Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA MAP LEGEND

SPU is a private Christian university straddling the steep northern foot of Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Though the campus is small, it packs a punch in both navigational complexity and physical challenge.

Course-1.pdfLarge map PDF

Note: Samples of the map are provided here for educational purposes only; the map shown here is not kept up-to-date. The course shown is a Beginner/Intermediate course, and actual controls do not exist in the terrain.

The purpose of providing these navigational and physical ratings below is to provide greater context for how challenging an orienteering course at this venue might be. For example, an advanced-level course at a local city park will be easier to complete than an advanced-level course in the mountains.

Navigational Challenge Rating: 3

Seattle Pacific University is a complicated venue, with many buildings, walls, staircases, and tight corners that can make navigation here tricky. For more advanced orienteers, it requires concentration and focus to pick the fastest and most efficient routes and avoid traps – but because SPU is a very urban campus with essentially no forest navigation, it’s also suitable for beginners.

Physical Challenge Rating: 4

The southern part of the map is actually quite steep as the terrain begins to climb the hill. As such, courses here will generally include more elevation gain than those at most urban/campus venues. Running surfaces are generally excellent – either grass or pavement.