Run Discovery Park

Coming from San Francisco, I couldn't believe that there was a more sprawling, less crowded beach hiding in the thick of Seattle. If you don't want to bother with parking, you can run / bike / walk the South Ship Canal Trail from South Lake Union, West Lake, or North Queen Anne over to the park. Discovery is also one of the best beaches to catch the sunset at and closer to the city center than Golden Gardens.

Utilize any of the parking lots for easy access to the loop trail. A moderate up and down 3 mile loop awaits you without the crowds found on Elliott Bay, Alki, or at Green Lake. On a clear day the vistas are stunning with views of Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains, Elliott Bay, and Puget Sound. On a rainy day the local scenery of lush forests with occasional old growth offerings doesn't fail to impress. The loop trail can be combined with the rest of Discovery Park's trail offerings for longer loops and beach access. Discovery Park has my vote as the most scenic natural location in Seattle! Enjoy!

I'm new to the trail running scene, and Discovery was a great place to start. I combined the outermost trails to make a 4+ mile loop which also allowed me to admire all the views. It's hard not to be motivated to continue when you are surrounded by beautiful glimpses of the Sound! Good mix of flat and hills, stairs and trail. Bonus - when the tide it out, get some beach running in.

Discovery Park is my go-to for a quick run. I add a few variations off of the primary trail, including two sets of stairs, to make the loop 4 miles. With the amazing views of rainier, the sound and Elliot Bay, this loop is the best of the best. It is also a relatively easy - but still interesting - trail running grade and very well maintained.