This Earth Day, consider taking the scenic route—one that leads you closer to nature.
Across the region, forests, shorelines, wetlands, and green spaces are just a bus or train ride away.
Swapping a car trip for transit isn’t just convenient; it’s a small way to reduce your environmental footprint while reconnecting with the landscapes that make this region unique.
Step into a quieter environment and let it change your tempo. Taking transit helps set that tone early—no traffic to navigate, no parking to find—just time to look out the window as the city gives way to something greener.
Eastside escapes
Near the 2 Line's South Bellevue Station, Mercer Slough Nature Park offers a lush wetland landscape with boardwalks, waterways, and dense greenery.
Nearby on Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park combines forested trails with lake access, creating an easy place to spend an afternoon outdoors.
In Redmond, Marymoor Park provides wide-open space along the Sammamish River, while Bear Creek Trail offers a quieter, more tucked-away experience under tree cover.
Speaking of trails, you can also connect to the Eastrail from Wilburton Station. Learn more about the Eastrail and other nature connections in this post from the LifeSTyle archive.
North end nature
In Mukilteo, Japanese Gulch offers a network of wooded trails that feel removed from surrounding neighborhoods. You can get there via the Sounder N Line or Community Transit bus.
Neighborhood parks in Snohomish County are accessible via the 1 and 2 Lines, including Veterans Memorial Park by Mountlake Terrace Station and Scriber Creek Park by Lynnwood City Center.
Find more parks to explore here.
South Sound scenery
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Tacoma's Wright Park provides a different kind of nature experience—one that brings plant life indoors within a historic glass structure. Connect via the T Line's Stadium District Station.
The Sounder S Line also offers opportunities for outdoor exploration—including Auburn Environmental Park.
Seattle strolls
Within Seattle's city limits, nature is often closer than expected. Cheasty Boulevard Greenbelt by Columbia City Station is a community-supported green space where trails wind through forested hillsides.
Ravenna Park and the adjacent Ravenna Ravine near Roosevelt Station create a shaded corridor with a creek running through it, offering a sense of calm in the middle of the city.
And there are many trail connections, including to the iconic Burke-Gilman. Next month is Bike Month, and connecting your bike and transit trips is a great way to go green.
The new Judkins Park Station not only connects you to the nearby Judkins Park, but also to the I-90 Trail and Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Choosing transit, even for a single trip, is one small way to reduce emissions and congestion while accessing these places. It also changes how the experience begins. Instead of focusing on the logistics of getting there, the trip can start with a moment to pause, look around, and ease into the day.
This Earth Day, the invitation is simple: ride instead of drive, step off somewhere green, and spend time in the places we all share.
Let us know what you'd add to this list by tagging @SoundTransit on social media or emailing lifestyle@soundtransit.org.