Photography by Ann DeOtte
Like many cyclists in Seattle, I often find myself looking for a ride in the city away from the hustle of street traffic. After a hectic day of work or on a sunny Sunday morning, there is one place I can always count on for just that: The Burke-Gilman Trail.
The Burke-Gilman Trail is one of Seattle's greatest cycling assets. You can ride from Ballard's Golden Gardens 18 miles northeast to Kenmore, where you can connect with the Sammamish River Trail. The former railroad line is well-marked with safe street crossings, wide paths in busier areas and benches for resting. The "Burke," as it's called, accommodates a variety of users; on any given day you'll see athletes in training, family and fiends taking a walk to catch up with each other and bikers out for a ride at various speeds.
On my last ride, I jumped on the Burke in the University District after riding down from Capitol Hill. Traveling east, I passed through the University of Washington's campus – a great place to take a detour when the cherry trees are in bloom.
At the edge of the U-District and Laurelhurst neighborhoods – and feet from the trail – you will find Counterbalance Bicycles; the red brick walls and bike mural make it a hard to miss stop. The shop is full of beautiful bikes, most of them hanging from the ceiling. With coffee and tea on order for anyone that might stop in, Counterbalance is a treasure along the trail. I had to stop in and take a look at some of their inventory, swooning over the Brooks accessories and the Civia Loring, just begging for a test ride. Before getting back on the trail, I went one block northwest on Blakely (crossing the trail) for my oh-so-Seattle fix at Zoka Coffee. Zoka is another popular stop for riders off the Burke-Gilman; the bistro tables outside are filled with bikers getting an extra caffeine boost or taking a break and resting weary legs.
Fearing rain, I headed back to the trail and continued northeast through lush greenery towards Magnuson Park and the Sandpoint neighborhood. Once a naval base and runway, Magnuson Park was recently updated to have clear entries to the Lake Washington waterfront and a series of pathways that meander through man-made wetlands. You can walk your dog, play ultimate Frisbee, fly a kite and bird-watch, all with a view of Mt. Rainier in the distance; yet another perfect pit stop off the Burke.
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