Chapter 20, "Mount Baker"

New Stairs and a Route Detour

There are two major changes to the Mount Baker stairway walk: First, a new set of stairs replaces one steep (sometimes slippery) walkway along this walk. Second, the route beneath the I-90 bridge at the edge of Lake Washington is now blocked by Light Rail construction, so we're providing a workaround, described below. The detour includes nice new stairs and sights, while adding about a half-mile to the original 2.4 miles.

We'll start with the new stairway, on S Atlantic Street steps between 32nd and 33rd Avenue S, almost midway through the route. Here, the book describes a section where you head down what looks like a long private driveway to find some short, curving steps followed by a steep walkway. Not long ago the steep, sometimes slippery walkway was replaced entirely with stairs. Now it's much easier to navigate under wet conditions! 

After that comes the detour: reader Christen reminded us about the Light Rail construction project across Lake Washington which has, for the foreseeable future, blocked our existing route beneath the I-90 bridge. If you still want to follow the existing stairway route down the Atlantic and Day Street stairways to the edge of Lake Washington, here's a workaround that takes you on a northerly loop to rejoin the route near the East Portal Viewpoint. It adds about a half-mile to the original distance.

At the bottom of the lower Day stairs, walk past where the construction fencing blocks your progress to the left under I-90 as directed in the book (see below). Instead, continue straight toward the lake, across Lakeside Avenue to South Day Street Park, which is mentioned in the book as a quick side-trip. From here, you can take a break to enjoy the views across Lake Washington, gawk at the massive bridge overhead, and when weather allows, get a good view of Mt. Rainier to the south. Continue with the detour directions after the pictures below.

The route to the left at the stairway bottom is blocked for now

View south from South Day Street Park

From here, walk north on the sidewalk next to Lakeside Avenue. At short, regular intervals along the way you'll encounter three of Seattle's public shoreline street-ends, marked by "Public Shore" signs. The first of these, the South Judkins Shoreline Street End, comes after you pass a few buildings on the right. That's soon followed by the South Norman Shoreline Street End, which is worth ducking in to see. It has a nice bench where you can contemplate views of the lake. The third shoreline street-end, the S Charles Street End, is where you'll turn up the hill away from the lake, following the S Charles stairway (58 steps up) pictured below.

South Norman Shoreline Street End

View from the S Norman Shoreline Street End

S Charles Stairway

Head up the S Charles Stairway (after carefully crossing the street). At the top of the stairs continue up S Charles to the next block. Turn left to walk south along the lower level of Lake Washington Boulevard. Where the two levels of the street merge at S Judkins Street, keep walking south on Lake Washington Boulevard one more block to S Irving Street. At this point you're back on the route. We recommend that you continue a bit farther south on Lake Washington Boulevard to reach the East Portal Viewpoint with its great views of the I-90 Floating Bridge and beyond. 

At this point, rejoin the book's directions to the upper Irving stairs.

Chapter 14, "The Olmsted Vision: The Arboretum, Interlaken Park, and Volunteer Park"

Water Tower Temporary Closure

As of May 1, 2021 the Vounteer Park water tower remains temporarily closed because of pandemic concerns about the narrow 119-step stairways to the viewing space on top. Seattle Parks suggests the tower will reopen "soon," when they can install personnel to monitor compliance with separate one-way routing up and down the two stairways.

Also notable: the Parker Mansion, included on the route just after the water tower, has been recently sold. The 6 bedroom, 8 bath "Millionaires Row" residence sold for $5.3 million. That would be about $182,000 in 1909, when the mansion was built.

Volunteer Park Water Tower - the motto says "Pure Water, 1906"

The Parker Mansion

Chapter 23, Burien: Eagle Landing Stairs

The Single Stairway on this Walk is Permanently Closed

There are good reasons to visit Eagle Landing Park in Burien, but the stairway at the bottom of the park trail is no longer one of them. The beloved stairs that used to carry walkers down to the beach are permanently closed, and for good reason. Unrelenting landslides have made the stairway highly unstable, and large falling trees have demolished sections as well. The park itself remains one of our favorites, and is well worth visiting on its own, but the 289-step stairway is a permanent loss.

When it was still open...

...and now. (Photo: courtesy b-townblog.com)

Chapter 19, "Longfellow Creek and Pigeon Point"

Salmon Bone Bridge Closed Through March, 2021

Seattle Parks tells us that the Salmon Bone Bridge (or "Fishbone Bridge") is closed for deck repairs through the end of March 2021. Regrettably this closes off most (but not all) of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail section along the early part of this route. 

Here's a workaround. Enter the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail, as directed at the start of the walk. Just a few dozen feet along, take the trail/walkway on the right, heading upslope through the Dragonfly Pavilion (pictured below). Turn left onto 28th Ave SW just past the pavilion. Walk two blocks south, skirting Longfellow Creek on your left. Turn left onto SW Nevada St, crossing a bridge above Longfellow Creek with views of the Legacy Trail. Turn right onto 26th Ave SW, then left at the next block to end your detour and rejoin the route at SW Genesee St.

Salmon Bone Bridge

Dragonfly Pavilion

Chapter 10, "East Queen Anne"

Unsafe Hillside Means a Route Change

We now recommend that you avoid both the "Greenway Alternate" path below Trolley Hill Park and the "Hillside Trail" just to the north (see book map). Both pathways on these unstable hillsides have deteriorated badly, making walking conditions hazardous. 

Instead, follow the main route as usual to the top of the "North Lake Union Viewpoint" shown in the route map and pictured below. There, rather than continuing down the hillside to complete the loop, turn away from the hillside and walk up Crockett Street two blocks. Turn left onto Bigelow Ave N, to make your way south. After you pass Garfield St, watch for the Galer stairs on either side of Bigelow St., partially camouflaged by ample foliage. Turn left to rejoin the Galer stairs, following them down to the start of the walk.

This change turns the main route into a "lolleypop loop," with the Galer stairs forming the stick. In exchange for missing the Dexter Way tunnel murals at the bottom of the hillside, you'll see more of wide, tree-lined Bigelow Ave N. on the way back to the Galer stairs.

North Lake Union Viewpoint