Everett Itinerary: Can't-Miss Walks
All images // Christopher Bragg
Ask any walking enthusiast and they'll tell you it's a habit that changed their life. It's great exercise that's accessible to most people and doesn't require much in the way of special equipment. It's also the best way to connect with your surroundings and get to know your neighborhood and the rest of Everett in a way that's just not possible from a car. Whether you're new in town or just visiting, pop on a podcast or playlist and start exploring. Just be sure to get into a good stretching routine to avoid ailments like plantar fasciitis and shin splints.
Millwright Loop Trail
When what you're after is fresh air and great views, the marina has both. In abundance. Parking is plentiful at Commodore Plaza, Boxcar Park, and the two view parks north of the marina, and you can follow as much or as little of the four-mile Millwright Loop Trail as you like. There's a lot of construction happening at the marina, but they've always been very good about setting up proper detours along the route and keeping them clear and well-marked. There's nothing quite like a walk at the marina to make you glad to be in a city with a large waterfront.
Get to know the Everett marina:
Our marina is a huge and busy one, and you don't have to have a boat to enjoy it. You can find restaurants all over the marina, plus local beer at Scuttlebutt Brewing and spirits and Bluewater Organic Distilling. Spend the day flying kites or simply relaxing with ice cream from Harbor Marine at Boxcar Park. And if you want to get out on the water, you can book a whale watching tour or join Freedom Boat Club to gain access to boats without having to buy or store one.
Langus Riverfront Park and Spencer Island
When you want serious distance, it's a lot more fun getting those miles in at a place where you don't have to cover the same ground multiple times to do it. Langus Riverfront Park is a distance walker's paradise, especially if you've started getting up early and want a perfect place to see the sunrise. The paved trail and road, the natural seasonal hunting trail and loop trail around Spencer Island, and the gravel trail along the water treatment plant ponds add up to about nine miles if you walk it all. This makes it a perfect place to make goals and beat them. Just be aware that there's almost no shade, and that for a couple of weeks every summer, the mosquitoes can be overwhelming. Otherwise, you'll love the wildlife and the vast sky views.
Get to know Everett Parks:
Summer is a great time to explore Everett's extensive park system. Bring the kids to the water playground at Forest Park or splash around on the beach at Silver Lake's Thornton A. Sullivan Park. Relax after your walks in your car and soak up the views at Harborview Park and Hibulb Lookout (across Alverson Boulevard from Legion Memorial Park).
Japanese Gulch
While distance is a worthy walking goal, it will only take you so far; leveling up eventually requires elevation gain. I'm not sure exactly where the line is between walking in the woods and hiking, but I love heading to Japanese Gulch to do a bit of both. The trail system there is fun to explore and was recently upgraded with helpful signs when it became an official City of Mukilteo park. In spite of that designation, most of the gulch's hilly, forested acres are within Everett's city limits, but you'll feel miles away from both cities while you're there. At least until planes heading in and out of Paine Field roar overhead.
Get to know Boeing and Mukilteo:
Even if you're not an airplane enthusiast, a tour of the Boeing plant via Future of Flight is fascinating and fun for tourists and their local hosts, too. It's not often you get to see what happens in one of the world's largest buildings, after all. Head to Mukilteo Beach for a scenic meal and you can walk it off by wandering back into Everett! Just go past the new Mukilteo ferry terminal to Edgewater Beach, a perfect spot for walking or running laps year-round.
Need more Everett-area walking spots? Check out our walking series, Happy Trails to You.
Got guests coming in from out of town? New to Everett? Can’t remember what we used to do before the pandemic started? Check out our Everett Itineraries!
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Christopher Bragg works from home in Everett and loves walking, swimming, and cats. You can find him all over town, but only if you keep weird hours and avoid crowds like he does.
