Seattle, Washington
Seattle
Parks
Over 500 public parks — from 534-acre Discovery Park to pocket greenspaces tucked into dense neighborhoods.
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Overview
Seattle Parks and Recreation manages more than 500 parks across the city, covering everything from the 534-acre wilderness of Discovery Park to half-acre pocket parks in dense neighborhoods. The system includes beaches on Puget Sound and Lake Washington, old-growth forest, playfields, community gardens, and a network of off-leash dog areas.
Each Seattle neighborhood has its own character in parks. Ballard has waterfront access at Golden Gardens and a cluster of small Scandinavian-heritage parks. Capitol Hill has Volunteer Park and Cal Anderson. West Seattle has Lincoln Park and Alki Beach. Rainier Beach has the old-growth peninsula of Seward Park. The Burke-Gilman Trail connects many of the northside parks by bike.
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Notable Parks
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park at 534 acres, occupying a dramatic bluff in the Magnolia neighborhood. The park has two miles of protected beach at the base of steep sand cliffs, a working lighthouse, forest trails, and meadows that reliably attract migrating birds. The tidal flats below the West Point Lighthouse are walkable at low tide.
Golden Gardens Park
Ballard's waterfront park along Puget Sound, with one of the few sandy beaches in Seattle. Fire pits line the shore and fill fast on summer evenings for sunset watching. An upper section adds forested trails, a beaver pond, and a dog park. The BNSF Railway runs directly along the beach — trains pass frequently.
Gas Works Park
A converted 1906 gasification plant on the north shore of Lake Union in Wallingford. The preserved industrial ruins serve as public art and a climbable play barn. The hilltop lawn gives one of the best views of downtown Seattle and the lake. The Burke-Gilman Trail runs directly through the park.
Volunteer Park
A 48-acre park on Capitol Hill anchored by the Volunteer Park Conservatory — a Victorian greenhouse free to visit. A 75-foot Art Deco water tower offers 360° views of the city from the top. The Seattle Asian Art Museum sits inside the park. Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee are buried in the adjacent Lake View Cemetery.
Seward Park
A 300-acre park on a forested peninsula jutting into Lake Washington in Rainier Beach. Contains one of the last stands of old-growth Douglas fir in the city, with trees up to 500 years old. A 2.4-mile paved loop traces the shore at water level, popular with cyclists and joggers year-round.
Lincoln Park
A 135-acre park along Fauntleroy Cove in West Seattle, with forested bluff trails, cobble beaches, and views toward Vashon Island. The Colman Pool — a saltwater pool filled by the tides and heated — operates in summer. The park is adjacent to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal.
Green Lake Park
The most-visited park in Seattle, with a 2.8-mile paved loop circling a 259-acre lake in Phinney Ridge. Popular with runners, cyclists, and families year-round. Amenities include rental boats, supervised swim beaches, picnic shelters, tennis courts, and basketball courts.
Cal Anderson Park
A 7.5-acre park at the center of Capitol Hill, anchored by the covered Lincoln Reservoir. The park is the social heart of the neighborhood — playground, wading pool, athletic courts, and open lawn used for community events year-round. One of the most active urban parks in the city.
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Explore More
Golden Gardens
Full guide to Ballard's Puget Sound beach park — beach, fire pits, trails, volleyball, and dog park.
Golden Gardens →
All Seattle Parks
Search and browse 500+ Seattle parks sorted by neighborhood, with an interactive cluster map.
All Seattle Parks →
Best Playgrounds
The top play areas across Seattle — parks with the best equipment, structures, and water play.
Best Playgrounds →
Best Hikes in Seattle
Top trails fully within city limits — from Seward Park old-growth to the Discovery Park loop.
Best Hikes in Seattle →
Tennis Courts
Every public tennis court in Seattle, with court type, neighborhood, and shared pickleball availability.
Tennis Courts →
Basketball Courts
Public outdoor basketball courts across Seattle, including covered courts for year-round play.
Basketball Courts →
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Things to Know
Parking
Major parks like Golden Gardens, Discovery, and Seward fill quickly on summer weekends. Arrive before 10am or use Metro — most large parks are reachable by bus, and the Burke-Gilman Trail connects several northside parks by bike.
Shelter Reservations
Covered picnic shelters at most Seattle parks can be reserved in advance through Seattle Parks and Recreation (seattle.gov/parks). Unreserved shelters are available walk-up, but go fast on warm weekends.
Dogs on Leash
Dogs must stay on leash in all Seattle parks unless inside a designated off-leash area. The city maintains a network of off-leash areas (OLAs) across the park system — a full map is at seattle.gov/parks.
No Lifeguards
Seattle's park beaches — Golden Gardens, Alki, and others — do not have lifeguards. Puget Sound water rarely exceeds 55°F even in summer. Green Lake and Matthews Beach have supervised swim areas seasonally.
Fire Pits
Fire pits at Golden Gardens are first-come, first-served and extremely popular on summer evenings. During high fire risk periods, a free burn permit from Seattle Fire is required before lighting.
Park Hours
Most Seattle parks are open 4am–11:30pm daily. Parking lot hours vary by park and season. Park facilities such as the Golden Gardens bathhouse and shelter areas can be reserved for private events.
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More Seattle Guides
More ways to explore Seattle's parks and outdoors.
