The greater Seattle Metropolitan area offers a lot of outdoor recreational opportunities and has an extensive trail system to support its large population. Most of these areas are covered in detail on the internet so I have only offered a brief description. While taking some of these paths and trails, you will forget you are in the city. Others are heavily used and loved, and will not be enjoyed in solitude.

Marymoor Park Trails

Directions:
6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE in Redmond
Contact: King County Natural Resources Parks Division, (206) 296-4232

Features:
Two regional trails currently connect with Marymoor Park - the Sammamish River Trail that links with the Burke-Gilman Trail in Bothell to complete a 27-mile path to Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, and Bridle Crest Trail, which takes visitors two miles west to Bridle Trails State Park in Bellevue. The King County Park System recently purchased 11 miles of former railroad right-of-way on the east shore of Lake Sammamish for development of the East Lake Sammamish Trail. When completed, this trail will link Marymoor Park with Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah and the Mountains to Sound Greenway.

Marymoor also has well-groomed internal trails, including an interpretive path through the park's wetlands. The interpretive path features a boardwalk.

Other Info:
Marymoor is one of the most visited parks in King County and offers a variety of activities. One of the best off-leash dog areas in the city. Click here for more info on Marymoor Park.

The Sammamish River Trail

Directions:
From the south, the trail begins at Kenmore's Blythe Park.
From the northe, the trail begins at Marymoor Park.

Disability access at: Wilmot Park and Redmond City Hall.

[Map]

Features:
The Sammamish River Trail skirts the Army Corps of Engineers slough that connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington. It connects to the East Lake Sammamish Trail at Marymoor Park and runs north through Redmond, past Chateau St. Michelle, Columbia, and other wineries, Redhook Brewery and Wilmot Park in Woodinville, Blythe Park and Bothell Landing in Bothell, and meets up with the Burke-Gilman Trail at the top of Lake Washington in Kenmore.

Other Info:
The paved trail is ADA accessible except for two short sections on the Sammamish River Trail that have grades below standards (one located just east of 96th Ave NE in Bothell, and the other located just north of NE 145th St.

Designated parking and handicap restrooms at: Tracy Owen Station and Jerry Wilmot Park. See the King County Park Department's Website for more information and photos. Also see more photographs here.

Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail

Directions:
From the south, the trail begins at Eighth Avenue Northwest and Northeast Leary Way in Seattle.
From the north, the trail begins at Kenmore's Blythe Park.

Disability access and ADA restrooms at: Tracy Owen/Logboom park and Gasworks Park. [Map]

Features:
The Burke-Gilman Trail runs more than 18 miles from Shilshole Bay in the City of Seattle to the City of Bothell where it intersects the Sammamish River Trail.

Part of the “Locks to Lakes Corridor,” the BGT is a paved, off-road facility over its entire length with the exception of an on-road segment in Ballard. The Burke-Gilman Trail extends along a former railroad right-of-way through the University of Washington campus and skirts Lake Washington.

Other Info:
The paved, Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the oldest (and most used) rails-to-trails routes in the nation and it is considered ADA accessible. See the King County Park Department's Website for more information and photos.

Seattle Waterfront Pathway

Directions:
From the north, you come down Broad Street to Alaskan Way. From the south, come across on Royal Brougham or up on 1st Avenue South. Madison, Yesler, Main and Jackson all intersect with Alaskan Way.

Features:
Busy paved path, along Seattle's popular 0.8 mile waterfont. Tourist area with lots of shops and places to eat, but oh what fantastic views of the Olympics Mountains and Puget Sound. Home to the Seattle Aquarium and ferry docks. Wheelchair Accessible.

Myrtle Edwards Park Trail

Directions:
Alaskan Way pier 70. The lot at Pier 70 (Broad Street) gives you access to Myrtle Edwards and Alaskan Way. All spaces metered until 6:00 p.m. There are parking lots opposite the Seattle Waterfront Park, and more spaces under the Alaskan Way viaduct (99). With the trail extension to Royal Brougham, you will find more parking along RR Way (near Kingdome).

Features:
Myrtle Edwards Park on has accessible 1.25-mile winding bike and pedestrian paths along Elliott Bay, fantastic views of the Olympics Mountains, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound, easy access from downtown and easy connection to bike pathes to Magnolia. Also connects with the Seattle Waterfront trail.

Discovery Park

Directions:
From downtown Seattle drive north on 15th Avenue West to the Dravus Street exit. Drive west on Dravus Street for about one-half mile to the stop sign at 20th Avenue West. Turn right, follow the signs to the park entrance, and then turn left into the visitor center parking lot.

Features:
Located in the northern portion of Discovery Park is the half-mile long Wolf Tree Nature Trail. This self-guiding trail follows a boardwalk as it winds its way over small streams and through a marshy area.

The park, which essentially surrounds the Fort Lawton military installation, has three main entrances and an extensive trail network, ranging from bluff-top strolls to sandy beach walks. It’s easy to get lost among the joggers, picnickers, dog walkers, and other park users.

One good introduction to the park and its ecosystem is a 2.8-mile loop from the visitor center, above North and South Beaches, and back. You pass through an interesting forest composed of old-growth broad-leaved trees and second-growth conifers, occasionally stopping at overlooks with excellent views of Puget Sound below. Side trails lead to the beach. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Sea lions, seals, and even porpoises and orcas are occasionally spotted off West Point, and at least one pair of nesting bald eagles calls the park home. [Map]

Other:
See Seattle PI article on this trail.

Other Metropolitan Seattle Trails

Seattle and the surrounding metropolitan area has many developed trail systems. Here's some of them:

Terminal 91 Bike Path (Elliot Bay Bike Trail), WA

1-mile paved, accessible trail that continues the route along Elliot Bay.

Gasworks Park at Lake Union
One of the city's best kite flying spots! This once industrial site now is home to one of the area's favorite in-city parks. Some of the paths go up a hill and are not accessible, but the paved, perimeter path is accessible and worth taking for views across Lake Union to the city skyline.

Arboretum Waterfront Nature Trail
Lake Washington Park, University District, Seattle
Contact: Seattle City Parks, (206) 625-4671

The Arboretum scenery reaches its height of beauty in the spring, but the Arboretum is worth a visit at any time with over 5,500 species of plantlife. Natural wetlands surround the Foster Island nature trail, which is on the north end of the park and is a self-guiding interpretive trail with an observation platform for viewing the adjacent marsh. The trail hooks up with Foster Island and proceeds for approximately a half mile. It offers good views for birdwatchers. The Azalea Way path will take you past cherry, dogwood and rhododendron trees and bushes.Another area to visit is the Japanese Tea Garden at the south end. Here, 3.5 acres of land have been transformed into an ornamental garden filled with wooden walkways, carp-filled ponds and a teahouse that opens for ceremonies once a month.

Ship Canal Trail, WA

2 mile paved, wheelchair accessible trail along the Ship Canal in Ballard. Visit the Hiram Chittenden Locks and watch boats being lifted 26 feet from salt water to fresh water in Lake Washington. See the Fish Ladder while you're there, and the botanical gardens.

Green Lake

A very popular 2.8-mile multi-use path around Green Lake in North Seattle.

Licton Springs City Park
North 97th and Ashworth in Seattle
Contact: Seattle City Parks, (206) 625-4671
Licton Springs is a six and a half acre park which has a natural spring and a marshy area visible from the boardwalk. It was used as a health spa by Native Americans and the early settlers, who felt the water and mud cured many ills.

Twin Ponds County Park
1st N.E. and 155th (near I-5) in Seattle
Contact: King County Recreation Office, (206) 296-3466
The park contains an open-water pond and a cattail marsh. A walkway and a pier cross the marsh. The park is handicapped-accessible.

Wallace Swamp Creek Park
68th Avenue and N.E. 195th in Seattle
Contact: King County Natural Resources and Parks Division, (206) 296-4232
Wallace Swamp is a neighborhood park with a path and bridge over the creek going through tall grass, trees and undeveloped river front wetlands with low banks. There is neither parking nor restrooms.

Juanita Bay City Park
NE 106th and Market Street in Kirkland
Contact: Kirkland City Parks, (206) 828-1217
Juanita Bay is a 65-acre undeveloped park, composed mostly of wetlands. Features include a cattail marsh, a scrub-shrub wetland, and a beaver pond, accessible by means of an abandoned causeway. Tours are conducted the first Sunday of each month beginning at 1 pm.

Kenmore Park (Rhododendron Park)
68th N.E. and 170th in Bothell
Contact: King County Natural Resources and Parks Division, (206) 296-4232
A trail follows the Sammamish Slough through trees and rhododendrons, coming within 100 feet of the riverine wetlands.

Lake Hills Greenbelt City Park
Lake Hills, Bellevue
Contact: Parks-Resource Management, (206) 455-6855
A three-quarter mile long gravel trail goes through marshy wetlands within the park. Larsen Lake has a viewing platform and bridge. A trail goes near a blueberry farm and to Phantom Lake. Call ahead for interpretive tours.

Snoqualmie Valley Wildlife Area
Between Monroe and Carnation
Contact: Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 4, (206) 775-1311
Along the Snoqualmie River, the area contains 1,622 acres of river front wetland. Some trails are developed.

Mercer Slough, Bellfields Nature Park
South Bellevue; I-90 and Lake Washington
Contact: City Parks-Outdoor Recreation, (206) 455-6885
The slough feeds Lake Washington. A trail goes through marshes on boardwalks and through swamps with alder, dogwood and cottonwood trees. Call ahead for interpretive tours.

Sammamish River City Park and County Trail
102nd Avenue NE and East Riverside Drive in Bothell
Contact: Bothell Department of Community Development, (206) 486-8152
The Sammamish River Park is located on 33 acres south of the Sammamish River. The Sammamish River Trail winds through the park's extensive wetlands which provide habitat for abundant wildlife. Access is from 102nd Avenue, south of the river.

Symbols

	An agency or a trip evaluation has rated all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible.
	There is some terrain greater than a 5% grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions of this trail. Suitable for power mobility devices.
	No Dogs are allowed on the trail.