Discovery Park Loop Trail, Discovery Park Beach and Highlands Loop — Sunday, Jul. 14, 2024

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