Seattle Field Guide | Guided Walk

Mark your calendars for Out and About Walks' next Seattle social community walk in Ballard on 4/18/2026 at 10am hosted by Sara A with Maria Dolan — co-author of Seattle Field Guide: Explore Nature in the City.

Plan to meet at Secret Garden Books for a 4.2 mile round-trip nature walk from Ballard to Shilshole Marina via the Burke Gilman Trail. Maria will be sharing her knowledge of the natural environment that exists along this route and how you can explore the outdoors outside your doorstep!

The first stop will be the “hidden” pier at the Marina to observe and learn about the migratory sea lions before they make their way back to California.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also hosting Bird Lover’s Day at the Locks, so we’ll be stopping by for some heron gazing before heading back to Secret Garden for a RAFFLE !!

** Space will be limited for this event **

Come solo, with family or friends — all paces and faces are welcome!

We walk rain or shine in this club, so make sure you check the weather ahead of time and prepare accordingly.

About the Book:

Seattle Field Guide is a fun, accessible, and inspiring guide to 38 nature-filled outings across the greater Seattle area--perfect for all ages and experience levels. Whether you have a free afternoon or a full day to explore, nature writers Maria Dolan and Kathryn True offer seasonal adventures that reveal the wild wonders hidden in the city’s parks, shorelines, greenways, and neighborhoods.

From Broadview to Rainier Beach and Discovery Park to Seward Park, readers will find easy-to-follow, seasonally appropriate ideas for kayaking with herons, mushroom hunting in city parks, biking through salmon restoration sites, identifying lichens in historic cemeteries, and listening for frog songs in quiet urban wetlands. Each outing includes guidance on terrain, effort level, travel distance, transit options, and available amenities--plus tips on what to bring and when to go.

With colorful photos, maps, natural history sidebars, and cultural insights, this guide connects readers to the natural and human stories woven into Seattle’s landscape. Seattle Field Guide is your go-to companion for discovering nearby nature and making every season an opportunity to explore.

• Seasonal guide to 38 urban outings rooted in discovering nature
• Each activity indicates the terrain, level of effort, distance, transit and parking information, and amenities available at the destination
• Useful at-a-glance planning chart helps readers pick a location and timeframe