What a pretty and scenic trail to go on. There were so many walkers, joggers, and cyclists on this trail. It went up by u of W but not sure how long the trail actually is as I was only on it for parts of the event I was on. The views are pretty spectacular though. Seems like it originates from Gas Works Park which is equally as beautiful. read more

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4 stars because the trail is plentiful and long. I'm not an avid biker/hiker or anything like that. All I do is walk slow and try to get my steps in. I do like that depending on where you are, there are businesses and restaurants along the trail, as well as lots of really nice and quiet places to sit and enjoy the nature and take a break. Ok so what do I not like about this trail? All the people. This is a large and popular trail in the city with so much going on around and on it. Again, I don't jog or bike, so I'm sure other probably feel that I'm in the way and get annoyed with me. I prefer smaller and quieter trails that don't have as many people populating them. I like a more tranquil experience and for the part that I walked on, it was not. Don't let my little complaints steer you away from this great gem in the city. It may not be my favorite, but that doesn't mean that it won't be yours. Enjoy it! read more

When attending the University of Washington on-campus from 2010 to 2011, I utilized the Burke-Gilman Trail for running as well as walking from campus to various destinations. The path was/is paved and relatively flat, which is nice for running. Foot and bicycle traffic could be heavy close to campus, further away it tended to abate. I enjoyed using the trail in part due to the vegetation along the trail, I would watch for wildlife as I ran. The stretches of the trail between intersections with roads were not so short as to be discouraging. For the most part I felt safe using the trail. My biggest recurring safety concern was vehicles encountering the trail and forgetting to stop for the trail users. I learned to slow/stop when in doubt if me and any other trail users at the same crossing had been seen. read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Trail intersection with Whatcom Lane, Wednesday 16 August 2023. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Burke Gilman is an amazing trail to ride with scenic views almost everywhere you look. 98% of walkers, runners and riders are courteous and it makes every outing an absolute pleasure. read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Puff enjoys every ride! - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A very long paved trail around the top of Lake Washington. I happened to be in the area driving around with my dogs in the car and they needed to be let out ASAP. I headed toward North Lake Marina and found Burke- Gilman Trail and it looked really nice! Nice neighborhoods, nice paved trail, nice views, and nice people enjoying their Sunday on this trail. There were a lot of bikers so be mindful of them but bikers, please be aware this trail is not just for biking. I was able to walk with my dogs and a stroller for longer than an hour and it keeps going for much much further. It's a good spot to run, roller blade, bike, and stroll. We headed West on the trail and went further than Sheridan Beach. We never got to the water but we had views of it from a few spots where there weren't houses blocking. We also saw plans for the park and waterfront access near the beginning of our walk and it looks like it will be a fun park for kids. read more

I was determined to spend some time on Seattle trails during my six day visit for my goddaughter's wedding. As luck would have it, my hotel was near the Burke-Gilman Trail and, in fact, I wheeled a portion of the trail on my way from my hotel to the wedding venue in the Northlake area of Seattle. The actual length of the Burke-Gilman trail is somewhat debatable. According to Seattle parks, it's just shy of 20 miles. However, there's a several mile section that doesn't actually fall within Seattle parks and this section takes the trail to right around 27 miles in total. This is a rail-trail that falls within the King County Regional Trail system. It occupies an abandoned Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railway corridor. The trail actually begins at 11th Avenue NW in Ballard and is considered to end in Kenmore by Seattle Parks. There is also a connector that takes it into Issaquah. Essentially, this is one of the major trails in the Seattle area. The trail is named after Maine-born lawyer and railroad investor Daniel Hunt Gilman and Judge Thomas Burke. Parking is available in Golden Gardens Park and Blyth Park. The trail is a member of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Built it the 1970s, Burke-Gilman was one of the first true rail-trails and inspired countless others. You can see a variety of Seattle sights from the trail from the University of Washington campus to the quirky public art piece "Wall of Death" to Lake Union, Ballard Locks, and even pieces of Puget Sound. This is one seriously beautiful, mostly paved, and surprisingly wheelchair friendly trails. While Seattle is justifiably known for its hills, the trail itself is a joy to experience. There are so many beautiful sights here that it's not surprising that both locals and visitors use the trail daily. It's estimated that the trail has 2,000 users daily. As an avid trail user in my wheelchair, I'd hoped to experience one of the definitive Seattle trails and I did so spending my time on the Burke-Gilman Trail. I'd easily return to it and would love to do one of my fundraising tours on the trail that is beautiful and offers lots of friendly people along the way. While Seattle has its hills, the trail itself is surprisingly manageable even for wheelchair users like myself. If you've never checked it out, I highly recommend it. read more

Rails to trails. Such a wonderful way to spend an hour or the afternoon. Walk it, bike it being your friends or hounds. Sometimes the trail is super busy but more often it is peaceful and relaxing. This trail goes all along the water with wonderful views. Mostly safe but always be mindful of your surroundings. read more

Easy 5 stars... as long as you aren't riding on a weekend. It gets very congested and you will feel like nobody but you (assuming you are a GOOD RIDER) are using passing signals. At night, people love not wearing viz gear so you better have some very good lights, or just don't feel guilty if you run over someone who couldn't be seen till it was too late. Friend's words after a ride tonight: "So tempting to just run them over with a 200 LB bike when they move in groups taking up the whole trail and you almost don't see them because they have no lights or reflectors on." I guess one of them sarcastically said "Thanks for the heads up", he was too busy reducing his speed so he wouldn't run them over and reached for his horn then figured it didn't matter, increased his speed and went around. "Only smart walkers get warnings". Rabbits in late night and early morning are often active. I call them "suicide bunnies" because they like running right in front of me. Use visibility gear at night. You may be able to see our lights, but that doesn't mean we can see you! Use passing signals. I've watched people almost get into accidents or get into them. Also, dogs nearly run over because the walker doesn't know there's a bike coming. If you are heading opposite and you see a biker behind a walker, feel free to shame the biker trying to sneak around by warning the walker there's a dummy behind them. If you can, get your lights out of people's faces. It can make it difficult for people to see the trail or anything. If you don't lower yours, don't be surprised if others keep theirs on or turn them higher to filter out your lights. If you don't like being blinded, don't blind others. As long as you are doing your best to be a good user of the trail and following the rules, never feel bad if someone else doesn't like what you are doing or acting like an idiot while thinking everyone else is the one. It's not your fault. Parents? Reign your kids in. Seriously. There's a lot of riders who don't even remotely consider using passing signals. If your kid is walking, skating, riding, or whatever in the opposite lane or middle, they may find themselves having a very bad day. read more

If you're new to the area, know that the Burke Gilman is a multi-use trail so you'll encounter dog walkers, joggers and children new to cycling. And, now there are also electric bikes and scooters to contend with. The trail is very busy on the weekends and accidents happen frequently. I've seen a few people (including kids) on the ground with bleeding knees, sprains and lots of tears. I'm most concerned about young children when riding. They're uncoordinated and can suddenly veer in front of you. When you see children ahead, slow down and use caution when passing. Also, watch out for animals. I've seen cats, ducks, crows and even pheasants on the trail. Sometimes you don't see them when you're going around a blind corner. Follow these safety precautions and you'll have a smoother ride: - Slow down at congested areas, like Log Boom Park and Bothell where there are many trail walkers. - Let others know when you are passing; use your voice or bell. - Watch out for others when passing; use hand signals and mirror. - Pay attention to the road and not your cycling partner so that you can see obstacles ahead. - Don't hog the trail. Ride single-file and let faster cyclists pass. - Slow down/stop at crosswalks (you'd be surprised at how many don't and people have died because of it.). - No matter the reason, don't stop in the middle of the trail. Pull over to the dirt path. - Be courteous to other trail users and keep a reasonable pace (the BG is not a practice course for the Tour de France). Take it easy on the trail, be cautious and respect the rules. Happy riding! read more

I love this trail! So thankful to have it nearby especially during the pandemic. It's nice to be able to ride up to Bothell or down and over to Fremont - so much beautiful foliage along the way and a path free of debris. I have noticed more dog doo baggies along the path since the stay at home order began - I wish people with dogs would be more responsible! This wasn't an issue before the stay at home order. There are tons of restaurants and grocery stores just off this path, making bike transport a real viable option. With the exception on the one-way area of this trail just before U-Village, the trail is wide and mostly flat. Most drivers have been conscientious at street intersections, and in general this trail is great! read more

Great trail for pulling a trailer with two kids. We started at Log Boom Park (cool playground) and rode to Magnuson Park. Great playground there. 7.5 miles. On the return we stopped at Matthews beach. Being 79 degrees the one year old and three year old loved it. That is an amazing spot. The trail is very smooth and easy. The Tour de France cyclists need to lighten up. You're not in a race show courtesy to everyone. I witnessed cyclists of that sort being rude to walkers, people with dogs, and me and my trailer with kids. All I can say is lighten up and stop taking yourself so seriously...I mean have you seen the outfit you're wearing to ride your bike? Your tight pants and a tight shirt with a corporate sponsor logo that "YOU" paid to wear. Life is short. Stop being assholes. Great trail. Kid friendly! read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Seattle's answer to keeping the cyclists off the road so the car drivers don't have to worry too much. Its the best commute for anyone who has a bicycle and doesn't mind the occasional rain shower. 15 miles one way from Kenmore to Fremont with trail extensions continuing on both north and south. As a walker, I love the mostly flat terrain, the tree shaded stretches and the glimpses of Mt. Rainer and Lake Washington. But the cyclists can make it a bit dicey at times, especially during the usual commute hours. Maybe I'll just hop on a bike and join the folks zipping by. I'm sure I'll feel much safer. read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Commuting by bike in Honolulu made me appreciate this awesome trail in Seattle like no other. It's a super-highway for biking, skating, running, walking... any non-motorized mode of transportation you can imagine. I was introduced to this trail a year ago as a means to travel by bike from the Huskies Stadium area to Woodinville to visit the Chateau St. Michelle Winery and Red Hook Ale Brewery (located conveniently right across the street from each other!). The distance between these two points on the Burke Gilman Trail was approximately 20 miles of beautiful flat, well-maintained paved asphalt. The trail is tree-lined and scenic the entire journey there and was a stellar recovery after imbibing at the winery and eating great food at the brewery. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sSoRKMYVXfbG97w39cCu8Q?select=nMcUaSOghU7L5MhOINi28g On my most recent visit a few weeks ago, a portion of the trail was shut down for maintenance which caused us to take a lengthy HILLY and slightly confusing detour, but it was a pleasant change of pace and made for a much more challenging ride - which garnered the need for more alcohol and food this time around. I was also able to experience the trail in the opposite direction this year, making our way via bike from the UW area to Gasworks Park and on toward the Fremont Area. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sSoRKMYVXfbG97w39cCu8Q?select=norBlPTf6j7wHNPgrArIAw Being able to take advantage of visiting city sights and activities by bike was priceless and there is no way I could have (safely) experienced the same things without this trail - thank you Seattle DOT & Parks and Rec for maintaining such an awesome amenity for both tourists and locals alike! #10/365 read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Beautiful scenery along the trail headed toward Woodinville - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I have been coming to the Burke-Gilman trail since I was a child, so yes, for A VERY LONG TIME now. This is the best trail for biking and I absolutely love it! This trail offers such a nice ride with the most scenic views that the greater Seattle area has to offer! You can ride on the eastside and enjoy the views of Woodinville's wineries and stop off at Red Hook and refuel. Or you can explore the Seattle side riding through Gasworks, Fremont and Ballard along Lake Union as it flows into the locks with a view of the skyline. I have yet to do the full loop which can be around 74 miles all inclusive but it would be nice to do that some day! The ride is great and pretty easy going and I am always shocked with how far you can ride and not even realize it. If you really want to see the beauty of this area and get a nice ride in at the same time, I highly recommend this trail. If you're lucky, you'll find a couple of little girls selling ice cold fresh lemonade for $.50 near Metropolitan Market on the trail right when you need it :) Such smart little business women picking the perfect location for us thirsty bikers, wouldn't you say? read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love this trail! For us non-triathalon types who plan our routes meticulously around which hills are less likely to give one a heart attack, this trail is a blessing! This winding trail that stretches from Golden Gardens in Ballard all the way to I think Kenmore is amazing. I describe it to my out of town friends as a freeway for bicycles through seattle. For the most part, it is fairly flat so no worries for those of us who don't want to come out of the saddle. Some areas are a bit more groomed then others. There is a stretch by the U district that can get a bit hairy with all the tree roots that have created natural speed bumps. The views by Lake Washington are pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, I live far too south for the trail to be of any practical use. Nice enough for a good ride though! read more

The Burke -Gilman trail is a well designed city bicycling and walking trail. Some spots get tricky for sharing the trail.. can we say "trail users stay to your right.. please for the love of gawd.. ;)" This is a good design for a totally a flat ride, super cruisers welcome. So with that feature alone, it can be a kinda boring ride with like 0 hills. It is used for gaining mileage and is such a major artery trail across the city for bicycle commuters. I love that it cuts through the city and inter-connects to so many neighborhoods that I can't list them all! It even leads to Redhook Brewery which makes a great ride for your beer reward! The trails are in need of repair though, there sure are a lot of unattended tree roots, potholes and the like, some are marked at least for your fair warning. All trails lead to the Burke-Gilman Trail. read more

What a fantastic way to enjoy a gorgeous sunny Seattle day then going for a nice walk the Burke-Gilman Trail. Today was my first time on the trail and couldn't believe all of the picturesque sights you get along the way. My wife and I walked along a little part of the trail and enjoyed watching the Fremont Bridge open for some sail boats, looked at the views of Lake Union, looked at the house boats sitting at the docks and watched the boats cruise the channel. The trail is a definite hot spot with flocks of people riding bicycles, jogging, running, walking, and others just enjoying the weather and views. read more

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I love running or walking on the Burke-Gilman Trail. Usually, I warm up on this trail before working out at the IMA in the U-District. Sometimes if I have time to kill before my appointment at Powerspa in the Fremont/Ballard area I'll take a nice walk to clear my head. I have yet to go through the entire trail since it is pretty long. There are a few seedy areas on this trail from what I have heard of but I have felt safe for the most part. read more

It's a long trail. Most of it is pretty flat and separate from the road so it's pretty safe. There's a lot of trees so it's very shady. They redid a lot of it over the years so it's all paved. I love taking this on my bike. Please don't forget to ring a bell or say on your left when passing! I like taking this by lake Washington to UW then on to gas works. And with the bike shares it's easy to pick up and drop off anywhere. read more

We have been walking this trail with our kids regularly and it is lovely. Quiet, other walkers keep their distance. Lots of ways to access the trail and get off it. Well maintained. The kids have liked playing Pokemon go here as we walk. read more

I really really love this trail! Honestly. There are so many posts on Yelp about it's greatness, I'll stick to some interesting observations about it: 1. As a runner/walker people on bikes swerve around me so closely they brush my jacket sleeve with their handlebars. I'm not on the bike side of the "road" either! Happens all the time and I'm a bumbley walker... someday I'm going to get hurt! 2. Why are there so many people jogging in jeans? I shrugged it off at first, but there are enough jeans-joggers out there that I know it's not a laundry day fluke. I know you're not late for the bus! I admire you. Please don't chafe. 3. Dark places away from the road = rape. I carry my house key like a tiny shank between my knuckles so if someone jumps me I can ram it into their throat. 4. Slippery leaves in the winter. That's all I have to say. 5. Walkers- I'm not a biker, but if you're walking next to your buddy keep in mind bikers have to get around you without hitting one another. Maybe one of you can walk in the grass? Or maybe you could walk like ducks? Coexist man. 6. Bikers- I'm sorry I cant hear you whispering "left" to me. I have my ipod in. I'm jogging. Don't glare- I'm on the correct side of the road. 7. Bikers without shirts- you have hot bodies and I will stare at you when I jog. But please don't look at me trundle down the lane ungracefully. It's embarrassing for everyone. read more

I love this trail however I find myself yelling at at least one biker every time job run with my dog. I make sure that she is close and even ensure one of us are on the dirt path and runs next to the path yet almost every time bikers pass to close to me or my dog. Advise to runners, be defensive because the bikers on this trail think the trail was made just for them and are obviously training for the Tour de France. read more

More love than not for the Burke, though there are a few things that could be improved upon. After a Sunday morning bike ride towards Kenmore, I came to the following conclusion: What I love? The wildlife along the trail. The fact that it wasn't crazy packed at 8:30am during my ride. A peaceful ride with such beautiful scenery and water views that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Seattle. What's tough for me is the bumps and hiccups where the roots have buckled the asphalt. Moreso than expected in parts, but hey... there has to be some added aspect of adventure during the straight away ride that is the Burke. Of note: about 10 miles out of the Udistrict. A few miles before you get to Inverness Pl. There's an inviting canopy of wildlife that almost makes you feel like you're biking through the woods on a camping trip. Honestly, it made my week. read more

Three years of indoor cycling, finally, I am taking it outside! I did my first bike ride from Gasworks Park to Redhood on Burke-Gilman trail. Round trip is 40 miles in total according to my Runkeeper App on my phone. I really enjoyed the ride. For my first ride outside, this is nice and flat. The trail is very well-maintained and well-paved. After U-District area, the trail goes around Lake Washington until it connects Snohomish River Trail. I would say 75% of the trail is shaded with trees. It prevents cyclists to be over heated in a sunny/hot day. I think it's awesome! It's a friendly trail to cyclists, runners, walkers, kids, doggies, etc... I'd like to make this my regular biking route from now on :-) read more

An awesome "little" trail running from Golden Gardens to Bothell. Awesome because it's mostly flat -- so you can go the 20 or so miles and not want to die because of all the hills you may encounter. Awesome because it is wide enough to accommodate bikers, runners, casual walkers, dogs, kids, strollers, roller blades, what have you. Just don't be a jerk and take up the entire trail in a glob of feet/wheels/paws and block the trail for everyone else trying to enjoy it. Awesome because the views are beautiful. From the beaches at Golden Gardens, Gasworks, Lake Washington with the Cascades behind it.. this trail is pretty. Awesome because there are plenty of places on the trail to hop off for food, drinks, and relaxation. Awesome because it is on plenty of bus lines so if you have had ENOUGH and are miles from home you can still get there without your calves exploding out of your skin. Awesome because there are plenty of little parks with BATHROOMS the whole trail through Ballard to Bothell. I'll be happy when the "missing link" in Ballard is filled in -- cuz good hell biking through Salmon Bay can be a little nerve wracking considering all the traffic, train tracks, gravel, and no designated bike lanes. Also the tree roots breaking through the pavement make for a bumpy ride. Regardless, I love biking this trail and will keep doing to to ramp up my endurance and maybe tackle a hill or two someday down the road. read more

Will someone pick my ass off of the ground?? For I have ride my ass so hard it has fallen!!! So one of our sunny days. ( 7 of 365 days ) hahah I decided to join the rest of the locals, and rideeeeeeeeeeeee the trail... The burke-gilman trail that is, and I think I need a inhaler, a set of new legs, and maybe some endurance the next time I attempt to ride half way through this trail. I thought I was doing quite well until I couldn't breath anymore, and my ass started feeling numb....... hmmm.. out of shape? I think so..... looking embarrassed next to the 90 year old woman zooming past me ??? - PRICELESS!! I was lucky enough to have water, a cliff bar, and some common sense to actually walk my bike back.. YES WALK IT BACK.... I did the walk of shame back home, and I am still utterly embarrassed.. Because everyone was kind enough to see if my bike just stopped working, but after many laughs later, and after I told them I broke my ass, I just went on home, and iced the shit out of it...... Next time I'll be sure to take 100 spinning classes and then attempt the full trail!!!!!!! all in all it was damn beautiful if I could have riden the whole trail.... read more

Easy bike riding great scenery smooth trails. What else can you want for a Sunday stroll? read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Lance Armstrong wannabes need to cool it. I wanted to take one jerk out who passed unnecessarily close to the dogs and yelled at me. There was nobody coming the other direction, so he was just being ridiculous. I yelled at him back. Wish he would have stopped. Bikers tend to have no upper body strength or discernible athletic ability. I would have loved to get right into his face and let him know what a self-absorbed egomaniac he was biking like he owns the path and is in some kind of competitive race. What a loser. read more

Burke-Gilman Trail - Chuck peacefully enjoying the burke gilman before some jerk 'serious biker' in spandex nearly runs him over. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Weird...just weird that this isn't done! There must be some mistake! I am probably creating a dupe. Sorry in advance. Ok, so the Burke Gilman trail was created by the Burke and Gilman Railroad. This was a little route that got people and stuff from one place to another back in the way back day. In 1978 it was opened to the public as a promenade of sorts. Stretching from Gas Works Park to Kenmore - then extended to 8th NW on the Seattle side and extended to Redmond via the Samammish River Trail. Now I normally don't go past the U-Village, I do this bugger on foot. But bikers, walkers, skaters, and runners all share this nice little stretch and many do the whole deal. This review isn't very "Funny" or 'Cool", but hope it's useful. I just want to put it in my "walking off the stress eating" list! read more

The B-G is a great urban pedestrian trail, I'm glad Seattle is such a great city and had the foresight to turn it into a trail once the railroad was finished with the right-of-way. The trail runs (more or less) from Golden Gardens Park on the west side, through Ballard, Fremont, the U-District, up and around Lake Washington to Kenmore where you can connect with trails down the other side of Lake Washington. Many great city parks line the route: Golden Gardens, Gas Works, Magnuson, Matthews, etc. It can (and will) get very crowded on nice days, and cyclists will have to deal with the occasional clan of walkers who block the whole trail, but generally folks are pretty considerate. read more

Hey you - yeah you person on bike. Want to try and not run me over? That would be great. I love this trail but the bikers think they own the place sometimes. They force me, on foot, to move all the way to right so far that I'm toppling over myself. This trail is absolutely fantastic otherwise. I'm too out of shape to bike or walk the whole way (and back), but I do what I can when I can. read more

I am a big fan of BGT. It's a great place to take a stroll, go for a run, or ride your bike. It's long and beautiful, about 25 miles starting from Ballard, stretching around Lake Washington all the way up to Bothell and beyond. I like that the trail scenery is different depending on where you are in the trail, it showcases Seattle very well. also think it's a lot nicer now ever since the revamp. I only have one complaint. I'm generally not a biker, I'm more of a runner/walker type of person and I wish they would have a designated bike lane and a designated foot traffic one. It's not too bad because most people are respectful of each other but sometimes in some cases it can be frustrating. Other than that it's a great place and will keep coming back. read more

During the winter time it's easy to overlook some of the beautiful spaces that Seattle has. Most of the time you're stumbling around in Gore-Tex, it's near darkness and there's a perpetual mist that leaves you with about 10 feet of visibility. Sure, people make it out to places like Greenlake, Gasworks and the Burke in the wintertime. But most of the time people are marching along, huddled over in bitter defiance of Mother Nature. Even the dogs look apathetic. They don't even bother to nip at my heels as I run by. But when the sunshine comes out you really can remember why Seattle is one of the most visually stunning cities to live in. The Burke-Gilman trail runs from Bothell to it's abrupt stop in Ballard next to the Fred-Meyer. I can't tell you too much about the Bothell end, but the Ballard/Fremont/Wallingford/U-District parts are fabulous viewing. Downtown viewing and Gasworks park are some of the best spots on the west part of the trail. Even the Ballard part has it's charms. I'm even tickled by some of the old freight cars that are left along the trail with the ever-changing graffiti. For a special treat, look for the train car with the small "Dan Savage for Mayor" slogan. The trail is wide enough for three across, although there's frequent bikers whizzing by, so that's not advised. Of course, other than running and biking, it's perfect just for a stroll. Try hitting the Fremont Farmer's Market on Sunday, getting some coffee at Canal Coffee and catching some fresh air along the Ship Canal. On a golden spring Sunday, you'll remember why you live here. read more

Distance to / from work on surface streets 9 miles Distance to / from work on Burke-Gilman 12 miles Hills to climb on surface streets - way too many and surprisingly in both directions... Hills to climb on the BG - 0 Dogs, runners with strollers, people leisurely walking on surface streets - 2 Dogs, runners with strollers, people leisurely walking on the BG -46 Car windows knocked so as to let the person know, they nearly hit me, on surface streets - 1 Car windows knocked so as to let the person know, they nearly hit me on the BG - 0 Times nearly dozed off out of boredom on the surface streets - 0 Times nearly dozed off out of boredom on the BG - 8 Number of posers passed wearing a "Postal Service" team jersey going (3 miles an hour), on surface streets - 0 Number of posers passed wearing a "Postal Service" team jersey going (3 miles an hour), on the BG - 2 (really...) Number of "roadies" that ride next to each other unwilling to move and hogging up my side of the road, on surface streets - 0 Number of "roadies" that ride next to each other, unwilling to move and hogging up my side of the road, on the BG - 6 To summarize: If you commute a good distance, have no fear of cars, get annoyed by oblivious people who don't know their "right" from their "left", and don't mind a few climbs along the way. I suggest sticking to the surface streets. At least heading north to Lake Forest Park, the surface streets are much quicker, albeit Lake City Way can suck at times. The Burke-Gilman is nice on days when my legs feel like jell-o and I want to take it easy. My big complaint is the trail is so boring once you get past the UW that it makes the trip seem so much longer. But I have ADD so that's just me...oh look a shiny object... read more

I ride my bike a lot in Seattle. No wonder there is a mythological "war" amongst drivers and bikers. Seattle gets it wrong by integrating cars and bikes in the same space instead of separating bike and car traffic. BTW you spandex wearing freaks: I don't see Burke Gilman "racetrack" or "run over granny" or "A hole" anywhere along here. I hope you get a snuggy. Other than the Lance Armstrong wannabee elitist snobs who disregard safety and disrespect others' (pedestrians, casual bikers, etc...) The Burke Gilman is awesome. I won't let a few really bad actors spoil the whole show. This is a wonderful artery for commuting and staying away from streets as much as practical. As I said before (and the law of physics agree) bikes and cars do not mix well. There is no "safe" way to combine 20lb bicycles going 10 mph and 5 ton trucks going 40 mph. It is of no fault of the trail itself that some obnoxious dangerous bicycle commuters create an occasional hazard. The trail itself is an alternative to navigating the shark infested Seattle streets and to the parking debacle. We need more Burke Gilmans! read more

I've been on this trail twice. From the Eastside to Seattle. Great trails. Lots to see. I've been on my cruiser both time. No gears. Even though its flat for the most part it's pretty tiring on a damn cruiser without gears. Lol. I have a bell on my bike, but never had to use it once cause I didn't pass a single biker. I did pass a rollerblader... Barely. Maintained pretty well. I feel safe because there are people around all the time, though not packed. Great scenery along the way. Thru some cute neighborhoods. Love it! read more

This is a review from a barely-there cyclist. Got a hybrid bike about a month ago. Previous to that, my specialty was getting onto bikes that were too large in frame for me and riding into the wayward bush or tree - sober. This is why the Burke-Gilman is so great. Miles and miles of fairly flat and uninterrupted paved road. I've ridden on the trail from Gasworks over to Ballard and in the opposite direction to Kenmore. The road to Ballard is usually busier, filled with avid cyclists and the recreational user. The trail going west also isn't fully completed with parts of it on "regular road". The way to Kenmore has less cyclists and is quite interesting, once you pass the University and Sandpoint areas. The road is flat and paved with occasional bumps from tree roots but otherwise a joy to ride. Other cyclists are forgiving if you're a cycling idiot (like me), but there are the occasional cyclists or walkers who hog the road. Just wish there were more trails like this one in Seattle - exclusive to cyclists. read more

Perfect for a bike ride without traffic. Being new to Seattle and unsure of the area, I love the Burke-Gilman for a long bike ride without worrying about where to turn and at the same time avoiding cars/traffic. Things to look for: 1) Red Hook Brewery: in Woodinville via the connector Sammamish River Trail. 2) A pit stop at Matthews Beach- bathrooms and nice picnic area 3) Gorgeous section along Lake Washington, great views 4) Tree root speed bumps, some marked by bright spray paint. 5) Seriously fast bike riders, stay to the right and look over your shoulder before passing someone. Give a courteous "on your left" when you pass! read more

Look at the photos! Imagine it is you, wind in your hair! Flying along the trail with gatorade prepared and a light jacket, just in case. The sun at your back, a friend to meet. Along you go, down the trail..... her eyou go by a park, ahh, a coffee stand! HMM Things are looking good! You whiz on by more trees, another park, more people, happy; more people, more parks, trees.. WHIZZZZ You arrive ! It's another park with a water view! here is your friend! me! I have a blanket! We sit and drink gatorade(how romantic!) and eat fresh peaches which I brought, and the organic tuna sandwiches you bought on the way at PCC. Life! read more

So Pretty, Oh So Pretty...and Grand! ;D I love this trail, not only because it is finally open again, but because it is so long and scenic! This trail is great for exercise, site seeing, romantic walks, kids and dogs! A great escape from the "Greenlake" crowd! read more