Three West Coast Thanksgiving walk-offs: a 2.8-mile loop in Seattle, a 1.3-mile paved cliff trail in California, and a roaring rock bowl in Oregon

The best Thanksgiving dessert on the West Coast might be the walk you take before it. Pie tastes better after you’ve earned it, and all three states have a short, easy way to do exactly that.

Thanksgiving lands on November 26 this year, so there’s time to pick your route. Here’s one walk in each state, with the real mileage and the catch that comes with each.

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Seattle: Discovery Park’s 2.8-mile loop

Discovery Park’s Loop Trail runs 2.8 miles with about 220 feet of elevation gain, and most people finish in an hour to an hour and a half. The terrain is mostly level to gently rolling, with no stairs, so it works for strollers and for relatives who don’t love hills.

Want a lighthouse with that? The South Beach Trail splits off the loop at Trail Marker 12 and runs 0.7 miles down to West Point Lighthouse, with five staircases and roughly 280 feet of elevation change to deal with. Take it if your legs are feeling generous, because the climb back up is where the pie gets earned.

There’s a catch to plan around. The beach-level lot is restricted to ADA placard holders, the visitor center is closed until summer 2027, and the park itself is open from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

California: Devil’s Slide, a 1.3-mile paved cliff walk

For decades Highway 1 kept sliding into the ocean along these cliffs south of Pacifica. Then tunnels went through the mountain, and the old road became a walking path. Now it’s one of the easiest ways to put a Pacific view between you and the stuffing.

The trail is a 1.3-mile paved multi-use path, with separate lanes for walkers and bikes. Overlooks along the way have observation scopes and signs about the birds and marine life below, which gives the kids something to do besides ask when dinner is.

Parking is limited and fills up quickly on weekends, so go early or skip the car and ride SamTrans Route 117 on Highway 1. Want the full walkthrough? Our friends at California Is for Adventure have a complete guide to the Devil’s Slide Trail.

Oregon: Devil’s Punch Bowl, where winter does the performing

This is my pick for the most dramatic of the three, and it’s barely a walk at all. The Punch Bowl is a hollow in the rocky shoreline that likely formed when the roofs of two sea caves collapsed. When winter storms push waves into it, the whole thing roars.

The park has a foot trail and steps to the beach built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, plus tidepools on the north side of the bowl. It’s also a popular whale watching spot, so bring binoculars if you have them.

A day-use parking permit is required here, and you can buy a one-day permit on site. Oregon State Parks lists daily permits at $10 per vehicle for Oregon residents and $12 for non-residents. Storm surf is part of the show, so check the Oregon State Parks page for current conditions before you head out, and see our Devils Punchbowl guide for how to see it.

Which walk are you taking?

If I had to pick one for a group with mixed energy levels, I’d go with Discovery Park. The loop is gentle, the lighthouse is optional, and nobody has to negotiate a staircase unless they want to. But if your crew would rather watch the ocean misbehave, the Punch Bowl wins.

So where’s your family headed on the 26th, and who’s carrying the pie?

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.