Mount Baker

Among Seattle stairs, the Dose Terrace steps are one of the classics. This stairway features an inlaid brass sign at the top, an ornate wedding cake-like balcony near the bottom and fantastic views across Lake Washington. This Seattle stairway walk starts with a flourish, but it continues on a series of high notes, carrying into beautiful Colman Park before turning into the residential neighborhood. There you'll encounter more cool stairways, and scenic and historical highlights at every turn: Bradner Gardens Park; the East Portal Viewpoint; and Mount Baker Ridge Viewpoint.

The slideshow marked by the "www" icon includes additional pictorial content referenced in the book; see more pictures and a side-trip suggestion below the slideshow.

 

We love Bradner Gardens Park! It has so many working parts - P-Patch; demonstration garden; nice views of downtown; an incredible log sculpture depicting the life-cycle of salmon (including a kingfisher eating a fry). Check out the amazing unisex bathroom!

Photo by Joyce Moty
Bradner bathroom mosaic artists: Liz, Joyce, and Gyda (Photo by Clair Cloquitt)

Mount Baker Ridge Viewpoint is a highlight of this walk; from here you can see Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains through the gap left by the Dearborn Regrade (partially hidden by tree on right)

From the start of this route, it's a 0.9 mile one-way side trip over to the Horton Street stairs, which feature a water-spouting gargoyle at the bottom (rainy days only)! Check out the picture here.