Terminal 91 Bike Path

Been riding this path quite a few times already, it’s pretty cool going through Interbay, Magnolia area, train yard, views of the cruise ships, to Centennial Park to Olympic Sculpture Park, and this can connect you to whereever once you get into downtown.
Path is way easier than riding down 15^th Ave/​Elliot Ave/​Western Ave into downtown/​waterfront and dealing with cars. As mentioned before, there are some tight sections especially the bridge over the tracks as some people stop on the bridge to take photos which will cause a huge cluster for both directions of travel. Dedicated bike lanes and run/​walk lanes, but you will get the occasional oblivious person that will walk in the bike lanes. Path is in decent shape, but there are a few spots with tree roots, mini pot holes etc.
Plenty of areas to pull over to take photos, stop and sit on a bench, lay in the grass, especially by Centennial Park area/​Myrtle Edwards Park which is not overly crowded and a good place to stop and enjoy the surroundings.
This bike path isnt too far from me and its super easy to get to the downtown waterfront area and I enjoy riding this path very much!

The hotel we stayed at had daily bike rentals so we decided to bike to Sunday brunch at Palisades (which was our destination and perfectly on the path). Biking on this path along the scenic route was definitely one of the highlights of this trip. And we didn’t have to be tooo guilty of indulging for brunch.
It was refreshing to see so many people being active and running, cycling, walking their dogs. Such a beautiful sight with the crispiness of the air clearing your sinuses. However there were parts where you had to cross over railroad tracks or were behind some industrial area; I probably would not feel comfortable running or biking by my lonesome.

Nice, not super scenic path, that you can run on but make sure to keep your wits about you for bikers. Most are nice but there are the occasional dbags that zip by you super close. I don’t understand if that’s pent up anger or just bad manners or some combination of both. If you’re a runner, I would recommend you not listen to your music too loud so you can be extra aware of the activity around you. I also like that this path is a direct feeder to Centennial Park which leads you to Olympic Sculpture Park. So if you’re coming from Magnolia, you get a nice healthy run all the way to downtown.

I like this trail for it’s proximity and ability to get a nice, decent sized bike ride in after a day of work (You want me to bike to Ballard and back from First Hill right when I get off work? Hahahaha… no. Terminal 91 it is or I’m taking a nap!)
The best parts? The views of the sound you get while going along the pier/​Olympic Sculpture/​Myrtle Edwards Park. Even on a typical gray Seattle day the water, skyline, and everything in between is beautiful. The trail ends out by Pallisade — so another killer view can get soaked in before you head back. Also — going along the waterfront, you have options for bathroom breaks and snacks as needed.
The not so nice parts? Parts of the trail smell like poop. Like gaggingly so – and almost always around the rose garden. So you get nasty smells, ooo nice smells, and nasty smells again. Blech. The part of the trail that goes through the train yard is kind of cool I suppose — the barbed wire fences a little too reminiscent of a concentration camp for me. The skinny ramp is also a section full of ire — only room for one way traffic really. I once got stuck behind a woman and her large stroller and ended up having to wait up top for a good 10 minutes before all the other bikers/​runners/​dog walkers going the other way had passed. Roots are tearing up parts of the paved sections too — so you can get a little jostled when going along on your bike. Also — the occasional creeper that enjoys yelling lewd remarks at every lady passer by needs to go.
Otherwise — a decent trail for some lovely views and pretty flat trail riding.

If I show you mine, will you show me yours?
After introducing my partner in everything-​athetic to my running trail, it was only natural that I check out his running trail too.
The two trails by our respective houses couldn’t be more different. The Terminal 91 bike path is AWESOME for level-​ground, mostly-​cemented running. We started in Magnolia and ran to the Seattle Great Wheel (running off path in some areas to add some extra mileage.) From Magnolia, you first run through the train yards (I love trains and have trouble not yelling out, «Traaaaaaaaaiiiin!!!» Stand By Me-​style every time I see one.)
Then you run along a pleasant cement path and eventually run along the water. Beautiful! Especially de-​gorgeous with the sun out! We were fortunate that there was not a strong headwind, as I understand that can make it challenging at times. I know I wouldn’t want to do this path in stormy weather, that’s for sure.
Watch for cyclists, strollers, dogs, and other runners, both for safety and entertainment purposes. It was cool running past the Olympic Sculpture Park and past the bustling piers; and although I must say that I prefer trail running over cement paths, the surroundings were a feast for the eyes and [about] 11 miles flew by in no time.
Even with all the people of this multi-​purpose path, this is a great place to clock your time – if you are trying to improve upon speed. The weaving in and out between others is like a people-​version of Tetris, so that too kept my interest visually. I wish this place was closer to my house, but I’ll settle for a weekly (sunny or overcast only) run any day.
Traaaaaaaaaaaiiiiinnnn!!!

Living in Magnolia one of the things I love most about the area is all of my options for places to go for a run. Terminal 91 bike path is my most used path with me crushing the miles on this route 6 – 7 times a week.
It’s less than a quarter mile from my doorway to the Y section of this path where I can either run to Palisade or towards the piers downtown. So it’s super convenient for me.
There are a few tight sections where cyclists are coming one way and runners/​walkers are going the other way and we all bottleneck together (the little bridge over the train tracks is the worst) but it’s always worked out and people have always been cool about taking turns. A little further down the pathway there is a division of the pathway for foot traffic and cyclists which helps quite a bit. For the most part everyone tries to stay on their side of the path which helps with traffic flow quite a bit. And keeps foot traffic/​cyclist relations in the positive.
There are lots of nice spots to stop to enjoy the view, restrooms and The Happy Hooker for snacks/​beverages are along the way. If you want to get in some pull-​ups or sit-​ups there’s a nice little section near a garden where you can kill a few sets and get back to it.
The city/​county (I’m not sure which) recently went through and added a foot path with «bark» to run on and they’ve repaved some sections. It really is a nice clean option for people looking to get some exercise outside or bike to work.
Really the only downside for me is some sections have poor drainage and water can build up on the pavement. Typically I’ll just «Go, go Gadget feet!» and spring right over that sucker but not having to activate my cyborg bouncy feet would be much better. I try to keep that sort of stuff Secret Squirrel.
If you find yourself using this path and a tattooed dude waves at you or says ‘hello’ that’s probably me combating the Seattle Freeze… so wave back! It may just brighten your day.
I’m a fan!

This is not about the path, it’s about the a-​hole cyclists who ride it. Not all cyclists. Some actually pay attention to rules. This is not directed at them.
There is a stop sign (on both sides of the path) where it cuts across the road leading into the port. Those stop signs are there for a reason. You as a cyclist are considered to be a vehicle, not a pedestrian, and you need to STOP and look before proceeding across the road. Simple. Get off your high horse about having a lower «carbon footprint» (a bunch of crap, IMO) and pay attention to rules. Riding a bike does not make you more «special», moron.
It may be that the worst behaved of the lot are the ones who can’t drive their cars on account of a DUI.
In addition, if I ever catch the birdbrain girly man cyclist in spandex who cut really close to me while I was using the pedestrian path (as if I were a post on a slalom run) you will pay. Trust me.

I love watching the trains from this path!
This is a very good path for anyone riding, walking and/​or running.
The white bridge on the Southside has too narrow of a lane so when going downhill please beware!

One of my favourite places to run. After I’ve gone through Myrtle Edwards and the Port it just keeps going, all the way to Interbay. Being outside, along the water, seeing the scenery change and to realise how far I’ve come from downtown is a great feeling.

As part of my great running excursion, I found myself on this path early in the day. It wasn’t very crowded, which was nice, but it was also a bit strange to not see people for miles. As someone not completely familiar with the area, it did freak me out a bit, even though it’s supposed to be a safe place. There were some good views & it was nice & quiet, which made it a pretty calm running space.
My main dislike here has to do with just the narrow parts of the path. I don’t mind looking around for cyclists, but there were some parts where I felt like I needed to press myself up against the fence to stay out of their way. Overall, it wasn’t much of an issue, but just something to be mindful of if you’re venturing out.

Just want to say that as a runner, I like it because it’s easy, safe (although they do have the usual ‘port types’ if that bugs you– I worked at the Port of Tacoma so I don’t care), and a little bit of a getaway.
The bad part is that the path changes and runners/​walkers need to switch sides to accommodate the bikers (which I don’t mind but sometimes forget when I am spacing out) and the bikers can pass you very quickly and closely if you aren’t paying attention.

A real guy likes the smell of saltwater and axle grease together. He likes the smell of new motor oil. He’d tell you the new Dodge Charger is no muscle car, at least not in appearance, and that the last of the real Chargers were years 1968 – 69. He could probably tell you the year of just about any given American car between say, 1920 and 1980. He likes old and new locomotives, old harbor tug boats, nautical antiques, and ghost towns. He likes to fix stuff himself and he likes bicycling. He’s attentive to his woman /​wife and sensitive and romantic enough to tear-​up at a poignant part of a good love story but prefers a good action or Sci-​Fi film. From childhood, he either wanted to be a fireman, a policeman, James Bond, or all the above.
Of course, the term «real guy» is purely subjective and the preceding is not necessarily the opinion (s) of Unilocal™, its members or its visitors.
Okay, so I like all the above and that’s why I love the Terminal 91 Bike Path because at one point on the path, you have a working rail yard on one side and Elliott Bay on the other. In fact, the Terminal 91 bike path starts at part of a rail yard staging area and ends up at Elliott Bay Park. There, you have more rail yard on one side, the beautiful park where you are, and a 180 degree view of the Puget Sound’s Elliott Bay on the other. But the bike path doesn’t actually end there, Elliott Bay Park is joined at the hip with Myrtle Edwards Park and bike path, and continues on to the Sculpture Park and Pier 70 where you can pick up the waterfront bike path.
How’s this for a ride:
From Ballard, my route took me south on 22^nd Ave NW which after Market Street, intersects with Ballard Ave NW. I followed Ballard Ave. NW to NW Ballard WY where I hung a left. At 15^th Ave. NW, I hung a right and headed south on The Ballard Bridge’s west sidewalk. Once you get across the ship canal (good view), you can’t help but take a right on W. Emerson St. That’s just dandy though because you follow that up to Gilman Ave W. (I used the sidewalk) where I took a left. I headed south on Gilman in the bike lane and took a right on 21^st Ave W. I followed 21^st Ave, W., past Thorndyke Ave W., to where 21^st finally ends at the First Student school bus parking lot. This is where the Terminal 91 Bike Path begins, at the foot of Magnolia. Now, those of you from or familiar with Seattle may be asking yourself with some impatience, why didn’t you just walk your bike across the Ballard Locks to Magnolia and take Commodore Way to Emerson St… You idiot! Well, I tried that twice and discovered that tourist season is still going strong. You may imagine the colorful metaphors that went through my head as tourists cut me off to get ahead of me in line waiting to go when the gate was closed and you could cross.
So, for you bicycle enthusiasts, «real men» and women who enjoy the above, I highly recommend this bike path. It is nature, industry and art in one great trail and the bike overpass is fun because it kind of reminds me of an old style roller coaster.