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Green Lake Rachael Jones

Accessible Trails in Seattle

Gentle Pathways

The Pacific Northwest offers plenty of rugged terrain, but Seattle is paved with paths that make exploring beautiful natural scenery enjoyable for everyone, whether you’re pushing a stroller, preferring less strenuous walks, or using a wheelchair, cane, or walker. Here are several great ones, all of them dog-friendly too.

Two people walking hand-in-hand near a serene lake, surrounded by large, lush green trees. A bench is visible nearby, and the sky is partially cloudy, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

Green Lake Rachael Jones

Green Lake Park

Popular with locals, visitors, and geese alike, the 2.8-mile paved, flat path around picturesque Green Lake is highly accessible, featuring benches and flat spots to venture off-trail for a picnic or to watch wildlife and passersby. There are several easy access points with curb cuts as well as multiple accessible restrooms.

Aerial view of a cityscape featuring a waterfront with several docked ships. Numerous buildings and green spaces stretch toward a skyline with a distinctive tower. Clouds fill the sky above, and pathways crisscross the park area.

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop

Snaking roughly 6.5 miles along the contours of Lake Union, this centrally located urban trail is named for a former Duwamish chief and connects neighborhoods, parks, and trails. The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is a good starting point along the path. From here, enjoy views of the skyline, public art, and boats and floatplanes on the lake, along with access to cafés. The loop comprises paved multi-use paths, sidewalks, and low-traffic streets.

A serene lake with a person water skiing behind a boat. The horizon is lined with distant trees and Mount Rainier looms in the background under a clear sky. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful.

photo credit Rachael Jones

Seward Park Paved Loop

This 2.4-mile circuit in Seattle’s largest old-growth forest park is smooth, wide, and relatively flat. It hugs the Lake Washington shoreline, passing through shady forest groves and offering open water views. You’ll find benches and scenic spots for watching and listening for the area’s prolific birdlife.

A large, red abstract metal sculpture with three legs and pointed extensions set on a grassy area, with a cityscape and the Space Needle visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Alexander Calder’s ‘Eagle’ at the Olympic Sculpture Park Todd Dominey via Flickr Creative Commons

Olympic Sculpture Park

One of the city’s most scenic green spaces, Olympic Sculpture Park is flanked by Elliott Bay on one side and shiny buildings on the other. Paved paths gently wind past impressive art installations and a rose garden, continuing through Myrtle Edwards beach park and beyond. There are plenty of benches, and the park pavilion has accessible restrooms.

A serene sunset over a calm body of water, with a ferry in the distance. The sky is a gradient of orange and blue, and the shoreline is lined with rocks. A person stands on the left, capturing the view.

Alki Beach Park Erin Craft

Alki Beach Boardwalk

Cruise along this iconic West Seattle promenade, which stretches along Elliott Bay, affording incredible panoramas of the downtown skyline, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains. Wide, paved, and flat, it fringes the sandy beach and has separate lanes for cyclists and walkers. You’ll find several festive eateries along this stretch and ADA-accessible restrooms at the Alki bathhouse.

Originally written for Visit Seattle's Official Visitors' Guide

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