Lakewood-Seward Park

This is one of our very favorite explorations of Seattle stairs, partly because it was one of the first routes we discovered. But there's also a unique, immersive feeling as you walk along hillsides through the heart of the neighborhood, cloaked among the trees. Lake Washington is a big visual presence here too, as it is with the other Seattle stairway walks along the shoreline (check out the map on the Home page). The Lakewood-Seward Park neighborhood also has an interesting history that is closely tied to the level of the lake, which fell 9 feet in 1917. You can learn more about that in the book, which also provides directions for an optional walk through old Wetmore Slough, now high and dry and known as Genesee Park.

The "www" icon denotes additional pictorial content referenced in the book (to see it, click on the slides).

A first view of the lower Ferdinand Street stairway

A Note About Lakewood/Seward Park

Strictly speaking, this stairway walk remains entirely within the confines of the Lakewood Park neighborhood. Seward Park is just next door to the south, but the area is often referred to collectively as Lakewood-Seward Park. In 1907 the entire Rainier Valley area was annexed to Seattle, including the partially developed residential neighborhoods known as "Lakewood" and "Seward Park."

To further confuse things, in 1911 the city bought Bailey Peninsula from the Bailey family in order to create a city park called Seward Park. It's always a great place to visit, and the book has directions from this walk's starting/ending place. Seward Park has miles of walking trails around the peninsula perimeter and throughout the old-growth interior. It has a swimming beach and play areas, as well as an Audubon Center that helps visitors view and understand the local habitat and animal life.  

Thanks to HistoryLink.org for the following: Lakewood History;  Seward Park; Montlake Cut

Laurelhurst

Laurelhurst is the peninsula sticking out into Union Bay, roughly between the University of Washington and Lake Washington. Until well into the 20th century it was a rural outpost reached mostly by boat from Madison Park. That's hard to envision given the prosperous, well-manicured residential neighborhood it has become.

This route uncovers some very cool Seattle stairs. One stairway leads you down to a secluded and historically significant shoreline. Another one appears just around the bend of a driveway, only to dive irresistably down a leafy Laurel tunnel. The main route provides superb views across Lake Washington toward Kirkland and Bellevue as it explores the eastern side of the peninsula. An optional side trip takes you over to the western side, for views across the water to Husky Stadium and the Arboretum before turning around at magnificent Union Bay Natural Area.     

For more about Laurelhurst's fascinating history, try these links: HistoryLink.org; The Laurelhurst Blog; and Friends of Waterway 1. For info on Seattle's program for its 149 shoreline street-ends, click here. 

The "www" icons indicate where you'll find pictures and other content that are referenced in the book. Additional (unmarked) pictures show even more scenes you'll find along this route. 

Diving down into a Laurel tunnel at the "Hidden Stairs"

Starting up the NE 42nd Street stairs

As mentioned in the book - if you're still frisky after the main route, this side trip from your starting place out to Union Bay Natural Area adds 3.5 miles to your exploration of the Laurelhurst peninsula (no added stairways), with added views and shoreline access on the western side. Detailed directions are available via the QR Code at the end of the Laurelhurst chapter in the book, or here. The route is shown below:

 

Optional walk: looking back on the narrow lakeside access, between two driveways at the street

Shoreline view from "Waterway 1," Husky Stadium in background

Looking back toward the Belvoir Park entrance, from lakeside

Belvoir Park is located in the Belvoir Subdivision, developed by "Uncle Joe" Surber, who was also King County's first sheriff. As you walk along NE Surber Drive you'll glimpse Yesler Cove just beyond the trees. This is the eastern edge of the Union Bay Natural Area, which extends west as far as the UW campus.

The Center For Urban Horticulture (CUH) is the first thing you'll see as you approach the Union Bay Natural Area (it's pictured at the top of this posting). The CUH is a research station of the UW Botanic Gardens, and it's a beautiful architectural and garden space too. The garden area is colorful and full of texture, and everything is well-labeled. If you plan a picnic, there are benches and other places to sit, and there's plenty of grassy space around the Union Bay side of the complex. 

Don't stop at CUH, though - an extensive trail system weaves through the Union Bay Natural Area (see map above). There's a diversity of habitats in a very small space, and University teams have planted native vegetation to suit. Accompanying all this is a terrific concentration of more than 240 bird species, seen here at various times of the year. For additional background on Union Bay Natural Area history, trails and birds, visit Seattle Audubon's website  Birdweb - Union Bay Natural Area. For info on tours, trails etc. see the website Center for Urban Horticulture.