August 27, 2022
One of our most impressive talents is our ability to squeeze in as many adventures as possible in the shortest amount of time. That skill was really put to the test when we booked a trip to Seattle, WA that was just over 24 hours long. We typically come back from our “vacations” exhausted and this trip was no exception, but it was one of the best ones we’ve done to date.
The main reason we picked Seattle for a quick weekend getaway was to ride Burke-Gilman trail. Did you know this is part of the Rails to Trails Hall of Fame? I can definitely see why. This is a 20-mile one way trail paved in its entirety and set apart from car traffic. It was a mostly flat ride, very little total elevation gain, with everything from city skylines, lake views, forests, and everything in between. The trail officially runs from Golden Gardens Park in Ballard on Puget Sound to Blyth Park in Bothell. There is a one-mile missing link section in Ballard where you have to street and/or sidewalk bike before re-joining the trail. We didn’t do this section since we started our ride further East than Ballard.
After dropping our suitcases at our hotel in downtown Seattle, we took Lime scooters 4 miles, across Fremont Bridge to a bike rental shop in Fremont. We chose this location because it was very close to the trail and we were not as confident in our big city street biking yet. The Evo rental shop is conveniently located only 4 blocks from Gas Works Park which is where we started our ride. Gas Works Park holds the remnants of a coal gasification plant that operated from 1906 to 1956 before being turned into a recreation area. It has fantastic views of the Seattle skyline from across Lake Union making it the first photo stop of the ride.
From Gas Works Park we rode about 15 miles to our ending destination of Blyth Park. Only a couple miles in, you will come across the University of Washington which the trail follows the outskirts of campus. I highly recommend a quick side trip through campus and to check out the athletic facilities, especially Husky Stadium. For fans of the book The Boys in the Boat, like myself, keep an eye out for the original rowhouse and the newly constructed shell house on the shores of Lake Union. You might even see some rowers in action in the water!
Traffic picks up as the trail winds around campus because this is a popular commuting trail for the University. You’re engulfed in such thick trees it’s easy to forget that you’re still in the heart of a major city. Enjoy the greenery before the forest opens up and you reach Matthews Beach Park, Seattle’s largest freshwater swimming beach. From here the trail follows the shores of Lake Washington for the next 6 miles. This is a great place to marvel at, and be jealous of in my case, the beautiful lake houses sitting on the skinny Riviera Place Road (cars have to take turns to pass each other).
At Kenmore, which marks the northernmost end of the lake, the trail transitions from Lake Washington to following the Sammamish River. 2 miles past Kenmore you will cross a bridge over the river to reach Blyth Park just outside downtown Bothell, the official ending of the Burke-Gilman trail. Sadly, this was our turnaround point. However, you can continue uninterrupted on the Sammamish River Trail another 10 miles to Redmond. Here the trail connects yet again to the Bear Creek Trail.
When we returned to Fremont, we had to take a quick ride to the infamous Fremont Troll under Aurora Bridge. The troll is less than a mile away from Gas Works Park, but the climb to get up there is incredibly steep. I even had to walk my bike at one point. Keep on eye out for the three Billy goats about a block down who are evading the troll… Fremont is a super cute, quirky neighborhood of Seattle and self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe”. If we had more time I would have like to explore the artsy shops, bookstores and had a sample at Theo Chocolate. Instead we biked up to (more uphill street biking) the well-known Dick’s Drive-In for delicious burger, fries and a milkshake.
We lucked out with beautiful, dry, sunny weather for this trip which made the ride that much more fantastic. But regardless, I highly recommend the Burke-Gilman Trail to see the sights of Seattle and the neighborhoods beyond while getting away from the hustle of the city center. Next time we’re back in the area we would like to finish the remaining 5 miles from Gas Works Park West to Golden Gardens Park or try one of the connecting trails past Blyth Park.
Other fun Seattle Activities
