A Ramble Along the Olmsted 50, Part 1-B, Winter, 2023

This one is the second of a 10-part series that follows The Mountaineers’ Olmsted 50. The Mountaineers are a Seattle-based hiking and conservation society. James Olmsted was hired by the city of Seattle in 1903 to put together a master parks plan. Olmsted designed some three dozen parks in Seattle and one of the Mountaineers put together are in-city walking route that explores the belt that Olmsted was given. It is 50 km long and since my walks are typically about 5k, this will naturally be a 10 part epic. This one picks up from last month’s installment at the ‘top’ of Golden Gardens and goes through one of Seattle’s oldest parks, Salmon Bay Park, on its way to the Woodland Park Zoo. Tune in next month to pick up the next leg!

• Start Address: NW 85th St and 32nd Ave NW

• Stop Address: The Woodland Park Zoo, Bear Parking Lot.

• Mileage: 3.35

• Animated map: here

• Difficulty/Terrain: Mostly sidewalks but many are old and without ramps.

• Ascent: 209 ft, Descent: 154 ft.