Reflective reading:
"Live in the moment." -- "Welcome each day...it's pleasures and its challenges." -- "Make others feel welcome." -- Credencial del Peregrino
"All people should cultivate roots of virtue according to their natures, their deeds and their beliefs. -- Human beings tend to move in the direction of their thoughts. If they harbor greedy thoughts, they become more greedy; if they think angry thoughts, they become more angry; if they hold foolish thoughts, their feet move in that direction. -- To avoid any evil, to seek the good, to keep the mind pure: this is the essence of Buddha’s teaching. -- To be healthy is a great advantage; to be contented with what one has is better than the possession of great wealth; to be considered reliable is the truest mark of friendliness; to attain Enlightenment is the highest happiness." -- Buddha
The number EIGHT (8) symbolizes the noble eightfold path of Buddhism (Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration)
"Live in the moment." -- "Welcome each day...it's pleasures and its challenges." -- "Make others feel welcome." -- Credencial del Peregrino
"All people should cultivate roots of virtue according to their natures, their deeds and their beliefs. -- Human beings tend to move in the direction of their thoughts. If they harbor greedy thoughts, they become more greedy; if they think angry thoughts, they become more angry; if they hold foolish thoughts, their feet move in that direction. -- To avoid any evil, to seek the good, to keep the mind pure: this is the essence of Buddha’s teaching. -- To be healthy is a great advantage; to be contented with what one has is better than the possession of great wealth; to be considered reliable is the truest mark of friendliness; to attain Enlightenment is the highest happiness." -- Buddha
The number EIGHT (8) symbolizes the noble eightfold path of Buddhism (Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration)
Trail overview: Urban walk over level and hilly (elevation gain only 400') terrain along Elliot Bay and Lake Union ending at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral..requires use of public transit or ride-sharing service.
Trail highlights: Seattle Center (Space Needle, etc.), Olympic Sculpture Park, Elliot Bay Trail, South Lake Union, Volunteer Park, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.
Trail highlights: Seattle Center (Space Needle, etc.), Olympic Sculpture Park, Elliot Bay Trail, South Lake Union, Volunteer Park, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.
Trailhead location: Westlake Center Mall (400 Pine Street, Seattle, WA), but the hike actually begins at Seattle Center; the two locations are connected by a monorail train.
Trail description: From Westlake Center Mall (WC + W), find the monorail station on 5th Ave (near Bartell Drugs), take the elevator or stairs up to the ticket booth and buy a one way ticket ($2.50). Take the monorail and get off on the first, next, last and only stop...Seattle Center. As you exit the station, take the first left and walk between the Space Needle (on left) and Chihuly Gardens & Museum (on right), then follow the path, keeping Pacific Science Center on your right. Join Broad Street and continue to head downhill, towards the water. At Western Avenue, enter Olympic Sculpture Park on right and join the gravel path, crossing over Elliott Avenue and the railroad tracks with views of Puget Sound.
Now join Elliott Bay trail and head northwest (to your right), passing the rose garden and Pier 86 grain terminal. At the public fishing pier (WC), turn around and retrace your steps enjoying views across Elliott Bay of West Seattle and the Port of Seattle. When you reach the John Coney pedestrian bridge, loop up onto it, re-crossing the railroad tracks, and joining 3rd Avenue. At Harrison Street, turn right and continue east through the lower Queen Anne district until you re-enter Seattle Center.
Take the loop north around Climate Pledge Arena (home of the Seattle Storm) and continue east past the Fountain of Creation, joining Kreilsheimer Promenade passing by McCall Hall (home of Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet). Turn right on Mercer Street and continue east, passing under highway 99, then turning left-then-right to join Roy Street (still heading east). Cross Westlake Avenue into Lake Union Park, circling around the model boat pond (aka, "the duck-and-goose pond") and passing MOHAI and the Center for Wooden Boats. Continue to follow the path along the the southern shore of Lake Union; you will get a glimpse of St. Mark's Cathedral up on Capitol Hill (our final destination), pass various marinas with numerous restaurant options and perhaps see a Kenmore Air seaplane takeoff or land. Continue on the Cheshiahud Loop along the lake until you reach Blaine Street.
Turn right onto Blaine and head east, crossing Eastlake Avenue and joining the uphill climb under I-5, joining the long stairway and passing Streissguth Gardens. Continue uphill on Blaine until you reach Federal Ave, then turn right (south) and enjoy the level walk through this lovely Capitol Hill neighborhood. At Galer Street, turn left (east) and enter Volunteer Park. Take the left path around the tennis courts and then left on Highlander Drive. When you reach the Conservancy, admire the statue of William Seward and thank him for his "folly" of acquiring Alaska for the United States. Head south now, along Volunteer Park Road, passing Seattle Asian Art Museum and the reservoir, with views of the Seattle skyline. At Prospect Street, head downhill (west), then turn right (north) on 10th Avenue; Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral is a couple blocks north on the left hand side. The Compline ("CAHM-plen") service begins every Sunday evening at 9:30 pm. Compline at Saint Mark's is a prayer service rooted in the Anglo-Catholic monastic tradition and is sung by the Compline Choir. However you interpret the service, the choir sings beautifully and it is a memorable way to end your Camino journey in contemplation & reflection. Amen.
Now join Elliott Bay trail and head northwest (to your right), passing the rose garden and Pier 86 grain terminal. At the public fishing pier (WC), turn around and retrace your steps enjoying views across Elliott Bay of West Seattle and the Port of Seattle. When you reach the John Coney pedestrian bridge, loop up onto it, re-crossing the railroad tracks, and joining 3rd Avenue. At Harrison Street, turn right and continue east through the lower Queen Anne district until you re-enter Seattle Center.
Take the loop north around Climate Pledge Arena (home of the Seattle Storm) and continue east past the Fountain of Creation, joining Kreilsheimer Promenade passing by McCall Hall (home of Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet). Turn right on Mercer Street and continue east, passing under highway 99, then turning left-then-right to join Roy Street (still heading east). Cross Westlake Avenue into Lake Union Park, circling around the model boat pond (aka, "the duck-and-goose pond") and passing MOHAI and the Center for Wooden Boats. Continue to follow the path along the the southern shore of Lake Union; you will get a glimpse of St. Mark's Cathedral up on Capitol Hill (our final destination), pass various marinas with numerous restaurant options and perhaps see a Kenmore Air seaplane takeoff or land. Continue on the Cheshiahud Loop along the lake until you reach Blaine Street.
Turn right onto Blaine and head east, crossing Eastlake Avenue and joining the uphill climb under I-5, joining the long stairway and passing Streissguth Gardens. Continue uphill on Blaine until you reach Federal Ave, then turn right (south) and enjoy the level walk through this lovely Capitol Hill neighborhood. At Galer Street, turn left (east) and enter Volunteer Park. Take the left path around the tennis courts and then left on Highlander Drive. When you reach the Conservancy, admire the statue of William Seward and thank him for his "folly" of acquiring Alaska for the United States. Head south now, along Volunteer Park Road, passing Seattle Asian Art Museum and the reservoir, with views of the Seattle skyline. At Prospect Street, head downhill (west), then turn right (north) on 10th Avenue; Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral is a couple blocks north on the left hand side. The Compline ("CAHM-plen") service begins every Sunday evening at 9:30 pm. Compline at Saint Mark's is a prayer service rooted in the Anglo-Catholic monastic tradition and is sung by the Compline Choir. However you interpret the service, the choir sings beautifully and it is a memorable way to end your Camino journey in contemplation & reflection. Amen.
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| St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral |
Public transit options: Numerous bus lines stop at Westlake Center, along with the Link light rail line; bus/rail fare is $2.75 (as of July 2018). The return from St. Mark's to Westlake Center Mall is made using bus #49 (bus stop right in front of cathedral) or ride share service.