A Ramble Southbound Along the Burke Gilman Trail, September, 2024

This is the 5th and last installment of the Southbound Along the Burke Gilman Trail series. This one is a bit odd because it is mostly northbound, and if you know the story, there are a lot of businesses along this segment that do not want the bike trail crossing their entrances, “blocking” access. There is a concrete company down here and it makes sense for them. Some of the fishing industry supply and repair yards? I have no idea. This is a decades-old fight and one that has many solutions, none of them perfect, so it has become intractable due to intransigence. Whatever. I’m taking a walk. Enjoy!

• Start Address: Under the north side of the Ballard Bridge

• Stop Address: West end of the Burke Gilman Trail at Golden Gardens

• Mileage: 2.9 miles

• Animated map: here

• Difficulty/Terrain: Paved trail, sidewalks, gravel path, abandoned train tracks… it’s got it all

• Ascent: 59 ft, Descent: ft.