I feel almost silly for writing a trip report for such an urban hike, so this is just to say that the trail is in good condition and the views from the lighthouse, lovely. I'm not sure if I did the beach and highlands loop exactly -- signage isn't perfect and there are lots of little trails at Discovery Park. There north parking lot was nearly empty when I arrived around 4pm today, and I spent about an hour and a half wandering to the beach trail and lighthouse and back.

First of all, if you live in Seattle and haven't been to Discovery Park, go now. No excuses. Now, this trip report is mainly to make a few comments about the park and trails, because even a seasoned visitor forgets and makes mistakes sometimes. See below. We dropped by in the evening to go for a trail run, waiting for the heat to dissipate from the unseasonally warm weather. I personally like to park in the south lot off of Emerson - there's a honey bucket there for your use if needed (but be warned that the door doesn't latch well and it's well used) and easy access to the Loop Trail. For a short loop, stick to the Loop Trail, crossing streets and other trails and through the tunnel under Discovery Park Blvd back to the parking lot. This is about 2.9 miles or so, but don't be fooled by the short distance - you'll start by descending about 150 feet and then spend the rest of the run re-gaining the elevation through many rolling hills in the park. The trail is in good condition, and there are the occasional park benches along the way in case you want to sit and enjoy the view. You'll also have solitude if it's a cloudy weekday or evening. If you are up for something a bit longer and steeper, do the outer loop. This begins as before on the Loop Trail, but then a left takes you on the South Beach trail, descending through the forest with occasional glimpses of the water and mountain to your left, down to the beach. Run along the beach for a bit and then explore the lighthouse, sticking to the outside (careful on the rocks!) of the point before joining up with the North Beach trail. From here you can see Golden Gardens and the marina just to the north, before the trail heads inland and you quickly gain back all that elevation in a series of unforgiving stairs. Try to run up all of them! I can't do it yet. When you hit the Loop Trail, follow it back to the parking lot for about 4.1 mile loop. This one is my favorite, as you can't beat the views along the water, and you certainly can't beat a sunset down by the lighthouse. As I mentioned earlier, we waited until later in the evening to run so that we could escape the heat. The coastal breeze and fading sun did the job, but don't forget that the Loop Trail is in the woods. Despite the nearly full moon, we had little light on the trail. Bring a headlamp if you'll be there at sunset/dusk. Also, you can't park down by the lighthouse. Yes, this means you have to walk a bit to see it (or take the shuttle on the weekends, but why do that when you can explore the park on your way?). You might get away with parking your car in front of all the No Parking signs for about 5 minutes, but almost every time I'm down there I see 1-2 cars get towed away.

This was a fun Hike to take on. There are many different trails to hike here. I started out on the Loop trail but branched off onto the south beach trail. Both trails were in great condition and at the bottom of the south beach trail there is the lighthouse. I then continued on with the hike to the north beach trail which is hard to find. It is just past the lighthouse and that takes you back up to the north bluff. From there I went to the Hidden Valley trail. This is where I had a few problems. Several trees were down not hard to pass if you have waterproof shoes, which I didn't. I then met the loop trail and took it back to the south parking lot and headed home. All in all this was a great hike and well worth it. I suggest taking it while it is low tide as you can see some crabs and sea anemones. Just wear waterproof shoes and it is no problem at all.

I was itching for a trail run after the weekend, so I ended up doing a half marathon in Discovery Park. After looking at my final route when I got home, it looks like I touched nearly every trail in the park, so I definitely know the conditions right now! There is patchy mud in places, but no standing puddles, even with all the rain we got today. I stopped in at Seven Hills Running Shop prior to the run to get a new running hat, and I'm glad I did. The wind was blowing the rain sideways, and the bill of my hat saved my face over the course of the two hours I spent out there. The only section of trail that was particularly muddy was the top section of the north beach trail before you hit the stairs heading down to the beach. Some of the descent there is also slick, but there was no major standing water anywhere to note. I mentioned this in my last report here, but it's good to note that the wood structures (stairs, bridges, etc.) can be really slick when they're wet. Be cautious of that, particularly if you're running. I still maintain this is one of the best parks to run in Washington. Well worth checking out for an urban hike, too.

For urban parks, Discovery Park is hard to beat. The only other park that I've found that rivals its expansiveness and diversity is Point Defiance Park, in Tacoma. Both of them are great for regular ol' hiking or trail running. I wasn't feeling too great and I decided to pass on heading to the mountains due to avalanche danger, but I was itching to get outside. I figured I'd run the beach trail and loop back through the center of the park to put in close to 5 miles on the trail. For running, this is a hard park to beat. The terrain is varied, and can be as challenging or easy as you want it. The trail was in great condition for running, with no downed trees or other obstacles. It was a bit wet, so spots were muddy and the bridges and stairs were just a bit slick, but it didn't slow me down much, if at all. If you're running this, know that if you descend to the beach either via the south or north beach trail you're going to have some serious stairs getting back up to the bluff. It's a great workout. My favorite section of the trails is in the heart of the park on the Loop Trail. It winds through the woods, and in winter the leafless deciduous trees let in lots of light. There are a few ups and downs, but no killer climbs, and you can really cruise through here. Tons of fun. Run or walk, this park is absolutely worth spending a few hours in wandering. The lighthouse is always a popular destination, but I prefer the bluffs and woods. Check it out!