Stairway Walks of Seattle

There’s a curious phenomenon in hilly Seattle: Entire streets will dead end at a steep incline, only to continue as the same street on the other side. In between? A stairway, accessible only to pedestrians. These stairs are often hidden pockets of nature, offering a respite among the trees. Others offer sweeping views, or a chance to explore a tucked-away area of a park, hillside or neighborhood.

Not only are the stairway walks great exercise, they’re a chance to explore an aspect of Seattle often overlooked in favor of more touristy pursuits. As mapped by The University of Washington, there are more than 650 sets of stairs strewn throughout Seattle. Some are short connectors spanning only a few dozen feet, while others are grand traverses of hundreds of feet of hillsides, covering entire neighborhoods

To get started, there’s a handy book and website called Seattle Stairway Walks that can help you plan a route and learn about certain points of interest, from viewpoints to community gardens to salmon streams. Combined with a stop at a restaurant or bar, these walks can be a wonderful way to explore Seattle as a local would.