Madrona-Madison Park

At A Glance
- Distance: ~6 miles
- Type: Loop
- Features: Views (Lake Washington, Cascades, Bellevue), Hills
- This is one of the best hikes for waterfront lovers.
- Note: I often mix this hike with segments from the Judkins Park-Leschi-Madrona Loop and the Madrona-Leschi-Mt Baker hikes.
Route
- Head East on E Pine St until you ascend the hill up to Madrona.
- Continue to follow E Pine downhill (it stops being a street and becomes pedestrian paths).
- Cross Madrona Dr and enter the Valley of the Gnomes.
- Head straight through the valley and back onto E Pine until you hit 40th Ave.
- Turn left on 40th Ave. There is a nice viewpoint of Lake Washington here.
- Descend the staircase, cross over Lake Washington Blvd onto E Olive Ln.
- Turn onto Howell Pl and head North until you reach Howell Park (a secluded waterfront park).
- Ascend back towards Lake Washington Blvd and turn right.
- Once you pass Viretta Park and the Curt Kobain house, bear right onto E Denny Blaine Pl and stop at Denny Blaine Park (another waterfront park).
- Again, head back up towards Lake Washington Blvd and turn right.
- You will come to a 5-way intersection, turn right onto 39th Ave E and head North. Stop at the E Harrison St Shoreline Street End if you'd like.
- Turn right onto E McGilvra Blvd.
- Descend the staircase that connects to E Prospect St.
- Turn left on 41st Ave E.
- Turn right on E Highland Dr.
- Turn left on 42nd Ave E.
- Turn right on E Lee St.
- Turn left on 42nd Ave E.
- Turn right on E Garfield St.
- Turn left on 43rd Ave E and walk north towards Madison Park Beach.
- Once you're done at the beach, head Southwest on Madison St back towards your starting point.
Optional addons
- Several Shoreline Street End waterfront areas (E Prospect, E Highland, E Lee).
- Madrona Park
- Washington Park Arboretum