Walk Around Lake Union's Chesiashud Trail

We started and ended our walk at Gasworks Park

Last weekend we finally got to do an urban hike we've talked about for years: the Chesiahud Trail, encircling Lake Union. The 6-mile Trail connects Gasworks Park on the north end with its much newer counterpart across the water, Lake Union Park.

This trail is all about enjoying an intimate view of the varied neighborhoods clinging to this erstwhile industrial lakeshore. The hike is mostly level, so stairways don't figure as importantly on the Chesiahud Trail as they do in our book routes. Still, a walk around the Chesiashud Trail feeds that same exploratory spirit!

We joined about 20 other people with the Urban Hikers Meetup Group. Our walk began with clouds and sprinkles in the morning, but ended with crisp Fall sunshine that brilliantly highlighted the season's beautiful colors. The slides below are just a few of the scenes you'll discover on this wonderful route.

Dancing With the Stairs

This photo of the stairway at 18th Avenue S and S Walker Street, in Beacon Hill, is neither crime scene nor pedestrian crackup. It's a performance by dance troupe The New Animals, part of the NEPO 5K Don't Run! art parade a few weeks ago. We hadn't heard about it before, but we'll be sure to check it out next September.

Artistic director and choreographer Markeith Wiley commented about stairs as a dance stage: "We were drawn to this location because movement and direction are already implied in a staircase. They're here to take you up or down - we got to spend six hours exploring what else, and how else." 

Thanks to City Arts magazine's October 2013 issue for the tip.