The main waterfront trail route along Puget Sound in Seattle is the Elliott Bay Trail, a scattered collection of trail segments that run from T-Mobile Park north to Smith Cove in Magnolia. It’s up to 6 miles one-way, including 1/2 mile along Smith Cove. This waterfront route is greatly improved over the past several years, with the depression of parts of the Alaskan Way road. We’ve divided the route into three sections:
Downtown Section: T-Mobile Park to Olympic Sculpture Park. This 2-mile section near downtown Seattle starts as the Elliott Bay Trail on the west side of Alaskan Way. Run north, mainly along Alaskan Way, passing several piers, the Seattle Great Wheel, and Pike Place Market. NEW: The path between Pier 47 and Pier 62 is improved over the past few years. At Pier 58, the new Seattle Waterfront Park opened in 2025, offering a community space for events and views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Good access via pedestrian bridges from Pike St. or Pine St.
- Runners can get their lungs up with the Pike Hill Climb, at the Seattle Aquarium.
Olympic Sculpture Park to Elliott Bay Park. This 2-mile section is the most scenic, with great water views here as you run through Centennial Park, Myrtle Edwards Park, and Elliott Bay Park. Add-On: Helix Pedestrian Bridge connects Elliott Ave./Kinnear Park with Elliott Park.
Magnolia Section. From Elliott Bay Park, cross Magnolia Bridge Ramp and do a loop around the Magnolia Greenbelt, connecting to Smith Cove Park and then a nice 1/2 mile waterfront section along Smith Cove to Magnolia Tidelands Park, with lots of lovely boats at the Seattle Yacht Club.
The main waterfront trail route along Puget Sound in Seattle is the Elliott Bay Trail, a scattered collection of trail segments that run from T-Mobile Park north to Smith Cove in Magnolia. It’s up to 6 miles one-way, including 1/2 mile along Smith Cove. This waterfront route is greatly improved over the past several years, with the depression of parts of the Alaskan Way road. We’ve divided the route into three sections:
Downtown Section: T-Mobile Park to Olympic Sculpture Park. This 2-mile section near downtown Seattle starts as the Elliott Bay Trail on the west side of Alaskan Way. Run north, mainly along Alaskan Way, passing several piers, the Seattle Great Wheel, and Pike Place Market. NEW: The path between Pier 47 and Pier 62 is improved over the past few years. At Pier 58, the new Seattle Waterfront Park opened in 2025, offering a community space for events and views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Good access via pedestrian bridges from Pike St. or Pine St.
- Runners can get their lungs up with the Pike Hill Climb, at the Seattle Aquarium.
Olympic Sculpture Park to Elliott Bay Park. This 2-mile section is the most scenic, with great water views here as you run through Centennial Park, Myrtle Edwards Park, and Elliott Bay Park. Add-On: Helix Pedestrian Bridge connects Elliott Ave./Kinnear Park with Elliott Park.
Magnolia Section. From Elliott Bay Park, cross Magnolia Bridge Ramp and do a loop around the Magnolia Greenbelt, connecting to Smith Cove Park and then a nice 1/2 mile waterfront section along Smith Cove to Magnolia Tidelands Park, with lots of lovely boats at the Seattle Yacht Club.
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