Cowen and Ravenna Parks, Green Lake — Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

I didn't want to get stuck in all the mountain snow, (and my trick knee was bugging me,) so we stayed urban and walked a big lollipop loop starting at the south end of Ravenna Park, under I-5 on NE Ravenna Blvd, clockwise around Green Lake then back down through Cowen and Ravenna Parks. Total mileage is a little over 6 ½ with no material elevation gain. Street parking was not a problem on NE 55th St. Ravenna offers some nice urban forest and the work to support native plant life in the park is paying off. The views of both the old steel 20th Ave and art deco concrete 15th Ave bridges from bottom of the gully are neat. Once past Cowen Park, Green Lake is just a quick walk down the tree lined Ravenna Blvd. The lake was teaming with birds today - at least a half dozen species of duck (besides the ever present mallards,) at least two big Herons and the treat of the day was watching a huge adult bald eagle drop from the top of a tree, swoop down and pick what appeared to be a small perch from the water and then fly back up to eat it. Pretty darn amazing stuff given this is smack dab the middle of the city. Lots of folks out taking advantage of the 47 minutes of blue sky we got today - but honestly it's no worse than a busy weekend at Rattlesnake Ledge. If you string these two walks together you can get some decent mileage, nice views and some good wildlife viewing.