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Voted the third-healthiest city in the country in 2024 by WalletHub, Seattle’s healthy landscape has much to do with its expansive outdoor options: It is home to more than 485 parks — from gardens to beach walks to forest trails —creating the perfect home base for staying fit.

Whether you’re walking, running, or biking, these outdoor spaces provide accessible and scenic routes for exercise. By incorporating regular activity into your routine, you can improve your health, connect with the community, and discover the beauty of Seattle’s natural environment. So, lace up your shoes, grab a friend, and hit the trails.

The Benefits of Outdoor Exercise

Exercising outdoors has numerous benefits, both physical and mental. Engaging in activities such as walking, running, or biking in natural settings can improve cardiovascular health, promote weight loss, and enhance mood. The combination of fresh air, beautiful scenery, and exposure to sunlight boosts vitamin D levels and can reduce stress and anxiety.

These benefits are not trivial. Research shows that interaction with nature has been shown to reduce stress, depression, aggression, ADHD symptoms, rumination, and obesity, and to improve immune function, eyesight, mental health, and social connectedness.

Accessible Urban Trails

Seattle’s urban trails are easily accessible, making it simple for individuals of all fitness levels to find a suitable route. Here are some of the most popular trails:

Burke-Gilman Trail: This iconic trail spans over 18 miles, running from Ballard to the University of Washington. The path is perfect for walking, jogging, and cycling, offering stunning views of Lake Washington and the surrounding greenery.

Alki Beach Trail: Located in West Seattle, the 2.5-mile trail runs along the waterfront and is ideal for walking, jogging, or rollerblading. The view of the Seattle skyline from the beach adds an extra incentive to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Discovery Park: Seattle's largest green space, Discovery Park features 534 acres of trails that wind through forests, meadows, and along the coastline. With over 11 miles of trails, this park provides a serene environment for hiking or brisk walking, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature while getting a great workout for any type of walker, hiker, runner, or wheeled exerciser.

Green Lake Park: A favorite among locals, this scenic 2.8-mile path around the lake is perfect for running, walking, or cycling.

Hug a Tree

When you’re walking through an urban forest, know that scientific evidence shows hugging or just being among trees contributes to improved health. Several West Seattle parks have walking trails nestled under old-growth forests, such as Camp Long, Schmitz Preserve Park, and Lincoln Park. Bordering the University of Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum has a trail network that includes themed gardens, wetlands, and wooded areas.

Get Your Steps and Stairs In

According to Walk Your Way to Fitness With Short Walks and Hikes Around Seattle, a blog of the Seattle Credit Union, you can “burn more calories, increase your heart rate, and strengthen bones and muscles by adding stairs to your walking routine.”

In Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, try two of the city’s longest and parallel stair treks; Howe Street (388 steps) with beautiful views of Lake Union and the Olympic Mountains, and Blaine Street (293 steps), adjacent to Streissguth Gardens.

Then there’s the Queen Anne Stairs, a four-mile loop that goes up and down the most beautiful stairs in Seattle, past lovely homes, and great views over downtown, Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics. Some of these stairs were built a century age; 830 steps up, 994 steps down. There’s a four-mile walking tour put together by university faculty that covers many, but not all, of them.

Building Community

One of the greatest benefits of exploring Seattle’s urban trails is the sense of community they foster. Many trails are frequented by locals who share a passion for outdoor exercise. Joining a running or hiking group can provide motivation, accountability, and new friendships. Check out Gearhouse, a Seattle social club for adventurers of all experience levels, or the Mountaineers Seattle Hiking Committee, which provides opportunities for novice and experienced hikers to enjoy the varied trails of the Pacific Northwest.

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