My Favorite Green Areas in & out of Seattle
Lindsey Skidmore
Gaining access to the outdoors can be challenging. I personally don’t have a car, which makes this difficult if I’m recreating on my own. As an individual who loves to spend time in nature, I had to get creative in how and where I recreate. To help you all I want to share places where I recreate near or in Seattle so you can too when you aren’t hiking with Peaks!
Areas in Seattle
Discovery Park
~45 min on the bus from UW
An iconic Seattle hiking destination with an incredible waterfront and beach view of the sound and lush green forest, a great place to visit on sunny days. Make sure to check out the lighthouse on the beach!
Ravenna Park
~15 minutes walk from UW
An awesome stroll or run on weekdays for some nature time mid-week! There is a beautiful river that runs through the center and an awesome place to set up a hammock or dip your feet in the stream.
Magnuson Park
~30-minute bus from UW
The green area is perfect for a run or stroll along the lake, you can hop in for a swim or have a barbeque when it's warm out!
Areas outside of Seattle (1.5-hour drive or less)
Can get there by car or bus during the summer months with Trailhead Direct
If you don’t have a car, check out GIG share car rental, often parked near campus, and pay by the hour or for the day without a membership, and gas is included!
Mount Si/Little Si (~45-minute drive from UW)
A hike that is accessible year-round (with microspikes in the winter) with beautiful mountain views, make sure to stop at Rio Bravo in North Bend on the way back for post-hike burritos!
~1-hour drive from Seattle
A great year-round hike, beginner-friendly, mostly flat walk along the river with beautiful views of Mount Si. Also a great place to camp along the river at the Middle Fork campsite!
Poo Poo Point (~35-minute drive from UW)
A Seattle-area classic! During the summer months, you can take the bus here, and has stunning views of Mount Rainier on sunny days.
~45 minutes drive from UW
Beautiful hike during shoulder seasons, great view at the top and the option to continue up to Dirty Harry’s Peak.
Annette Lake (~55-minute drive from UW)
An intermediate hike with a beautiful lake at the top, bring hot cocoa in an insulated water bottle to share at the lake to warm up!
Some additional resources to check out are Washington Trails Association, All Trails, the UWild Gear Garage, and just exploring google maps. Happy recreating everyone!
