Smooth, sweet single track baby! Some fun roots and rocks, part of this route is foot traffic only but most is foot and bike. Super fun and not taxing.

Discovery Park occupies the westernmost point in Seattle, and has a wide mixture of terrain and environments, from sandy beaches to upland forests and manicured park areas. Several miles of trails criss-cross the park; one loop along the beaches is highlighted in this entry. This loop begins at the north parking area and goes on the northern loop trail to the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, then down to North Beach. Going south along the beach, come to West Point Lighthouse, then swing east onto South Beach. From here, follow the Loop Trail back to the parking area. The beaches have excellent views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains. Avoid the beach portion of this loop at high tide or during stormy weather.

Point Defiance Park is a well-loved local treasure, with numerous attractions including a zoo, and a great trail network totaling over 11 miles. Shown here is the Outside Loop Trail, marked with blue squares. There are great views of Puget Sound and its islands from the clifftops it traverses, as well as nice forest throughout. Cut through the rhododendron garden at the end of the loop for a nice finish.

The Tumwater Pipeline Trail seamlessly integrates human history and natural beauty as it parallels the roaring Wenatchee River. The pipeline right-of-way that the trail follows was built to carry water from a dam on the Wenatchee to a power-generating station that you see immediately as you travel upstream. The electricity was used to help bore the railroad tunnel through the Cascades. Soon after passing the old power plant, the trail crosses the river on an iron bridge, then follows its right bank just over a mile upstream to where the trail is blocked by fallen rocks. There is a good view across the river to Castle Rock, a popular climbing destination. The area is very scenic year-round, with serene snowscapes in winter, raging whitewater in spring, and brilliant golden cottonwood leaves in fall.

Carkeek Park is an urban park but has a wild feel to it. The perimeter loop trails wind through lush forest, partially along Piper Creek. There is a pedestrian bridge over railroad tracks that lead to a sandy beach with great views of the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound. Though there are many trails to choose from, this loop follows the following trails: Piper's Creek, Salmon to Sound, Hillclimb, North Traverse, Grand Fir, North Meadow Hillclimb, North Bluff, Beach, South Bluff, South Ridge, Piper's Creek. For more information, visit the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.

This pleasant trail hugs the shoreline of Bead Lake as it travels through conifer forests whose moisture level varies based on the exposure of the slope (the north-facing slopes are quite lush, while the south-facing slopes are much drier.) All along the trail are good views of the lake's teal waters. The junction with the spur trail 127.1 is a good place to turn around, but it is also possible to continue on that trail or on the main trail to a remote upper trailhead (bridges on this trail have been known to wash out; check with the Newport Ranger Station for the latest information.)

This paved trail loops around the outside of a golf course that has a spectacular natural sand dune environment. The trail has plenty of rolling hills as it works its way along the steep shore of Puget Sound. A side trail leads over a bridge above a set of railroad tracks to a sandy beach. The park is very popular with dog owners and people looking to catch the sunset.

Seward Park has a number of pleasant trails that cross and loop around a peninsula in Lake Washington. A paved path runs along the shoreline and has great views of Seattle and the hills around the city, while a total of 9 different dirt trails cross through the forest, some of which is old-growth, in the peninsula's interior. The trails all connect to each other, making several loops possible.

This trail follows the north shore of the Columbia River mostly on an old dike and has spectacular views of the river and Mt Hood looming behind forested hills. The middle section enters Cottonwood Beach Park, where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped for six days in the spring of 1806. The trail continues east, entering Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge before ending at a gate.

Badger Mtn is a steep, treeless mountain overlooking the Tri Cities that has a dense network of formal and informal trails frequented mostly by locals. On the clearest days, Mt Adams and Rainier can be seen. The loop route shown here uses the Canyon, Skyline, and Sagebrush Trails. Visit in spring to see the wildflowers.