Our Guide to Local Trails, Parks + Beaches
We’re big fans of the great outdoors here at The Hill Team and feel grateful for the numerous spaces we get to enjoy locally, whether for a run, a walk, or a picnic. From trails, parks, and beaches, we’re bringing you our guide to our favorite places to get your outdoor fix.
West Seattle
Lincoln Park
Located on the western edge of West Seattle, Lincoln park offers 5 miles of trails, including a loop hike with bluff and beachfront views of Puget Sound, Vashon Island, and the Olympic Mountains. The park is family-friendly, with a wading pool, playground, bathroom facilities, ball fields, and multiple trail options. We through our Hill Team Fall Fiesta here this past September! This is one of Cooper, Tyler + Zack’s favorite parks, for all of the memories made with our families over the years. As Zack so eloquently puts it, “Lincoln Park is the bomb”
Alki Beach Park
Alki Beach Park is a quintessential city space on the shoreline and is accessible from downtown via water taxi. It features 2.5 miles of Puget Sound shoreline and a popular walking + bike path. The view across Puget Sound is also spectacular at Alki Beach Park, with the Seattle skyline glistening just across the water. On sunny summer days, beach towels and umbrellas inundate this destination beach. We recommend grabbing a scoop of ice cream from Pepperdock or a bubble tea from Natalie’s while you’re there.
Schmitz Preserve Park
Looking to scratch that itch to hike, but also want to get in some beach time? This 53.1 acre park, located in the middle of West Seattle, has 1.7 miles of hiking trails in a natural forest setting, with trail heads in the Genesse + Alki neighborhoods. It’s a great hike all year round, but be sure to account for slippery/muddy grounds during the winter and rainy seasons.
Burien
Eagle Landing Park
Eagle Landing Park offers 6.21 acres of wooded bluff with an interpretive trail that winds through majestic trees and native undergrowth. Looking up, you may encounter a bald eagle perched high in the treetops. Continuing on, the trail terminates at a view point overlooking Puget Sound. Eagle Landing Park contains two acres of tidelands and six acres of wooded uplands. The park entrance is at the west end of SW 149th St and has a five-car paved parking lot.
Seattle
Olympic Sculpture Park + Myrtle Edward’s Park
The free Olympic Sculpture Park is an outdoor sculpture park with magnificent views of the Seattle Waterfront. It's a great place to unwind on a sunny day, with plenty of lawned areas for picnics and relaxation. Looking for a longer adventure? After checking out the sculptures, we recommend following the waterfront trail around Elliott Bay to truly take in the beauty of the sound. This is one of Leah’s favorite parks. Just a quick walk from her home, the park has “saved the day” several times, whether providing a quick place to take a break during the workday, or a fun spot for her dog to play.
Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park is great for enjoying sweeping views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. The park is in the quirky neighborhood of Fremont, just north of Seattle's downtown. This 19-acre park is at the former site of a coal gasification plant and has been transformed into a beautiful lawned area with walking paths, picnic tables, and a playground. The trailhead to the 6-mile Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is here as well. It’s also a great spot for catching fireworks over the Space Needle on New Year’s Eve or the Fourth of July.
Washington Park and Arboretum
The Arboretum is a welcome oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres contain a dynamic assortment of plants, some found nowhere else in the Northwest.
Warren G. Magnuson Park
At Warren G. Magnuson Park, you'll find more than four miles of walking trails along the shores of Lake Washington, grassy fields, trees, brush, and captivating public art installations. Located along a stunning mile-long stretch of Lake Washington's shoreline in northeast Seattle, it is Seattle's second-largest park, encompassing 350 acres. Popular for its dog park, flying a kite, putting in the miles, and taking a dip in the lake. This is Jaycie’s favorite park because there is plenty of space to explore and it’s super dog-friendly.
Discovery Park
Discovery Park is the largest city park in Seattle. It encompasses 534 acres on a peninsula extending from the Magnolia neighborhood, northwest of downtown. Several trails extend throughout its varied landscapes, and it's also home to a magnificent sandy shoreline overlooking Puget Sound, including the iconic West Point Lighthouse. The best way to explore Discovery Park is to show up and start roaming. The two most prominent parking areas are the East and South lots near the entrances. The Loop Trail is the most popular route to explore, circling the inland area of the park with a nearly three-mile path. This is one of Lalo and Tyler’s favorite parks because of how massive it is - there are so many different places to go adventuring that no two trips to Discovery Park are ever the same.
Golden Gardens
Golden Gardens is one of Seattle’s most popular parks and one of the Northwest’s most beautiful beaches. The 87-acre park in Ballard is situated on Puget Sound, overlooking the Olympic mountains. Fires are allowed in designated pits scattered around the beach, and picnic shelters can be reserved in advance. This is a great place to catch a sunset on a summer night.
Carkeek Park
This popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Just nine miles from downtown, Carkeek park is 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach. There are 6 miles of trails, many following the 1.5+ miles of creeks running through the park. The park also contains many developed amenities including the Environmental Learning Center, a playground with a salmon slide and tide pool, plenty of picnic tables, and a large fire ring.
