No spectacular mountain views or moss covered rainforest accompanies you
in this urban hike, but this 6 mile loop trail around Lake Union
“Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop” is a fun hike that you can enjoy, rain or
shine, in the heart of the city of Seattle. Try this hike so that you
can make yourself feel like more "Seattleite." The trail was named in
honor of a Duwamish chief Cheshiahud who led a village located on Lake Union.
Lake Union has a fascinating history. You can experience the history of Seattle via Cheshiahud Loop Trail....lumber mills, airplanes, boat-building, floating homes, museums, recreation and local foods. Within a few hours of the walk, you establish a special rapport to Seattle and its neighborhoods. It's a different experience from just going there to see July 4th fireworks.
I started a little late in the day and hiked the loop clockwise from Gasworks (convenient for parking). The trail is well marked connecting Gasworks park, Burke Gilman trail, lakefront parks and street ends/waterways linking quaint neighborhoods, downtown, and the UW. In the north Lake Union area (Wallingford), I hiked along the path(s) close to the water instead of trekking Burke Gilman so that I could get to see more activities along the lake shore. Don't miss the beautiful wooden bench made of wooden boat lumber at Waterway 15. It is fun to see unique and different characters of houseboats and floating homes, old and new, along the northeast and east shores of Lake Union.
Before crossing the University Bridge, I took a quick stroll into UW campus for the eye-catching modern building nearby because it reminded me of the architectural rendering of the Getty Center in LA. By the way, take a look under the bridge where you come to see "The Wall of Death". Anything significant? I have no idea, but, it's an interesting public art like Fremont Troll.
Across the bridge is Portage Bay, the northeast corner of Lake Union, where Cheshiahud and his people used to dwell and carve canoes for many years. Follow the trail down toward Eastlake (Fairview Ave)...beginning of the residential rows of floating homes. Hiking along Eastlake with those floating homes somehow made me recall "Sleepless in Seattle." In fact, the film was my very first encounter to this part of the Seattle community while I lived in CA. There is a community garden on Eastlake. The garden is a good sized p-patch, and I could picture local residents gardening and growing their food during summer - fall's abundance.
South Lake Union's newly developed waterfront and Lake Union Park are impressive. Adding Amazon's new business complex in not so distant future, it seems only a matter of time before South Lake Union sees more changes to come reshaping Seattle downtown. I took a quick look at Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), open till 8pm on Thursdays. MOHAI is another gateway to explore Seattle's past. Speaking of which, interestingly, MOHAI may hold a clue in its archives to solve the mystery of the unknown object obstructing the tunneling machine Bertha....know that?
Lake Union has a fascinating history. You can experience the history of Seattle via Cheshiahud Loop Trail....lumber mills, airplanes, boat-building, floating homes, museums, recreation and local foods. Within a few hours of the walk, you establish a special rapport to Seattle and its neighborhoods. It's a different experience from just going there to see July 4th fireworks.
I started a little late in the day and hiked the loop clockwise from Gasworks (convenient for parking). The trail is well marked connecting Gasworks park, Burke Gilman trail, lakefront parks and street ends/waterways linking quaint neighborhoods, downtown, and the UW. In the north Lake Union area (Wallingford), I hiked along the path(s) close to the water instead of trekking Burke Gilman so that I could get to see more activities along the lake shore. Don't miss the beautiful wooden bench made of wooden boat lumber at Waterway 15. It is fun to see unique and different characters of houseboats and floating homes, old and new, along the northeast and east shores of Lake Union.
Before crossing the University Bridge, I took a quick stroll into UW campus for the eye-catching modern building nearby because it reminded me of the architectural rendering of the Getty Center in LA. By the way, take a look under the bridge where you come to see "The Wall of Death". Anything significant? I have no idea, but, it's an interesting public art like Fremont Troll.
Across the bridge is Portage Bay, the northeast corner of Lake Union, where Cheshiahud and his people used to dwell and carve canoes for many years. Follow the trail down toward Eastlake (Fairview Ave)...beginning of the residential rows of floating homes. Hiking along Eastlake with those floating homes somehow made me recall "Sleepless in Seattle." In fact, the film was my very first encounter to this part of the Seattle community while I lived in CA. There is a community garden on Eastlake. The garden is a good sized p-patch, and I could picture local residents gardening and growing their food during summer - fall's abundance.
South Lake Union's newly developed waterfront and Lake Union Park are impressive. Adding Amazon's new business complex in not so distant future, it seems only a matter of time before South Lake Union sees more changes to come reshaping Seattle downtown. I took a quick look at Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), open till 8pm on Thursdays. MOHAI is another gateway to explore Seattle's past. Speaking of which, interestingly, MOHAI may hold a clue in its archives to solve the mystery of the unknown object obstructing the tunneling machine Bertha....know that?
Save your hunger and thirst
until you reach Fremont during the journey in the course of the 6 mile loop
hike. There are plenty of venues to choose from for food and drinks in the
"Center of the Universe."
Or, if you have enough time and energy to detour the route, I'd suggest a few more spots to explore not so far from South Lake Union....Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Great Wheel. You may also want to swing by at Fran's Chocolate and savor President Obama's favorite chocolate "Salted Caramel."
By the way, Cheshiahud's monument plaque is located at the east end of Shelby St. in Portage Bay, where the Duwamish chief and his people used to live and work. Cheshiahud rests next to his wife in Evergreen Washelli cemetery. His close friend Seattle founder David Denny's grave and his family memorial are also found there. Interesting anecdote is cemeteries in Seattle were strictly segregated at that time, but the influence of the Denny family earned the renowned Duwamish chief a place right next to the grave of Seattle Mayor Hiram Gill.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail description and maps: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/lakeunionloop/
By the way, Cheshiahud's monument plaque is located at the east end of Shelby St. in Portage Bay, where the Duwamish chief and his people used to live and work. Cheshiahud rests next to his wife in Evergreen Washelli cemetery. His close friend Seattle founder David Denny's grave and his family memorial are also found there. Interesting anecdote is cemeteries in Seattle were strictly segregated at that time, but the influence of the Denny family earned the renowned Duwamish chief a place right next to the grave of Seattle Mayor Hiram Gill.
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail description and maps: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/lakeunionloop/
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