5 beautiful running routes in Seattle you need to lace up for

Jan 27 2021, 10:00 pm

If you’re looking for a unique way to see the city, take on one of these scenic running routes in Seattle.

From trails to the pavement, there are so many options to choose from.

Here are five of our favorites:

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail

 

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The Lake Union Loop is six miles and goes around Seattleā€™s Lake Union.

The trail passes through six neighborhoods (South Lake Union, Westlake, Fremont, Wallingford, University District, and Eastlake) all in one run. On the North side of Lake Union, the trail connects to the Burke Gillman Trail and passes by the iconic Seattle park Gasworks. The route also crosses over two active draw bridges, Fremont and University, and offers a unique perspective of Seattle.

Discovery Park – Loop Trail to the Lighthouse

 

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Looking to get out of Seattle but not wanting to drive? Look no further than Discovery Park, a 534-acre former Navy Base-turned park.

The most popular trail is The Loop Trail.Ā It’s 2.8 miles and offers views from the North Bluff of Elliott Bay. If you want to run longer you can add on another 2.5 miles and visit the lighthouse and the North Beach Trail. If you want to explore more, there are 6.5 miles more of trails to explore and escape the busy city.

Seward Park

 

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With 300 acres of forests and trails, one of the most scenic runs is the 2.4 mile paved trail that goes around the perimeter of the park. The views of Lake Washington are stellar and on a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier.

Seward Park also connects to Lake Washington Boulevard if you want to run longer along the Lake.

Elliott Bay Trail

 

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The Elliott Bay Trail stretches 7 miles from Downtown Seattle to Smith Cove in the Magnolia neighborhood.

Starting from CenturyLink Field, you run along Elliott Bay, pass by the new Pike Place Market viewpoint, the Seattle Waterfront, the Olympic Sculpture Park, and Myrtle Edwards Park. If you want to add more mileage to your run you can either do a quick run from the Olympic Sculpture Park to the Seattle Center or continue your run all the way to the Ballard Locks.

Alki Beach

 

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This 4.4-mile-long stretch of paved path goes along Alki Beach and offers stunning views of downtown Seattle. It’s a runnerā€™s paradise with flat pavement, beautiful views of Elliott Bay, and killer sunsets.

Fun fact: Alki Beach has a replica of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the Boy Scouts of America in 1952.

Amanda LeeAmanda Lee

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