The Green River Trail runs for roughly 20 miles along the river from Auburn north toward Tukwila, passing through riparian forest, farmland, and suburban greenbelts. The section through Auburn itself follows the river closely, with good views of the water and regular sightings of great blue herons, osprey, and — in autumn — spawning salmon. The trail is paved and widely used by cyclists, joggers, and walkers.
The river itself was extensively channelised for flood control in the 20th century, which has reduced but not eliminated its character. The stretch south of Auburn near the Neely Mansion is the most rural and least modified, and the salmon runs in late September and October are genuinely spectacular — the fish can be seen from the bank fighting their way upstream in considerable numbers.