Nature/"greenery" WITHIN Seattle? (apartment, home, neighborhoods)

[elm9663]

I've landed a job right in downtown Seattle. Since I don't want a long commute, I plan to try and find an apartment close by.

However my concern is that I really love running outdoors, especially in "wilderness" type areas. I get kind of antsy if I don't get enough "nature time." So, I was wondering whether finding such places would be possible within Seattle.

Parks are not ideal for me, but are OK if they are large enough to have a remote and forest-y sort of vibe (rather than being very cultivated). I'll drive outside of the city if I have to, but I'm hoping there are options close by. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[tobester]

Check out Seward Park ... 2.4 loop around park with lake view all the way. Lots of trails in the park where you'd think you were miles from the city. Head north and there's a 10K out and back right along the lake (one driveway to cross!)

[Flightoficarus87]

Your best bets are gonna be in neighborhoods that are close to downtown/a short commute, but slightly isolated off from the downtown core. In addition to Seward Park, you might also like Magnolia near Discovery Park - A pretty large park with plenty of picturesque scenery.

[Arushan]

Carkeek Park would be it.

[Ira500]

There are all kinds of places within the city of Seattle to run through the woods. Seward Park in SE Seattle, Westcrest Park and Lincoln Park and Schmitz Park in West Seattle, Leschi and Frink Parks near Lake Washington, Golden Gardens, Carkeek, in the NW, Discovery Park, Ravenna Park, and more. That's one thing Seattle is noted for: Being foresty.

[west seattle gal]

Countless. Ira500 listed some of the best.

[fnh]

Even having lived in Seattle for over a decade, I had never heard of Frink Park until I stumbled upon a veritable wilderness just blocks from my new Central District home this summer. It's pretty steep but leads down to Leschi and Lake Washington with nice running trails. How many cities can boast such a wilderness within 2-3 miles of the downtown core?

[sean98125]

Also Interlaken Blvd on the north end of Capitol Hill.

Most large Seattle parks aren't cultivated, except for the Arboretum and the golf courses.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by fnh

Even having lived in Seattle for over a decade, I had never heard of Frink Park until I stumbled upon a veritable wilderness just blocks from my new Central District home this summer. It's pretty steep but leads down to Leschi and Lake Washington with nice running trails. How many cities can boast such a wilderness within 2-3 miles of the downtown core?

This is one area where Washington DC has Seattle beat by a long shot. Seattle did a pretty good job of paving and filling in most of natural ravines, bogs and streams. Only the REALLY steep ones like Carkeek managed to be left sort of in tact. I think Seward was the only one that wasn't clear cut as well.

[Salmonista]

The Ravenna Ravine has a kind of woodsy feel to it. But if you're working downtown, Ravenna might not be the best location for you.