Washington Park Arboretum Loop Trail

The Washington Park Arboretum is the perfect place to swing through if you're looking for a short and gentle trail run without leaving the city. This expansive park includes the UW Botanic Gardens, Japanese Gardens, entire length of the Arboretum Creek - all landmarks you'll pass on this trail.

This wide, gravel trail is easy to navigate and dotted with maps and turn offs for side streets and scenic viewpoints along the water. Don't come here expecting solitude or looking to keep a race pace - you'll be sharing the road with strollers, dogs (on leash), and throngs of other pedestrians. 

Park anywhere along the loop to hop on the Arboretum Loop Trail. The most obvious parking will be within the Broadmoor & Arboretum Parking Lot, but when this gets full you can find sneaky spots along the main Arboretum Drive or Lake Washington Blvd.

This is a popular weekend spot for families and students who visit the gardens, museum, or use the park as an access point to kayak or SUP on Lake Washington. Expect the trail (and parking lot) to be especially crowded on sunny weekends.