The Greenwood Men's Group Loves to Take Walks

The Greenwood Men's Group will occasionally take walks in Seattle neighborhoods or parks.

These walks are great for our health and lift our spirits. They are an excellent time to spend time together doing something enjoyable and interesting.

However, we haven't taken any walks for a long time. Shall we get back into this wonderful habit?

And don't forget...we now have access to a van, so transportation to a destination should be a lot easier.

We've listed below some of the walks we have been on or would like to do in the future.  Take a look at the list below and tell us which of these would be your favorite walks.  If you have a proposed walk not on the list below, enter it into the form below.  We can then schedule some walks in our favorite areas.

Do You Have a Walk to Suggest to Us?

Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks

It's pleasant to stroll around the grounds of the Ballard Locks. While there, you can cross over the Ship Canal to walk along the promenade in Commodore Park and maybe check out the fish ladder viewing room to see if there are any migrating salmon.

Boats Inbound in Ballard Locks

Burke-Gilman Trail

In the past, we've walked the Burke-Gilman Trail from Ballard to the north end of Golden Gardens Park. Lots to see.  There are many other sections of the Burke-Gilman that are worth exploring.

Carkeek Park

Most of us are familiar with Carkeek Park and its myriad attraction -- lots of trails, Pipers Creek, picnic areas, magnificent view of the Olympics and easy access to the nice beach. It's also an excellent place to watch the trains go by. 

For example, the Piper’s Creek Trail in Carkeek Park is a popular place to wander for a few miles in the trees while listening to the flowing creek.

If checking out Pipers Creek, you may notice beaver activity. In late October and early November you might see a significant fall salmon run. 

Carkeek is a favorite destination of the Greenwood Men's Group.

Carkeek Park Trail Map

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Center for Urban Horticulture

The Center for Urban Horticulture is a very pleasant place to wander about. It includes a 16-acre landscaped site with buildings and gardens, and the 74-acre Union Bay Natural Area, which provides publicly accessible wildlife habitat (more than 200 bird species have been sighted there).

Center for Urban Horticulture

Cheshiahud Loop around Lake Union

The Cheshiahud Loop offers varied kinds of walking possibilities. Some sections of the Loop have good access to Union lake. The Loop links more than 35 pocket parks, street ends and waterways that ring the lake.

Cheshiahud Loop Around Lake Union

Chief Sealth Trail

The Chief Sealth Trail is a somewhat hidden gem in the Beacon Hill, New Holly and Rainier Beach neighborhoods of south Seattle. It traverses miles along a ridge in one of the highest parts of Seattle and yet it's relatively unknown to those who don’t live nearby. The trail mostly travels under powerlines and crosses some busy arterials yet sometimes feels more remote than it actually is.

Chief Sealth Trail in Seattle

Discovery Park

Discovery Park covers 534 acres and includes miles of trails on majestic bluffs, along beaches, across hilly meadows and through forests old and new. Some people say it's as close to wilderness as you can get within city limits. Here's a trail map and more info on the park.

In the past, we've had transportation difficulties that have prevented us from going to Discovery Park more often.  But fortunately we now have a van available to us to solve this problem.

Trail in Discovery Park

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Fremont Canal Park

Fremont Canal Park is a quiet linear park along the north side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. A walk along the Ship Canal is always a pleasant experience. The Greenwood Men's Group has done this walk in the past. We visited the Sri Chinmoy statue, Rapunzel and ended  our walk near the Fremont Asphalt Plant. From there, we went over the local arcade to try our hand at the pinball machines.

Walking Along the Ship Canal

Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park is a confluence of hilly nature and the last remnants of a old coal gasification plant. The views of Union Bay and downtown Seattle are unparalleled.

Golden Gardens

It's a nice stroll out to the duck pond at the north end of the park. Sandy beach and unlimited views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. At low tide, you can walk along the beach to Carkeek Park. Or, explore Shilshole marina to the south.

Bridge Over the Duck Pond at Golden Gardens Park

Green Lake

We're all familiar with Green Lake. Always good for a walk around the lake.

View from Green Lake Loop

Henry L Kotkins Pier

This pier, on the south side of Shilshole marina, offers a panoramic view of Puget Sound.  Since it is near the marina and Seaview Boatyard, you may spot some interesting maritime activity. It's a popular spot for fishing, crabbing and squidding -- maybe you'll see if anything is biting. This is a short walk. If feeling energetic, you can walk north along the marina and maybe stop in at Little Coney for a snack. Or push on to Golden Gardens to check out beaver activity or other wildlife.

View from Henry L. Kotkins Pier

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Heron Walk at Commodore Park

Take a walk through Ballard’s Commodore Park and view nesting great blue herons in the Spring. With luck, you'll espy some heron chicks. The Heron Habitat Helpers may be on hand with a telescope so you can get a close look. 

The park has great views of the Lake Washington ship canal, where foaming water flows through the spillways and ships can be observed traversing the Ballard locks. Take a short, comfortable walk along the promenade before reaching the canal itself, where the fish ladder is clearly visible.

Baby Herons in Commodore Park

Lake Washington Boulevard

A trail along the Lake Washington between Seward Park and Colman Park is level and offers great views of the lake. Winter and spring are great times for walking the trail along the shore, when wintering waterfowl dot the lake. When it’s clear, you can see the Cascade Mountains (even Mount Baker) and Mount Rainier from the south side of Seward Park.

Lincoln Park Beachfront Trail

The Beachfront Trail in Lincoln Park is part of a 5-mile trail system in this glorious West Seattle park. The views of Puget Sound and Olympics are spectacular. And don't forget to pay a visit to the troll!

A Troll Performing in Lincoln Park

Low Tide Walk

We've had several great walks between Golden Gardens Park and Carkeek Park at minus low tides. We do this every year. You get to see marine life that you would never see otherwise.

A Minus Tide at Carkeek Park

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Magnuson Park

There are views of Lake Washington throughout the park as well as other weird sights such as the airplane tails that rise out of the grass.

Magnuson Park also has a self-guided orienteering course. The Greenwood Men's Group did the course a couple of years ago. You've never seen such a confused bunch of guys in your life, as one of the markers was pretty deep into the woods.  And then we encountered a section of the course that was impassible due to mud and standing water. We never did finish the course but had a great time anyway. 

Magnuson Park Orienteering Course

And don't forget the Frog Pond trail. It's a series of paths linking and looping around ponds in the park and is a lovely and tranquil place to walk about.

Myrtle Edwards Park and Centennial Park

Myrtle Edwards Park has a 1.25-mile level, winding paths along Elliott Bay. You'll have fantastic views of the Olympics mountains, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound.  The south end of the Park is adjacent to the Olympic Sculpture Park.  Centennial Park is connected to the north end of Myrtle Edwards Park and is also along the waterfront.

Ravenna Park

Ravenna Park and Cowen Park comprise a single contiguous recreation and green space with a deep ravine and wooded area connecting the two. The outstanding feature of Ravenna Park is a very pleasant walk alongside Ravenna Creek. There is a 1.7 mile loop through the park.

The Greenwood Men's Group has done this walk several times. It's a wonderful way to get away from the cityscape and back to nature.

Ravenna Park Sulfur Spring

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Schmitz Preserve Park

Schmitz Preserve Park is 53.1 acres in the middle of West Seattle. It has 1.7 miles of hiking trails in a natural forest setting and you can see old growth conifers that once were common in Puget Sound forests. It's a beautiful spot -- highly recommended.

Bridge Crossing a Creek in Schmitz Preserve Park

Seattle Stair Climbing

If there's one thing Seattle has, it's hills. Many of those hills have stairs for pedestrians. Climbing Seattle's outdoor stairs is a fantastic way to get acquainted with various neighborhoods, see sights you would not ordinarily see, and increase your physical fitness.

There are at least seven stairway walks in our North Seattle area.

Stairs in Seattle

Seward Park

Jutting out into Lake Washington, heavily wooded Seward Park has more old-growth trees than anywhere in the Seattle area.

Visit this informative and lovely self-guided companion for a historical walk in Seattle's Seward Park.

And while there, you can drop by the Seward Park Audubon Center.

Union Bay Natural Area

The Union Bay Natural Area is a public wildlife area, natural restoration laboratory, and an important habitat next to Lake Washington. At 74 acres, with 4 miles of shoreline, it is the second largest natural system left on the lake. It is one of the best bird-watching sites in the city of Seattle; over 200 species of birds have been sighted here.

The Union Bay Natural Area features a network of interlocking trails through large trees and tall grass, with access to view the Lake Washington and the many waterfowl that over-winter there.

Yesler Swamp, located on the east side of the Union Bay Natural Area, offers a boardwalk loop that takes you to the edge of the lake and the site of the old Yesler Sawmill.

Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay Natural Area

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University of Washington Campus

The University of Washington is a city unto itself. There are dozens of pathways and loads of interesting architecture and visual features.  A few interesting features are Greig Garden, the Quad, Founders Hall, Drumheller Fountain, Medicinal Herb Garden, Biodiversity Green Wall, Husky Stadium, Waterfront Activities Center, Suzzallo Library, and much more. There is also a sustainable campus walking tour. And, here's an example of a walking tour around campus.

Washington Park Arboretum

The  Washington Park Arboretum  holds a world class collection of woody plants that can be explored independently, through self-guided tours, arranged tours, or through the many classes and activities hosted at the site. All year round you’ll find something of interest along the trails that wind through 230 acres of gardens, natural areas and wetlands.

One route you might consider is the 2.3 mile Washington Park Arboretum Loop trail.

Woodland Park and Rose Garden

This 90 acre park offers a myriad of paths for walking about as well as recreational possibilities.

And don't forget to enjoy the Rose Garden. The Rose Garden was one of only two dozen certified American Rose Test Gardens in the United States until 2010. At its picturesque best from May through August, the garden displays new rose hybrids before they become available to amateur rose enthusiasts. 

Greenwood Men's Group Member Hanging Out in the Rose Garden

Yesler Swamp

Have you ever been in a swamp? If not, here's one for you, right on our doorstep. It's a short walk on a boardwalk so you won't sink into the muck. There's a good chance you'll spot bird life and maybe some swampy creatures.

It is adjacent to the Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay Natural Area, so you can add Yesler to your trip to those locations.

Yesler Swamp

Local Neighborhoods

The group likes to check out our local neighborhoods, especially where some members reside. The walks are various but usually easy.

We've had members give guided tours of their neighborhoods, where the guide provides "local knowledge" of little-known historical and other features of his immediate locality. 

As an example, one member took us on a tour of his neighborhood that showed us the precise headwaters of Piper Creek, which incidentally flows right through his front yard! He even had a beaver come up the stream and chew down some trees in his front yard within twenty feet of his front door.

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And there's more!

You can also visit Washington Trails Association online for short or long walk and hike ideas in Seattle, as well as membership websites like AllTrails.

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The Greenwood Men's Group's mission is to provide a supportive environment where men from diverse backgrounds can foster camaraderie, develop friendships, share wisdom, enrich one another's lives -- and contribute to the Seattle communities of Greenwood, Ballard, Crown Hill, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, Licton Springs, Loyal Heights, Phinney Ridge, Ravenna, Sunset Hill, Wallingford, Wedgwood, Whittier Heights and beyond.