parking: plenty near Cowen park (street parking) at 12:40pm

Trail: overall great condition (bike-friendly), there's a bit of mud here and there. Overall a great hidden gem!

I've been meaning to write a trip report for this park for weeks. Going on regular lunchtime walks, I'm always discovering a new trail or new feature of this park that makes you feel like you're in the forest. 

There was something magical happening in Ravenna Park today. I saw a hummingbird and a coyote, and both encounters were the closest I have been to these animals. The hummingbird hovered in the air just a few feet away, almost like it was checking me out. The coyote was napping in the shade near the north side of the bridge that crosses the park at 20th Ave NE. It did not seem bothered by me and the dog I was with, and it only got up when I turned to snap a picture. 

My dog and I took advantage of a break in the weather to bird in Ravenna Ravine and Cowen Park this morning. Among the 26 species we heard and saw were 4 woodpeckers (hairy, downy, pileated, and flicker), several warbler species, and a barred owl being mobbed by at least 6 crows. He flew before I could get my camera on him.

The trail is quite muddy in places, and I wasn't a fan of big school groups using the path for biking. We parked on the west side of Cowen Park, and then we hiked down the ravine to the easternmost extent, splitting time on the north and south rims on the walk back. We saw several school groups and a handful of joggers, with the occasional homeless person and a foursome playing Pickleball.

Skunk cabbage and bleeding hearts are in bloom. All told, our 2.5-mile round-trip walk took us about an hour.

My son lives near this park, so it's a lovely place to walk when we visit. A bit muddy in places, but that's to be expected.

If you like beer, be sure to try Revenna Brewing Company in the same neighborhood!

Walked the Ravenna park trails Sunday morning in the sprinkles.  There are a couple small parking lots off NE 58th St plus additional street parking near both the east and western ends.  Restrooms by the tennis courts and on the western end did appear open though did not enter as at least the western set had a couple hobos hanging out on the roof.  While there are no blocking issues with the trail they are quite muddy in many places.  Additionally, there is evidence of hobo camps up on the hillsides in several areas.  There are quite a few skunk cabbage patches which are up and blooming - which leads to an interesting conundrum - do I smell skunk cabbage or marijuana from some of the local neighbors?  It appeared to be some of both this morning.  Don’t miss the neat views of the old iron 20th ave bridge (now open for pedestrian traffic only) which soars high above through the trees.  

The second goal was to check out the status of the cherries in the University of Washington quad so made an easy loop south walking down 15th Ave NE to the campus, down through the quad then back around and up along the Burke Gillman.  This messy loop ended up at about 4 miles.  The cherries?  None were blooming and they look to have a ways to go still.  An interesting little urban walk with lots to see.  

Link to additional historical information about the park - https://www.historylink.org/File/9559