Seward Solstice Run

Situated on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Washington, Seward Park provides perhaps one of the greatest contrasts in Seattle: 100+ acres of old growth forest, just minutes from the city center. The run route follows a loop that is almost entirely in the forest, so there is ample opportunity to enjoy what the Friends of Seward Park fondly call “The Magnificent Forest,” with graceful Western Red Cedar and towering Douglas Fir, along with a lush tapestry of other native plants. You may even hear a Pileated Woodpecker pecking out a nest or rooting for a meal in an old tree trunk.

The loop route starts out on the wide and smooth main trail, which is flat-to-rolling before dipping downhill toward the tip of the peninsula. Just before the main trail emerges from the forest onto the waterfront promenade, the course takes a left turn onto the smaller trails that climb and traverse the Western side of the peninsula. A few-hundred-meter segment of this return stretch features a twisty-turny section, with several small fallen trees to leap over and some roots and other bumps to negotiate. This will give most runners a breather as they slow down a bit before the trails get wider and straighter again toward the end of the loop.

There will be an aid station adjacent to the start/finish point, so 4.2-mile runners will pass it once during their run, and 10km runners will pass it twice. Aid stations offer water, electrolyte drink, and some carbohydrate-rich or salty foods, such as cookies, pieces of energy bar, gels, chews, chips, bagel, fruity candy, fig bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and/or bananas.

Join this 4.2-mile or 10k trail run at Seward Solstice, the fourth event in the Winter Trail Series.