Lake Washington Boulevard
Encyclopedia
Lake Washington Boulevard is a scenic, approximately 8 miles (12.9 km), route through Seattle, Washington, that hugs Lake Washington
for much of the drive. There are views of the lake, small sections of rainforest, meadows, and views of the Cascade
mountains. At its northern end, Lake Washington Boulevard runs through the length of the Washington Park Arboretum
. The road begins at S. Juneau Street in Seward Park
, running thence along the lake to Colman Park
, just south of Interstate 90. From here north to E. Alder Street in Leschi
, the lakeside road is named Lakeside Avenue, and Lake Washington Boulevard diverts to a winding route through Colman
, Frink
, and Leschi Park
s. At E. Alder, the boulevard once again runs along the lake through Madrona Park
to just north of Madrona Drive
, where private residences occupy the shore. At E. Denny-Blaine Place
, the road heads northwest, through Lakeview Park
and the grounds of The Bush School, to the south entrance of the Arboretum at E. Madison Street
. It continues through the Arboretum to an interchange with State Route 520. Just north of E. Roanoke Street, the boulevard turns due west and changes from Lake Washington Boulevard E. to E. Lake Washington Boulevard, following the city's street name designation system
. The boulevard ends at the Montlake
overpass of 520, where E. Montlake Place E. becomes Montlake Boulevard E.
The road is popular among cyclists—indeed, it was originally conceived as a bicycle path before automobiles had become widespread—and is closed to auto-traffic ten days out of the year for recreation.
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
for much of the drive. There are views of the lake, small sections of rainforest, meadows, and views of the Cascade
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
mountains. At its northern end, Lake Washington Boulevard runs through the length of the Washington Park Arboretum
Washington Park Arboretum
Washington Park is a public park in Seattle, Washington, USA, most of which is taken up by the Washington Park Arboretum, a joint project of the University of Washington, the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, and the nonprofit Arboretum Foundation. Washington Park also includes a...
. The road begins at S. Juneau Street in Seward Park
Seward Park (Seattle)
Seward Park is a 300 acre park in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., that occupies all of Bailey Peninsula, a forested peninsula off south Seattle that juts into Lake Washington....
, running thence along the lake to Colman Park
Colman Park (Seattle)
Colman Park is a park in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, located just south of the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge along Lake Washington and inland to 31st Avenue S.-History:...
, just south of Interstate 90. From here north to E. Alder Street in Leschi
Leschi, Seattle, Washington
Leschi is a neighborhood located within the city of Seattle, Washington, USA. The neighborhood is named after Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe.- Location :...
, the lakeside road is named Lakeside Avenue, and Lake Washington Boulevard diverts to a winding route through Colman
Colman Park (Seattle)
Colman Park is a park in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, located just south of the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge along Lake Washington and inland to 31st Avenue S.-History:...
, Frink
Frink Park (Seattle)
Frink Park is a 17.2 acre park in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is a heavily wooded hillside and ravine through which flows Frink Creek. Most of the park is bounded by 31st Avenue S. in the west, 34th Avenue S. in the east, and the rights-of-way of S. Main Street in the north...
, and Leschi Park
Leschi Park (Seattle)
Leschi Park is an 18.5 acre park in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, named after Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe. The majority of the park is a grassy hillside that lies west of Lakeside Avenue S...
s. At E. Alder, the boulevard once again runs along the lake through Madrona Park
Madrona Park (Seattle)
Madrona Park is a 31.2 acre park located in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, bisected by Lake Washington Boulevard. It lies on the western shore of Lake Washington and features picnic areas, a swimming beach with bathhouse, and parking area...
to just north of Madrona Drive
Madrona, Seattle, Washington
Madrona is a mostly residential neighborhood in east central Seattle, Washington. It is bounded on the east by Lake Washington; on the south by E. Cherry Street, beyond which is Leschi; on the west by Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, beyond which is the Central District; and on the north by E. Howell...
, where private residences occupy the shore. At E. Denny-Blaine Place
Denny-Blaine, Seattle, Washington
Denny-Blaine is a neighborhood in east central Seattle, Washington. It is bounded on the east by Lake Washington; on the south by E. Howell Street, beyond which is Madrona; on the west by 32nd Avenue, beyond which is Madison Valley; and on the north by Lake Washington Boulevard E., Hillside Drive...
, the road heads northwest, through Lakeview Park
Lakeview Park (Seattle)
Lakeview Park is a 4.5 acre park in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, located on both sides of Lake Washington Boulevard E. as it winds down a hillside toward Lake Washington. The western half is a bowl-like park with grass and trees along Dorffel Drive E. and E. Harrison...
and the grounds of The Bush School, to the south entrance of the Arboretum at E. Madison Street
Washington Park, Seattle, Washington
Washington Park is a neighborhood in east central Seattle, Washington, named after the city park to its northwest. It is bounded on the east by 38th and 37th Avenues E...
. It continues through the Arboretum to an interchange with State Route 520. Just north of E. Roanoke Street, the boulevard turns due west and changes from Lake Washington Boulevard E. to E. Lake Washington Boulevard, following the city's street name designation system
Street layout of Seattle
The street layout of Seattle is based on a series of disjointed rectangular street grids. Most of Seattle and King County use a single street grid, oriented on true north. Near the center of town, various land claims were platted in the 19th century with differently oriented grids, which have...
. The boulevard ends at the Montlake
Montlake, Seattle, Washington
Montlake is an affluent residential neighborhood in central Seattle. It is bounded to the north by Portage Bay and the Montlake Cut section of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, to the east by the Washington Park Arboretum, and to the south and west by Interlaken Park. Capitol Hill is on its south and...
overpass of 520, where E. Montlake Place E. becomes Montlake Boulevard E.
The road is popular among cyclists—indeed, it was originally conceived as a bicycle path before automobiles had become widespread—and is closed to auto-traffic ten days out of the year for recreation.