AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Union–Lake Washington Ship Canal, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Lake Union–Lake Washington Ship Canal, 4 lakes is a 3.4-mile out-and-back near Wallingford, WA. The route passes Lake Union, Waterway 21 Viewpoint and 6th Avenue West Street End before reaching Lake Washington Ship Canal at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi20 – 49 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Burke-Gilman Trail 47.65363, -122.32787
Nearest town Wallingford, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Union–Lake Washington Ship Canal, 4 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Elevation 20–50 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Burke-Gilman Trail · 47.65363, -122.32787

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:51 AM · sunset 8:41 PM

Transit-accessible: Northeast 40th Street & 1st Avenue Northeast stop 223 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Burke-Gilman Trail, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Union.
  3. 0.6 miPass Waterway 21 Viewpoint.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Northlake Way, heading W.
  5. 0.2 miSharp right onto Burke-Gilman Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miBear right onto North Northlake Way, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Burke-Gilman Trail, heading SW.
  8. 450 ftPass 6th Avenue West Street End.
  9. 400 ftPass Lake Washington Ship Canal.
  10. 0.3 miReach Lake Union, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 0.5 miContinue straight onto North Northlake Way, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Burke-Gilman Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto North Northlake Way, heading SE.
  15. 350 ftContinue straight onto Burke-Gilman Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lake-union-waterway-21-viewpoint-out-back-3-beaches

Trail surface

98% paved1% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:51 AMSunset 8:41 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 7:44 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Northeast 40th Street & 1st Avenue Northeast stop 223 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

Hikes near Wallingford, Washington