Rediscover Seattle with this 'professional' pedestrian's 20-mile saunter across the city

We all know that a walk outside is good for the mind and body. But what about a 20-mile stroll down the entire isthmus of Seattle? A local walking enthusiast has one planned for Saturday.

In 2023, Holden Minor Ringer went for a stroll. Leaving from La Push, Washington, Ringer headed east — and kept going all the way to the other side of the country.

Twenty states, more than 400 days, and about 4,500 miles later, Ringer ended up in Fairhaven, Connecticut.

The 27-year-old is a self-described “professional pedestrian.” He doesn’t just cross continents, he enjoys local jaunts all over Seattle — circling lakes and entire neighborhoods in just a few hours.

“It’s a very deliberate pace,” Ringer said., “All of our ancestors, for most of human history, walked to get everywhere. So our brains think at the pace that we walk. That's kind of how we process the world.”

It was on that cross-country adventure that Ringer got an idea: Why not walk the entire length of the city of Seattle? Using the natural geography of the narrow Seattle-isthmus, Ringer planned a route from the city’s northernmost point to its southern border.

Dubbed the “Seattle Super Saunter,” Ringer is inviting everyone to join him for an all-day journey on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. The walk will begin at the Shoreline South/148th light rail station and end at the Garden of Gethsemane Church of God in Christ on Beacon Avenue South.

Ringer will be walking a suggested route he’s posted online — but he encourages people to stroll wherever their feet want to go. He calls it a “build-your-own adventure” through the Emerald City.

For instance, “You can take a serendipitous turn down a street and see something you’ve never seen before,” Ringer said.

And if walking all day is not for you, that’s fine, too. Ringer’s planned path is accessible to anyone in a wheelchair or stroller and is near light rail stations and bus stops.

“If people want to bike it, people want to pogo stick it, people want to take transit, maybe do a combination of those — they can,” Ringer said. “It's not a race. We're very much trying to saunter and see the city as much as possible.”

The “official” Seattle Super Saunter route is just under 20-miles long. Google Maps says that it will take about eight hours to walk, which doesn’t include breaks for lunch or foot rubs.

You can join the caravan of hardcore walkers on Saturday morning. In true Seattle fashion, Ringer said the walk it’s happening rain or shine.

“It’s also a really great way to connect with your community,” he said. “You can make a new friend. One person may have one perspective and another person may have another. You may walk down the same street getting to see two different viewpoints.”

After hearing Ringer’s passion for long-distance walking, I decided to attempt the Saunter myself. Here are my tips and takeaways from the longest walk of my life:

• Walk at your own pace. At the beginning of my walk, I felt pressured to put away the miles, but the point of sauntering is to stop-and-go as you please. I took multiple coffee breaks and chatted with people in the park who were playing guitar.
• Hit up your favorite parks and green spaces along the way. I especially loved Ravenna Park and the 20th Avenue pedestrian bridge overlooking the Ravenna Ravine; the 520 lid and pedestrian path; Washington Park Arboretum; Lake Washington Boulevard; and Seward Park.
• Be prepared to be outside all day. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, water, snacks, headphones, maybe a change of socks, and definitely a light rain jacket since this is, of course, Seattle.
• Try out new places for coffee and lunch that you’ve never been to before. I stopped at Bark! Espresso in Northgate and the Pagliacci on East Madison Street.
• Be safe when walking along busy roads. Not every street in Seattle is great for pedestrians and many have deadly reputations for people walking or riding bikes. Walking with a friend or two helps to stay visible.
• Discover new “secret” spots in the city. There are so many hidden staircases, tiny parks, and public beach parks I discovered on my solo saunter. When you don’t have to worry about parking a car, you can really pursue anything interesting you see along the way.

Update, Wednesday, 5/14/25: This story has been updated to clarify the exact start and end points of the Seattle Super Saunter walk.