Discovery Park Beach and Highlands Loop, Discovery Park Loop Trail — Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022

My hiking bubble came into Seattle today for an urban park walk at Discovery Park.  We met at the South Parking lot and there were 8 cars there when we started walking at 9:30.  It was 43 degrees with a heavy mist coming down.  The two Porta Potties are well used, but much appreciated.  We made a 5 mile counterclockwise loop with the Daybreak Star Cultural Center (DSCC) as an add on as well as the muddy steep section going down to North Beach access.  Trail traffic was super light, mostly neighborhood joggers and dog walkers.  We saw lots of wildlife - raccoons, gray squirrels, harbor seal, coots, seagulls, crows, juncos, eagles and towhees.  The tide was high so once we gained beach access we had to climb the boulders to go on the waterside of the Lighthouse buildings. Skies would start to clear then more low clouds would move in and we saw Bainbridge Island poke out a couple times.  No great salt water or Olympics view today.  Following the south bluff trails we walked up to grassy meadow area in front of the yellow officers homes to the rock walk and picnic tables near the church. We stopped for a short snack break here.  Another fantastic day to be out in nature with friends.