Burke-Gilman Trail

When attending the University of Washington on-campus from 2010 to 2011, I utilized the Burke-Gilman Trail for running as well as walking from campus to various destinations. The path was/is paved and relatively flat, which is nice for running. Foot and bicycle traffic could be heavy close to campus, further away it tended to abate.

I enjoyed using the trail in part due to the vegetation along the trail, I would watch for wildlife as I ran. The stretches of the trail between intersections with roads were not so short as to be discouraging. For the most part I felt safe using the trail. My biggest recurring safety concern was vehicles encountering the trail and forgetting to stop for the trail users. I learned to slow/stop when in doubt if me and any other trail users at the same crossing had been seen.

Burke Gilman is an amazing trail to ride with scenic views almost everywhere you look. 98% of walkers, runners and riders are courteous and it makes every outing an absolute pleasure.

A very long paved trail around the top of Lake Washington. I happened to be in the area driving around with my dogs in the car and they needed to be let out ASAP. I headed toward North Lake Marina and found Burke- Gilman Trail and it looked really nice! Nice neighborhoods, nice paved trail, nice views, and nice people enjoying their Sunday on this trail. There were a lot of bikers so be mindful of them but bikers, please be aware this trail is not just for biking.

I was able to walk with my dogs and a stroller for longer than an hour and it keeps going for much much further. It's a good spot to run, roller blade, bike, and stroll. We headed West on the trail and went further than Sheridan Beach. We never got to the water but we had views of it from a few spots where there weren't houses blocking. We also saw plans for the park and waterfront access near the beginning of our walk and it looks like it will be a fun park for kids.

Rails to trails.
Such a wonderful way to spend an hour or the afternoon. Walk it, bike it being your friends or hounds. Sometimes the trail is super busy but more often it is peaceful and relaxing.
This trail goes all along the water with wonderful views. Mostly safe but always be mindful of your surroundings.

I was determined to spend some time on Seattle trails during my six day visit for my goddaughter's wedding. As luck would have it, my hotel was near the Burke-Gilman Trail and, in fact, I wheeled a portion of the trail on my way from my hotel to the wedding venue in the Northlake area of Seattle.

The actual length of the Burke-Gilman trail is somewhat debatable. According to Seattle parks, it's just shy of 20 miles. However, there's a several mile section that doesn't actually fall within Seattle parks and this section takes the trail to right around 27 miles in total.

This is a rail-trail that falls within the King County Regional Trail system. It occupies an abandoned Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railway corridor.

The trail actually begins at 11th Avenue NW in Ballard and is considered to end in Kenmore by Seattle Parks. There is also a connector that takes it into Issaquah. Essentially, this is one of the major trails in the Seattle area.

The trail is named after Maine-born lawyer and railroad investor Daniel Hunt Gilman and Judge Thomas Burke. Parking is available in Golden Gardens Park and Blyth Park.

The trail is a member of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Built it the 1970s, Burke-Gilman was one of the first true rail-trails and inspired countless others.

You can see a variety of Seattle sights from the trail from the University of Washington campus to the quirky public art piece "Wall of Death" to Lake Union, Ballard Locks, and even pieces of Puget Sound. This is one seriously beautiful, mostly paved, and surprisingly wheelchair friendly trails. While Seattle is justifiably known for its hills, the trail itself is a joy to experience.

There are so many beautiful sights here that it's not surprising that both locals and visitors use the trail daily. It's estimated that the trail has 2,000 users daily.

As an avid trail user in my wheelchair, I'd hoped to experience one of the definitive Seattle trails and I did so spending my time on the Burke-Gilman Trail. I'd easily return to it and would love to do one of my fundraising tours on the trail that is beautiful and offers lots of friendly people along the way.

While Seattle has its hills, the trail itself is surprisingly manageable even for wheelchair users like myself. If you've never checked it out, I highly recommend it.

If you're new to the area, know that the Burke Gilman is a multi-use trail so you'll encounter dog walkers, joggers and children new to cycling. And, now there are also electric bikes and scooters to contend with.

The trail is very busy on the weekends and accidents happen frequently. I've seen a few people (including kids) on the ground with bleeding knees, sprains and lots of tears. I'm most concerned about young children when riding. They're uncoordinated and can suddenly veer in front of you. When you see children ahead, slow down and use caution when passing.

Also, watch out for animals. I've seen cats, ducks, crows and even pheasants on the trail. Sometimes you don't see them when you're going around a blind corner.

Follow these safety precautions and you'll have a smoother ride:

- Slow down at congested areas, like Log Boom Park and Bothell where there are many trail walkers.
- Let others know when you are passing; use your voice or bell.
- Watch out for others when passing; use hand signals and mirror.
- Pay attention to the road and not your cycling partner so that you can see obstacles ahead.
- Don't hog the trail. Ride single-file and let faster cyclists pass.
- Slow down/stop at crosswalks (you'd be surprised at how many don't and people have died because of it.).
- No matter the reason, don't stop in the middle of the trail. Pull over to the dirt path.
- Be courteous to other trail users and keep a reasonable pace (the BG is not a practice course for the Tour de France).

Take it easy on the trail, be cautious and respect the rules. Happy riding!

I love this trail! So thankful to have it nearby especially during the pandemic. It's nice to be able to ride up to Bothell or down and over to Fremont - so much beautiful foliage along the way and a path free of debris. I have noticed more dog doo baggies along the path since the stay at home order began - I wish people with dogs would be more responsible! This wasn't an issue before the stay at home order. There are tons of restaurants and grocery stores just off this path, making bike transport a real viable option. With the exception on the one-way area of this trail just before U-Village, the trail is wide and mostly flat. Most drivers have been conscientious at street intersections, and in general this trail is great!

Great trail for pulling a trailer with two kids. We started at Log Boom Park (cool playground) and rode to Magnuson Park. Great playground there. 7.5 miles. On the return we stopped at Matthews beach. Being 79 degrees the one year old and three year old loved it. That is an amazing spot.

The trail is very smooth and easy. The Tour de France cyclists need to lighten up. You're not in a race show courtesy to everyone. I witnessed cyclists of that sort being rude to walkers, people with dogs, and me and my trailer with kids. All I can say is lighten up and stop taking yourself so seriously...I mean have you seen the outfit you're wearing to ride your bike? Your tight pants and a tight shirt with a corporate sponsor logo that "YOU" paid to wear. Life is short. Stop being assholes.

Great trail. Kid friendly!

It's a long trail. Most of it is pretty flat and separate from the road so it's pretty safe. There's a lot of trees so it's very shady. They redid a lot of it over the years so it's all paved. I love taking this on my bike.
Please don't forget to ring a bell or say on your left when passing!
I like taking this by lake Washington to UW then on to gas works. And with the bike shares it's easy to pick up and drop off anywhere.

We have been walking this trail with our kids regularly and it is lovely. Quiet, other walkers keep their distance. Lots of ways to access the trail and get off it. Well maintained. The kids have liked playing Pokemon go here as we walk.