Deadhorse Canyon and Rainier Beach

This jaunt along Seattle stairs starts by taking you up and down the length of Deadhorse Canyon. Taylor Creek runs the length of the canyon, which itself occupies most of Lakeridge Park at the south end of Lake Washington. This creek is one of only three in the city that flow year-round, and it's fun to visit at different times of the year to watch how it changes. For example in late winter when sightlines are clear and water levels are high, the creek runs loud and looks quite impressive; in late summer you can barely hear the creek as the greenery closes over it. Your walk through Deadhorse Canyon will take you up and down 127 timber steps. You'll eventually climb out of the canyon and onto residential streets down toward Rainier Beach, where more stairways give up marvelous south Lake Washington views before you head back uphill to your starting place.

The slideshow marked by the "www" icon presents additional pictorial content referenced in the book. See additional pictures above and below.

Yup, go straight ahead and a path into Deadhorse Canyon will soon appear...

...and there it is; wear good shoes though, because the initial way down this gravel trail is quite steep! 

 

Susanna Stodden memorial, Deadhorse CanyonSusanna Stodden and her mother, Mary Cooper, died tragically on July 11, 2006 during a hike to Pinnacle Lake in the Mountain Loop Highway area of Snohomish County. Someone, still unidentified, shot them to death on the trail. Susanna was a well-known volunteer and tireless advocate for Deadhorse Canyon, and her death sent shock waves through the Friends community here. This memorial marks one of Susanna's favorite places to be - Deadhorse Canyon. Here's more information about Susanna and her love of Deadhorse Canyon: memorial.



Pathway near the bottom of Deadhorse Canyon and Lakeridge Park

View from the top of the Cooper Street stairs, which descend to Rainier Avenue S

You'll have a very brief walk along busy Rainier Avenue before heading up and away, via the Thayer Street stairway 

And a word about the side trips mentioned in the book directions:

 

For more views of Kubota Garden, check out this website. Additional Kubota Garden websites are: Kubota Garden Foundation and Seattle Parks.    

For more info and directions to Pritchard Beach Park, try Seattle Parks or Friends of Pritchard Beach Park. Thanks to Linnea Westerlind for the photo, from her "Year of Seattle Parks" blog, which is linked on our home page.