Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BURKE-GILMAN TRAIL
Cutting a leafy vehicle-free path through multiple north Seattle neighborhoods,
including a large segment of the U District, the Burke-Gilman Trail gets busy with
human-powered traffic on sunny days at weekends, when cyclists overtake jog-
gers, and skaters weave in and out of walkers and strollers. The asphalt trail was
first laid out in 1978 along the path of a former railroad pioneered by two Seattle
attorneys, Thomas Burke and Daniel Gilman, in 1885 (the railway ceased opera-
tion in 1971). Initially extending for 12 miles, the route has since been lengthened
and now runs almost 20 miles from Kenmore on the northeast shore of Lake
Washington to Golden Gardens Park in northwest Ballard. There is a 'missing link'
in Ballard between 11th Ave NW and Hiram M Chittenden Locks, though it's easy
to navigate through the relatively quiet streets and reconnect. The Burke-Gilman
has plenty of pretty sections, many of them surrounded by foliage and close to
water, but to get a real taste for the neighborhoods through which it passes (U
District, Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard), you need to wander off and explore a
little. The places below make good pit stops. For bike hire look no further than
Dutch Bike Co (
Click here
)
in Ballard or Recycled Cycles (
Click here
)
in the U Dis-
trict.
Best for a Coffee Break
Zoka Coffee
(
Click here
) in the U District
Fremont Coffee Company
(
Click here
)
in Fremont
Dutch Bike Co
(
Click here
) in Ballard
Best for a Picnic
Gas Works Park
(
Click here
)
in Wallingford
Hiram M Chittenden Locks
(
Click here
)
in Ballard
Golden Gardens Park
(
Click here
)
in Ballard
Best Eating
Portage Bay Cafe
(
Click here
)
in the U District
Pie
(
Click here
)
in Fremont
Lockspot Cafe
(
Click here
)
in Ballard
