Wetherill Nature Preserve–Lake Washington, 5 lakes
8 mi · ▲ 222 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Wetherill Nature Preserve–Lake Washington, 5 lakes is an 8-mile out-and-back in Washington Park Arboretum near Montlake, WA. The route passes Montlake Cut, Lake Washington, SR 520 Viewpoint and SR 520 Viewpoint before reaching Wetherill Nature Preserve at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 222 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Wetherill Nature Preserve–Lake Washington, 5 lakes
8 mi · ▲ 222 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Elevation 16–142 ft
Out & Back · Washington Park Arboretum
Trailhead: Lake Washington Ship Canal Waterside Trail · 47.64683, -122.30434
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 76°F / low 50° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:51 AM · sunset 8:41 PM
Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Montlake Boulevard East stop 243 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Montlake Cut.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Lake Washington Ship Canal Waterside Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftPass Lake Washington.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto SR 520 Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass SR 520 Viewpoint.
- 2.9 miPass SR 520 Viewpoint.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Woodland Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 300 ftReach Wetherill Nature Preserve, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto SR 520 Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
- 3.5 miSharp left, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Lake Washington Ship Canal Waterside Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~78 min). Leave by 7:03 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: State Route 520 & Montlake Boulevard East stop 243 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Lake Washington Ship Canal Waterside Trail Trailhead
- Island Grove–Portage Bay, 5 lakes 1.3 mi · ▲ 31 ft
- 3001 E Madison Park–Lake Washington, 9 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 178 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Montlake, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Montlake, Washington