I often forget how lucky some of us are to have Discovery Park in Seattle, where we can go, even if only for a moment, to escape the city's hustle and bustle and breathe deeply, connecting with nature for a brief moment.
Starting from the South Lot, I chose to go clockwise, but either direction works. For me, I like how this direction rewards you with a beautiful view of Puget Sound and the Olympics as you descend towards the westernmost part of the park, staying high above the beach with 180-degree views.
The trail winds back into a tree covered path that surrounds and hugs you in a way only nature can. You cross three roads heading east, the first two are not open to cars, but I always look both ways for bikes that may be coming up or down the road. The third, easternmost road, is open to cars so I always pay close attention at this crossing.
Looping south takes one back towards the (still closed) Environmental Learning Center (ELC), where there are a couple of porta-potties. Up until this point, the trip has been either flat or mostly downhill, so now it's time to climb, slightly and very manageable, back to the south lot (where there are porta-potties, including an accessible one).
This ~2.7-mile loop is a delight and can be done quickly, or you can take your time. I have seen foxes, eagles, owls, and even deer on this loop. The one downside is that I almost always encounter off-leash dogs. There are no off-leash dog areas in Discovery Park, so if your four-legged friend joins you please keep them leashed up!
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