徒步旅行

Your Guide to Urban Hiking in Seattle Southside

Last Updated: September 22, 2025

Seattle is known nationally for its walkability, but did you know that Seattle Southside offers some incredibly scenic and pedestrian-friendly urban hiking routes, too?

From the fragrant saltwater breezes of Puget Sound, peaceful canopies filled with birdsong on the Des Moines Creek Trail, to vibrant international food scenes, Seattle Southside is practically begging to be explored on foot.

That’s why I’ve been working alongside the Explore Seattle Southside team to put together the perfect 3.5 to 4-mile walking itinerary for you to lace up your shoes, get outdoors, and see this part of the city for yourself—especially if you’re someone who loves a good cozy hobby!

Pictured: Des Moines Beach Park
Credit: Sara Anfuso

PART 1: Taking the Lightrail to Angle Lake Station

If you’re venturing south from central Seattle, one of the best ways to get to the starting point of this route is via the Lightrail. I personally love taking the Lightrail because it means I don’t have to sit in traffic, and I can use that time to read or familiarize myself with the map of the area I’m about to visit. If you choose to drive instead, I recommend parking for free in the Angle Lake Station Parking Garage north of S 200th Street, but know that spaces there can fill up very quickly. Once you arrive at the Angle Lake Station, head down the stairs or elevator to the street level to begin your urban hike!

Pictured: The Angle Lake Light Rail Station
Credit: Sara Anfuso

PART 2: Las Delicias Panaderia Y Antojitos

Just a five-minute walk around the block from the Lightrail station brings you to Las Delicias Panaderia Y Antojitos, a bakery specializing in traditional Mexican pastries. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with smiles by the bakers and staff as I browsed their selection of freshly baked pink and pearly white conchas (sweet breads), which filled the store with a warm and sweet aroma. They also have display cases lining the south wall with even more beautiful pastries, breads, and boxes of cookies that are packaged and ready to go. I got one of their conchas to take with me for the day’s journey, and it was the perfect way to start the morning!

Pictured: Conchas at Las Delicias Panaderia Y Antojitos
Credit: Sara Anfuso

Urban hiker pro-tip: Always bring a backpack with you on your adventures so you have enough space to fill with goods along the way that you want to bring home!

PART 3: The Des Moines Creek Trail

Continue your journey west by walking on the north side of S 200th Street since it’s barrier-protected as you go down the hill. Once you reach the stoplight, turn left and begin your trek through the Des Moines Creek Trail. This section that descends into the trail is unique since it’s relatively close to the SEA Airport flight path, and it’s quite fun to watch the planes land. In fact, one of my favorite activities while walking is to reference a flight tracker website on my phone to see where the planes are coming from!

Pictured: The Trailhead of the Des Moines Creek Trail
Credit: Sara Anfuso

This urban greenbelt is about 2.2 miles and fully paved, making it pedestrian-friendly for walkers, runners, and wheels. This trail follows the Des Moines Creek, which offers a peaceful and natural soundscape that truly makes you forget you’re in the city. I really enjoyed reading the wildlife markers along the trail that highlight some of the critters that call this forest home. I also ran into quite a few fellow recreators on this trail who waved hello, and it felt like a friendly place to be!

To make it even more appealing to the urban hiker, this trail connects to the Des Moines Waterfront, which has a wonderful farmer’s market in the summer. See the “Seasonal” section below for notes on that!

Pictured: The Des Moines Creek Trail
Credit: Sara Anfuso

PART 4: Fuel Up at Second Love Coffee Roasters

A lot of my urban hiking routes include a coffee break and when I say this, I mean it, do not sleep on Second Love! This bright and airy coffee shop opened this summer, and I was so impressed by the smoothness of their beans, which they roast themselves. I spent some time chatting with one of the owners as my “tiki” latte was being made - consisting of housemade syrup with peach puree, spices, and bitters topped with a fresh sprig of mint. It’s clear that artistry and passion exist in this space.

As soon as I got my latte, I headed out to their covered back patio seating area and started a conversation with a family. We talked about life in Seattle and photography. They were sitting at the longer banquet-style table equipped with a game board—such a fun idea! Whether you’re looking for a quick caffeinated moment in an inviting and neighborly atmosphere or a place to plug in and get some work done with a handmade ceramic cup of coffee, Second Love has you covered.

Pictured: Second Love Coffee Roasters
Credit: Sara Anfuso

Part 5: Carriage Country Quilts

Step back in time as you ascend the steps of this butter-yellow farmhouse, built in 1937, which has been converted into the cozy quilting shop it is today. Carriage Country Quilts sits proudly on Marine View Drive, a wonderful stretch of this route that is flat and protected from the street by landscaping. I noticed a lot of shops on this main street, and they truly give it such a cozy coastal village appeal.

The gloomy months in the Northwest often call for the uptake of a hobby, and this is the perfect place to learn more about the art of quilting from their wide selection of patterns, variety of classes for quilters of all levels, and knowledgeable staff. Each room of the home is assigned a season, and it is quite fun to meander through the hallways and the various nooks and crannies while admiring the quilts that decorate the store.

Pictured: Carriage Country Quilts

PART 6: All Points Yarn

Another quaint spot on Marine View Drive is All Points Yarn. If you’re interested in learning to knit, crochet, or take on another form of needle art, this is the place for you. With more than 10,000 items in store and online, All Points Yarn offers a curated collection of global finds, from Earth-conscious fibers to exquisitely crafted Japanese yarns, which I’m still dreaming about today. (As a fellow knitting girl, I know the struggles of falling head over heels for a skein and buying more yarn than projects).

SEASONAL: The Des Moines Waterfront Farmer's Market

One of my favorite activities is wandering through farmers' markets, and I was incredibly impressed with the small-town, coastal atmosphere of the Des Moines Waterfront Farmer’s Market. This market is open on Saturdays from June through September, and it is apparent that it brings the community together. I witnessed countless people saying hello to their neighbors and getting into conversation amidst the buckets of radiant dahlias, abundance of freshly-picked stone fruits, and jars of locally harvested honey. There was even a pet parade on this particular day, so it was fun to watch everyone’s pets in costumes exploring the market with their owners. I even saw some cats in backpacks!

In addition to the rows of vendors and artisans, the Des Moines Farmer’s Market also features a variety of food trucks offering global flavors: arepas, pierogi, crepes, and more. Though the contents of the market are enough to satiate the senses alone, the views of the boats bobbing in the marina and the grandeur of the Olympic Mountains in the west are unbeatable!

Pictured: The Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
Credit: Sara Anfuso

The Walk Itself

Whether this is your first urban hike or your hundredth, this route through Seattle Southside has something for everyone, from its urban local gems, forested nature paths, and coastline views. There is some topography to note, mainly the descending portion from Las Delicias to the Des Moines Creek Trail and then again from the Des Moines Waterfront ascending up to Marine View Drive, but it’s nothing that will get you too out of breath! Plus, the viewpoint of Puget Sound from the top of the hill (coordinates below) is absolutely breathtaking.

47.40334° N, 122.32914° W

Pictured: Des Moines Beach Park
Credit: Sara Anfuso

Getting Back

After you complete your urban hike, you could either walk the route in reverse to make it five miles round-trip or take public transit to get back to the Light Rail station. The easiest bus line to return to the station is the 635, which can be tracked in real time via the “One Bus Away” app. Tickets can be purchased on the “Transit Go” app and redeemed upon entry.

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Interested in learning more about this route and following it for yourself? The good news is that it can be accessed for free on Strava here to follow along as you embark on your urban hiking adventure in Seattle Southside.

As always, see you on the sidewalk!

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Sara Anfuso

作者

Sara Anfuso

Content Creator and Community Organizer

Sara Anfuso is a content creator and community organizer from San Diego who moved to Seattle in 2023. After walking the Camino de Santiago in 2017, she fell in love with the idea of spending the entire day walking with good company from one town to the next. This experience inspired her to create her own career path that enabled her to spend more time outdoors. In the process, she founded the Out and About Community Walk Club, which has over 2,600 members from around the world. When she’s not walking, she’s likely falling head over heels for a book, aquascaping her aquarium, playing with her two orange cats Caramel and Toffee, or exploring somewhere new with her husband, Michael. Follow her at @servedbysara.