!