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Trip Report    

Seattle Olmsted Circuit: Seattle Ferry Terminal to Ballard Locks

Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks used to say about baseball doubleheaders, it’s a beautiful day, let’s play two. On a beautiful day for an urban walk; our doubleheader included sections 11 and 12 of the Olmstead circuit.

Chuck Harwood Chuck Harwood
February 09, 2026
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Olmstead section 11 (Seattle Ferry Terminal to Magnolia Village): Renovation on beach at Myrtle Edwards Park means walkers and bicycles must use the same path. Detour signs are posted but could be missed. Work to conclude in spring 2026. More info here: https://parkways.seattle.gov/2025/08/21/elliott-bay-connections-project-begins-shoreline-improvements-in-myrtle-edwards-and-centennial-parks/. Weekday walkers should watch for construction equipment in use at Myrtle Edwards Park and at Smith Cove Park (in the Interbay neighborhood, east of Elliott Bay Marina).

    Olmstead section 12 (Magnolia Village to Ballard Locks): Stairs down to Perkins Lane are uneven and some are slanted but handrail is intact and useful (not a new problem). Trails in Discovery Park are in good condition. Some muddy segments on North Beach Trail, but stairs have been repaired and are safer now. Walkers should be alert to cars on Discovery Park Boulevard near West Point treatment plant, due to ongoing construction work and possibly unclear vehicle access rules.

For section 11, 9 walkers started from Pioneer Square shortly after 8 am. We first headed to the habitat beach near the ferry terminal, then crossed on the Marion Street pedestrian bridge, and walked north on Post Alley to Pike Place Market. Totem poles are still absent from Victor Steinbrueck Park, but Seattle Parks says they will be reinstalled by March 2026. More info here: https://www.knkx.org/arts-culture/2026-01-13/marvin-olivers-totem-poles-steinbrueck-park. At Olympic Sculpture Garden, work is underway on Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, by Ai WeiWei, and they will likely be installed by May 2026. Info here: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/exhibitions/ai-weiwei-circle-of-animals-zodiac-heads-bronze.
Continuing along the shore, we navigated the Myrtle Edwards beach construction work, where the toilets (portables) were poor. A morning high tide meant we did not walk the shoreline from Elliott Bay Marina to 32nd Avenue West beach and instead took the trail through Magnolia Tidelands Park, at the west end of the Elliott Bay Marina parking, which connects to West Galer leading to 32nd Avenue West beach. After walking 6.3 miles, we finished in about 3.5 hours. Lunch was at sidewalk tables near Petit Pierre Bakery (pastries, sandwiches, soup) in Magnolia Village.

For section 12, 10 walkers started shortly after 12:30 from Magnolia Village, including 4 from the section 11 walk. After stopping for views of the Olympics from Magnolia Viewpoint, we headed down the stairs to Perkins Lane to observe the weeping hillside geology that has been the cause of multiple slides and stopped to view Fourmile Rock from the West McGraw St. Public Shore. 4milerock_5Nov2026.pngHeading north to Discovery Park, we spotted the Perkins Lane bald eagles (aka Fred & Ethel) perched near their nest in a tree west of Perkins Lane. In Discovery Park, we stopped by the restrooms, which were open and in good condition, though we reported via Seattle's Find It Fix It app that one stall on the women’s side was locked for no apparent reason and a large branch had come down in front of the restroom building. After a snack stop at West Point lighthouse, we walked on the beach around the light (tide was out) Lighthouse_5Nov2026.pngand then headed up the North Beach trail. After walking 7.1 miles, we finished section 12 in about 3.75 hours at the Ballad Locks.

Thanks to our leader, Karen (KT) Trilevsky. Photos by Fionnuala Morrish.