Fiddlesticks! I saw that because I'm finally getting around to writing a review of the park which has been the closest to my heart, since I was born here in Seattle. Why you ask? Because I grew up here just down the street, and it is basically the park that makes me feel most at home. Yes, there are other parks in the area, but this one is the best. Let's discuss... there is a beach, there is a railroad bridge that is sketch as heck, but absolutely a blast of hot air (literally), because it's just a you, above the train, and a chainlink fence... so safe, probably, fun, absolutely. The beach, when the tide is out, is great tide pooling, lots of things to see, from little crabs, all sorts of starfish goodness. Up near the parking lots, there is a large field, and playgrounds. There are plenty of things for the kiddos to do, but the gem, is a concrete slide, in the shape of a salmon. Yes, a long time ago, there was a metal slide that ranks as the hottest things short of flying into the sun... when it was a sunny day. There are reservable picnic tables and prep areas with water... good stuff. Honestly, there are so many wonderful things about this park... did I mention the trails? There are lots of trails that have viewpoints. So recommend, yes. read more

Another peaceful place to get away from traffic, yet still remain in Seattle. A nice one-mile twisty-turny rally course track, so if you are not familiar with hairpin turns, keep your speed way down. A lot of popular Piper Creek trails to follow that make you feel like you are over the water at Olympic National Park--here is the ONLY deciduous rain forest in the entire Northern Hemisphere. Beautiful. Enjoy hundreds of species of birds here, marked trails and a mile-long beach with Golden Gardens to the south and the Highlands to the North. There is a large play area here some 30,000 feet for the kids and small barbeques, and a bench looking out over Puget Sound. If you want to get a birds-eye view of the trains passing by, if you aren't acrophobic, you can walk over to the overpass bridge with it's see-through deckplating that puts you literally right on top. The bridge leads another forty steps down to the beach area which is just as beautiful as Golden Gardens. Lots of driftwood and shiny things for the kids to collect, shells and the like. And a few beer and soda tops from decades past. read more

Great place to catch some unexpected wildlife! There is a family of Beavers that inhabits the wetlands and it's not uncommon to catch a glimpse of them or their recent handiwork. They regularly fell trees and dam the river! Hah! There are quite a few decent walking trails and the beach while not the largest typically provides ample privacy. The playground/Salmon slide is a great spot as well if you have kids. read more

We went to Carkeek Park earlier this summer for a group picnic with an organization I am involved in. I have to say this is a great park for such an activity but a lot of other people had the same idea as well making it a fairly busy place. We stayed at Shelter One and had a shade to get out of the sun due to a roof at the shelter which was great! There was also a grill that we uses which worked out very well. We cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and later on someone even cooked a pizza... which if you follow online instructions for this you can accomplish this. We were right next to the salmon slide which is very popular with kids here but also with adults for picture opportunities. Bathrooms are close by and are very suitable compared to previous picnic outings at other parks this organization has done. We were very close to the beach and so we took some time to stroll across the pedestrian overpass and meandered on the beach and enjoyed the view of Puget Sound which was awesome as always! There are lots of park paths to explore but we didn't want to be gone too long from our group so we didn't explore any of those so that will definitely need to be explored another time for sure! read more

See all

Carkeek Park spans 220 acres and consists of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, and creeks. It's located west of the Northgate area of Seattle and is next to the water. There are plenty of walking and hiking trails here. To get to the beach, drive down the long narrow road. There are multiple parking lots throughout; on weekends and warm days, I'd recommend parking at the first spot you can find because it can get very full. There was a large grassy area with a playground structure and tables for large gatherings. You can even reserve some areas for private events. From the grassy area there is a small bridge and stairs that lead to the beach. The stairs can be a little shaky and vibrating as you walk down, so I'd recommend holding onto the rail for safety. The beach itself is very rocky so walking barefoot might hurt, and I'd bring towels to sit or lay on. Even past the beach there were more grassy areas with tables and trees. The park was bigger than I thought and it's a really nice place to spend a warm day or afternoon. read more

See all

Absolutely lovely park! I was going to be in the area for other things and wanted to get there early, which means I gotta find a place to get my walk on! I asked Washington Trail Association what was in the area and Carkeek was recommended. This is a huge park with a lot of trails to choose from as well as a very nice playground area and beach access. When I was here I was able to catch was appears to be the tail end of the cohos going upstream which was a nice find! This park is very dog friendly and has a low elevation so it's good for the little kiddos as well. Definitely worth stopping by! read more

Carkeek Park - Beautiful views!!! - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I really wanted to like Carkeek Park and quite honestly, it's just wasn't for us. We started out strong, walking through the Mary Ave Ravine. The homes on either side as you walk up to the trail have quite a bit of fun decor and as you walk into the park you feel surrounded by beautiful trees. From there we found the trail went from a path to a very rocky downward slope that was not fun on the knees, passing through the neglected and washed out Chum Salmon Viewing Area, complete with broken wooden railings. We stopped into the Model Airplane Field for a rest and found it contained nothing but picnic tables. No culture, not mosaics, no sculptures. The bulk of the draw of the park seems to be Carkeek Park Beach, which you need to cross over a very high narrow chainlink pedestrian bridge to visit. There's no underpass or well designed modern bridge, but it's very clear that the entire park could have used additional funding and upgrades, especially the almost entirely dissolved sidewalk you tiptoe past as you walk up the paved parking road that breaks off from NW Carkeek Park Road. It's a beautiful park, but quite a bit of it feels unsafe and outdated so I would probably skip it if you're looking to visit local parks in Seattle. read more

Carkeek Park is a 200+ acre park that's considered to be in the Broadview neighborhood. Residents can get here easily, but it's a just a little drive off a main street giving anyone an opportunity for a nice day out. To start - there is a kids/visitors center when you make your way down the to the parking area. It wasn't open on this visit, but information sits outside about programs and wildlife potentially seen in the park. This is nice. Down to the main first - parking area is a sort of open field with some creek points that have alcove like areas where Salmon and other water dwellers may be depending on the time of year and conditions. There are Information plaques around to add to the education for any readers. There is nice open space for picnicking and field activity. There are trails around, none very elevating but good enough for me. At Carkeek you can make your way to the beach which is entered by a bridge of "locks" (literal locks for your high school locker adorn this bridge), or you can take paths that lead you into very forest-y trails that for some moments let you get lost in the trees and brush. Carkeek Park is a good way to spend a day or at least a few hours. It has simple trails, beach and open field to offer while being that are great for being outside. read more

See all

Large picnic space, ample area for picnic on the lawn, grills available shelters, bathrooms, hiking trails, , and much much more. read more

Carkeek Park is a lovely little park with so many things you can do with your family or just want some alone time by yourself! I love coming here when I just want to be close to the water cause it's generally not too crowded. There are multiple walking trails, picnic tables, playground for the kids (check out the salmon slide) and the beach is right across the bridge. It also seems like a nice place to have a get together or birthday because there is so much open space. The hiking trail is super easy and doesn't too long before you reach the beach, if you're lucky you'll be able to see some seals! The beach is big enough that you can venture out by yourself and just listen to the waves. There are signs that say there are no dogs allowed but I see so many people bring their dogs here. Parking is free and there are multiple parking lots but the main parking lot by the playground can get pretty crowded depending on what time of the year you go. read more

See all

Magic park right in the city. Clean trails. Elevation change. A stunning beach. A railroad bridge. The only downside are the bathrooms but hey it's a city park. Come enjoy the views in nearby any kind of weather. Breathe in. read more

Carkeek Park - Playground - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This park was such a surprise to me! I saw it on Google Maps near my neighborhood, which is how I pick random places to explore. I saw it had trails and was near the water so I wanted to check it out. It took me awhile to figure out where the heck to park! I parked in a neighborhood because one of the trails literally starts between two houses. I felt like I was trespassing at first, but there was a sign that obviously said it led to a park so I walked through anyway. (I'm new to Seattle, is this a normal thing?) Immediately I was transported to a narrow walking path in a beautiful world of tall trees & moss. There was a fork and I walked onto the larger path. It didn't go too far before reaching a small, bumpy but legit road. A road?! This might be a road that... yup... as I walked on, this road led me to a PARKING LOT. I could've parked my car here. Oh well! This lot is near a playground and a large path that leads to a BRIDGE that goes above a train track in which two freight trains had gone under during my visit! It was really cool to see them pass by. Beyond this bridge is the BEACH! It was a large sand/pebble beach with driftwood and small pools of water to play in. Of course there were the incredible views of Puget Sound beyond the pebbles. On my way back to the car, I decided to take a different trail (it was called the North something trail, I forgot). This was a bit steeper and more muddy in some parts, but it wasn't too long of a walk and was very pleasant. What a hidden gem. I am definitely coming back. read more

See all

We love this park! We have been here a few times and love it more each time. So many different areas, we love walking on the beach and watching the sunset. There is also a great play area for kids, lots of picnic benches with great views of the water, a large lawn, and some paths in the woods. We love watching the trains go by too. There is something for everyone. read more

See all

Such an amazing adventure to have here! We got to see the Salmon returning upstream, take a walk and go to the beach for a bit, and play at the playground. It's such an amazing hidden park and I can't believe I haven't been here before, such a treasure! read more

See all

TLDR: Lovely area to walk. Very rocky beach. Don't slip on the seaweed. Golden Gardens has more critters. Small parking lot so you may end up walking a ways. Sorry, no dogs allowed. There's a sign on the bridge before you enter the beach. Not as crowded as golden gardens which is nice but there's also not as much sand. The beach is pretty rocky. Watch where you step with the seaweed at low tide--it can get very slick! Low tide doesn't have quite as much life as Golden Gardens but there are a lot of clam holes here. I also managed to find a few live moon snails--which l've found at golden gardens as well. Golden Gardens definitely has more crabs, fish, starfish, etc. If you have a lot of experience like I do, you can find a variety of things but it is much harder to look than Golden Gardens. I think people mainly come here for the creek and view rather than for low tide. There are no amenities here. Just a shoreline with one access point that is a bridge over a railroad. Mind those stairs! They are very hole-y so watch those floppy floppies! There is a single porta-potty in the parking lot but it's nowhere near the shore. read more

See all

Great view spot that gets less attention than Golden Gardens :) Pros: -Lots of parking -Great views -Swings/grass area Cons: -When more people find out about this place, then parking might be a problem! Enjoy the sunset! read more

Most definitely a "GEM" of a park: offering a little NW attitude and different offerings in one (220 acres worth) park. From forests to meadows to wetlands and creeks & beaches-this is IT! Puget Sound beach and marvelous mountain views! Don't limit your visit to the wooded/meadows/playground! Go across the pedestrian bridge to the beach! Explore the tidal area-just watch out when the tide comes back in! They do NOT allow dogs on the beach-per the signs they had there when we visited. read more

See all

Carkeek is a great little hike venture. Also, walking out to the beach is a plus and a great view of the train tracks. Good to watch with family and friends near sunset. aside from the goose / bird poop, it's worthwhile. read more

Cute park with a nearby beach. My boyfriend and I visited the beach to check out the low tides. We were able to see really cool sea creatures, like barnacles, anemones, snails, starfish, crabs, and fish. The beach has a beautiful view of Mt. Olympus and the water is cold and refreshing on a warm day. Only thing is that the sand is on the rocky side, so I recommend wearing sandals on the beach and bringing a soft towel to sit on. read more

See all

There's something for everyone here. I easily found parking next to the large lawn next to the park which is also pretty fun, ( I played in it supervising a baby, it's big!) There are picnic tables nearby and there seemed to be a few parties happening, definitely a great spot to throw a kid's party, theres plenty of room for activities. We had a stroller with us and walked a few of the trails. Some were hard to go through with a stroller but they are well maintained for walking around. To access the beach you have to cross a bridge and walk down stairs to so we had to leave the stroller in the car and walk over but the view is worth it and Oakley had so much fun playing by the water and searching for crabs under rocks. read more

Love, love, love this park. It has so many things to see. You can sit down on a bench that is besides the river and watch the salmon or you can walk along the river. You just have to find one of the little shadowy entrances along the river trail infant of one of the parking lots. By the way, the other parking is uphill going on the right when you enter the Park. You can also walk uphill beside the water treatment or the other way. Both are part of the ring. You can find different trails with stairs going up and down and connecting with the neighborhood behind the Park. Walk all the way through it till you find the apple trees. Some of them are always protected with nets. I think they are being treated as there are some worms :S If you walk through the neighborhood, pass the school and then get into some of the uphill trails, you can find a kind of botanic park with flowers too. But be careful hiking downhill. Super fun for dogs! You can also go the other way until you get to a bridge that takes you to the beach. Unfortunately, no dogs are aloud :( There should be a place for them so all family can enjoy a quick swim after a hike! read more

Carkeek Park - Nice, right? - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Carkeek is a lovely Seattle Park that draws somewhat less traffic than neighboring Golden Gardens. Highlights: -play area for kiddos -plenty of dog--friendly walking trails within the park -beautiful views of the Sound read more

Carkeek Park is one of my favorite parks in North Seattle. I was driving from Capitol Hill onto I-5 and the Ship Canal and viewed yet another summer sunset (7/30/17). In the past, this park was a big hit and frequent destination with The Homie when he was a smaller kiddo. Anyways, follow the signs from 3rd W and NW 110th to a curvy road, then turn left to the park's entrance. The park itself has trails, beach access over the train tracks, playground areas, picnic/BBQ spots, and large tracts of maintained grassy lawn areas. Even saw an art installation of large vertical matchsticks. I was able to get a parking space and the walked over to sit at one of the benches facing west towards the shilouette of the Olympic Mountains. Lovely setting sun, lots of folks in the vicinity anticipating the view. Families with kids also enjoyed the train that came by heading northbound. It was a pleasant breezy summer evening! Great way to enjoy the sunset and hear the waves from the park benches. read more

See all

Labor Day weekend Sunday family picnic with Guerra family at Carkeek Park following A visit to Ballard Farmers Market, sunshine, seattle tradition- as usual amazing Sunday afternoon to experience this unique farmer's market within historic Ballard. We stumbled upon Guerra's just as we entered the market. Family owned and operated seasoning store Owner's had travelled from Sunnyside located across the cascades. Farm grown ingredients, sun dried and mixed to create a traditional taste of a unique seasoning mix. I was considering buying one of each or a gift box but then settled for an extra hot mix. Tried it on apple, cucumber and simply straight. The taste is incredibly fresh infused with sun dried ingredients and labor of . I feel honored and privileged to be included in Guerra Family Labor Day Picnic. Gracias read more

Carkeek Park - Salsa and chips = happiness - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This family-friendly park is full of trails for all ages! We started off the New Year with a wet walk looping through a trail where the forest floor was layered in a coat of ferns. Trees were a plenty here - Douglas fir, western red cedar, hemlock and much more. We passed Piper's Creek and kept our eyes out for salmon but didn't see any. Then we made our way down to the water where if you're lucky you may see a seal pup! We didn't see any though but it was fun to cross the metal bridge right as a train was passing by. We'll be back to explore the other trails and learn more about this wetland! read more

See all

NW Seattle is a gem and Carkeek Park is one of them. The park itself has various areas and places to hangout. There is a small trail for hiking, open picnic, playground for children and of course the beach! I came on a spring day so it was very chilly but the views are amazing! I just saw some of the sunset photos and will have to come back to check that out!! read more

Watch out for slugs. They are not suicidal, just slow. Train is loud. No beach volleyball or tons of the annoying young people that you'd find at places like Golden Gardens, so if you're planning on hitting on someone here, probably not the place. Giving this a low rating because I want people to think this place sucks even though it doesnt. Stay a secret Carkeek Park! I dont want all of Seattle and its tourists visiting you all the time. You can also watch the salmon come up the stream during certain times of the year. Real sad numbers lately. A great place to teach your kids the sad reality of our ruined environment and maybe teach them about death w a few dead salmon floating around. read more

Carkeek Park - Sunset inside a tree - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ah yes, another wonderful Seattle park! I've spent some time wandering around the trails here, but the most notable visits are when we have stopped by a lookout area for the sunsets. I remember we had to park in the adjacent neighborhood that had a path leading into the park and it's a short walk (along a trail) before you get to the viewpoint. It's simple, but... it's a great place to go with some friends who enjoy that sort of thing. I have no idea which lookout it is because my boyfriend knows the way and I always go with him, but it's official (with a picnic table and everything) and I'm sure it's on some sort of map. read more

Carkeek Park - one of my friends enjoying the sunset - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This park is a wooded valley that funnels down to an open view of the Olympics on a clear day. This place and view are unique to Seattle.

I love this park. I would say it has different terraces of activity. There is one level that is a field with playground equipment for children. There's even a big salmon-shaped slide! There are some lovely, pretty short hiking trails above the children's area. On the lower section you can walk along the river and watch the salmon. You can also take the stairs, close to the playground, and walk over the train tracks and down to the beach. The trains are loud and go by fairly often, but people seem to enjoy watching them and walking over the bridge as they go by underneath. The beach area is nice and doesn't seem that crowded. It really is a lovely park. read more

See all

I still love this park and think it is an absolute hidden gem of a park. We were here this past weekend for a summer picnic and it worked out so well. Everyone found parking and had a great time. The grassy area was perfect to set up our badminton court, ladder ball and croquet. So much fun and so much to do! There are lots of benches and tables around and there are trash cans too, which was convenient because we ended up with a lot of trash and recyclables. It's not too hard to find because there are signs outside that lead you in the right direction. The sunsets here are breathtaking and should not be missed. read more

Carkeek Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Miles and miles of trails, some paved, mostly gravel. Quiet and often full with families, dogs, joggers. read more

See all

This park is just a few blocks from our house and we enjoy walking down the hill to hike its many miles of forested trails. We spend quite a bit of time here and appreciate so many things about it- the beach access and watching the sunset over the Sound/Olympics, grills and picnic tables for cookouts or board games with friends, bathroom and drinking fountain and a lot of great viewpoints on the trails. People seem to enjoy standing on the bridge between the parking lot and the beach as trains pass underneath (but plug your ears- it's painfully loud!!). There is also a salmon hatchery and in November/December the coho salmon come back up Piper's creek to spawn. There are lots of little benches and bridges from which you can watch this fascinating process. But the best thing about Carkeek is the diversity of the people who use it. Everyone seems to know it is a special place and on any given day we hear a variety of languages spoken. read more

Carkeek Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This is my very favorite place in all of Seattle. It has everything from a sandy beach to excellent picnic facilities, a huge lawn for games and relaxation, and forest walks that make me feel, even for just a little while, like I am really in the forest, far from the bustle of the city. read more

See all

Good walking trails in the park, dogs aren't allowed on the beach. Fun place to explore and search for mushrooms. read more

See all

Beautiful park! Lots of benches for picnics, kid park, trail and beach! Great place to walk around and enjoy the sunshine. There was a few people on a Friday afternoon but could fInd parking right in front. read more

Carkeek Park - Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The best park u can think of So peaceful And so quiet I could hardly imagine I ll be there for a bbq someday! read more

One of my favorite urban escapes; a series of trails wind through forest and small creeks, spitting you out onto the Puget Sound. The beach is a beautiful spot for sunset and a view of the mountains when it's clear. Dogs not allowed but I've seen them floating around. read more

Carkeek Park - Carkeek Park Beach - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Carkeek is the best lowkey spot to kick it if you ever want a tranquil place to be in your thoughts. Unlike Alki Beach or Golden Gardens, this place isn't run down by a whole bunch of people on a nice hot day. Matter of fact, this is probably the last spot people want to be on a nice day. Which is why it is so underrated for what it is. It's a small beach, a little rocky, it ain't that perfect. But hey, neither are you but I'm not complaining! It's a nice little spot just to see the views of the ocean and maybe hear the trains pass by every 20 minutes or so. read more

What a delightful little hidy hole of a park just north of 85th and a little to the left in Seattle! Follow the winding roads down and around corners of cottages tucked away from the busy city streets nearby. Meander around twisting turns covered with lush green forest goodness welcoming you in to the bosom of Carkeek Park! Driving into the clearing is at once a relief from the dark forest shade and a relaxing sigh as you see the coastline and draw in that first deep breath of saltwater blessed air. So much to see and do here with touches of creative artistic Seattleite flare everywhere you turn! The kiddie play area is shaped like salmon, the cross walk is painted like piano keys, etc. So much fun! Lots of picnic tables, a large open field with several games of soccer and frisbee going on this Sunday evening in May. An absolute delight tonight were the Banjo and Accordian musicians playing in the upper part of the park! Their beautiful music wafted throughout and made for a lovely soundtrack along with the sounds of children playing and the smell of BBQ's at sunset. Closer to 8pm the musicians made their way towards the beach bridge to delight the park folk on the sand below enjoying the waves and watching the brilliant orange sun slowly set behind the Olympic Mountains. Carkeek park was an amazing jewel of Seattle shining brightly today! It's a beautiful sight! read more

See all