Carkeek Warmer Seattle, WA   Jun 23, 2026

Carkeek is home to six miles of fun, roller-coaster trails that traverse the forest! The trails range from wide and rolling, to narrow and steep. If ever you’re feeling like the climb is tough, remember that you get to fly back down!

The NWTR Carkeek Warmer course starts and finishes in the Lower Meadow next to Piper’s Creek. The route is mostly in the forest (85%) and has a mix of fast, wide trail (64%) and narrower rolling trail (36%), with some flatter sections and some moderate to steep sections.

The 5k course goes the length of the wide, Piper’s Creek Trail, climbing first gently, then more steeply to the head of the valley before turning around and going over half the distance back. The route then turns left up the South Ridge Trail, which climbs steeply then becomes a rolling traverse through some of the older forest in the park. Upon reaching the Clay Pit Trail, the course turns right down the hill, then descends to the meadow on the Hillside Trail and goes a few hundred meters to the finish. The 10k course is two loops of the 5k course.