The BEST Places to Run in Seattle - The Adventuring Millennial

What’s so bad about a little rain?

Yes, despite the weather, Seattle is a very active city. As you explore the city you will soon notice bikes everywhere. There are also plenty of trails, making it a great city for runners.

I’ve been an avid runner most of my life and when I moved to Seattle, I quickly tried out many of the city’s running routes. Below you will find the 5 best places to run in Seattle. These are my favorite routes because they are flat and offer some great PNW views.

Ready to run? Let’s get started!

Myrtle Edwards Park

The Best Places to Run in Seattle- The Adventuring Millennial

Myrtle Edwards Park is hands-down my favorite place to run in Seattle. This park offers a 1.25-mile paved running and biking path along Elliot Bay. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the water, Mount Rainer, the Space Needle, and the Olympic Mountains.

For a longer run, start near Pike Place Market and run northwest along Elliot Avenue until you reach the Olympic Sculpture Park. Continue along the path and soon you will reach Myrtle Edwards Park. Keep going until you reach the end of the adjacent Centennial Park. At this point, you could turn around and head back to Pike Place Market to complete a roughly 4-mile run.

Discovery Park

Discovery Park, Seattle’s largest public park, is located in the Magnolia neighborhood. There are over 11-miles of trails here so you have plenty of choices for a running route. The Discovery Loop Trail is one of the most popular in the park. This is a 2.9-mile loop that starts and ends at the Discovery Center. During your run, you will enjoy views of the dense forest and the Puget Sound.

For more, detour a mile off the route to the West Point Lighthouse (and then run 1-mile back to the Loop Trail). This is an iconic lighthouse that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Green Lake Park

Green Lake Park is located in northern Seattle in the Green Lake neighborhood. The main feature of the park is the large glacial lake surrounded by a 2.8 mile path. This flat path is open for both runners and bikers.

There are a few parking lots and plenty of street parking surrounding the park. Regattas and other events are often held here which can make it a little challenging to find parking on weekends. But, the lake views and flat path make this one of the best places to run in Seattle, so it is worth searching for a spot on a crowded sunny Saturday.

Ballard Locks to Golden Gardens

Since I lived in Ballard, this was one of the routes I ran most often. You could start at either end (parking is available in both places) and run out and back for a 4.5-mile route. At sunset, you can enjoy some especially gorgeous views over Shilshole Bay. Oh, and keep at eye out when you run by the Locks. During the salmon migration season (June-October) you can see fish jumping out of the water, which attracts harbor seals to the area.

If you feel like exploring after your run, spend some time in Ballard. There are some great bars and restaurants along Market Street. Ballard Beer Company is the perfect place to treat yourself to a local brew.

Lake Union Loop

The Lake Union Loop is a 6-mile loop that takes you around Lake Union and over two bridges. Along the trail you will also pass Gas Works Park, which is my favorite park in the city. This is about half-way so it is the perfect spot to stretch or take a moment to breathe before continuing along your run.

If the weather is clear, this is one of the most scenic routes in Seattle. Soak up views of the skyline, Mount Rainer, and the Olympics. On a sunny day the water will be busy with activity and you might even see a few seaplanes landing.