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Absolutely always a beautiful park to visit. And with trails directly next to the Puget Sound and views of the cascade mountains and Mt. Rainer when it is clear, like wow. My recent visit on Saturday 04/18/26 I was so happy I arrived fairly early. I started my walk at around 10 am and returned back to my car at 12:00. The parking lot was nearly full at that time. Of course. Because it was a gorgeous sunny day. Just spectacular. I was planning on walking a loop around but when I discovered that the tide was at a very low status decided to spend most of my time on the beach. Walking out as far as I could. The four stars is because of the lack of bathroom facilities here. And one of the restrooms was locked and honey pots (porta potties) were there instead. Seems like there should be more restrooms for such a populous park. Elite, Daren D. makes some good points in his review that bring my review to four stars. Otherwise, will continue to be a favorite! Enjoy life and SYOY.
Seattle's Discovery Park is the bee's knees! I was completely blown away by this picturesque public space. From an urban park perspective, the only other experience that comes close for me is when I moved to the Old Town Manchester neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia, and had Belle Isle in my backyard, which offers access to hiking, large flat rocks for sunbathing, and whitewater rafting on Class II, III, and IV rapids on the James River right in the middle of downtown. Okay, back to Discovery Park. I spent an entire day exploring the park. I started by ordering a carryout lunch at Damoori Kitchen, which is now closed according to Yelp. I then walked to Discovery Park and hiked the 4.4-mile Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop. A map for that trail can be accessed using a trail app. The loop trail took me through several ecosystems such as coastal meadows, tidal beaches, forest groves, sand dunes, and vast stretches of thickets with wild berries. Once I finished hiking the loop, I walked back to Damoori Kitchen and caught a rideshare back to downtown Seattle. Highlights from my Discovery Park adventure included eating lunch at the tidal beach, exploring sea cliffs, seeing jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier, hiking past the West Point Lighthouse, and experiencing the sights, sounds, flora, and fauna of the park's majestic landscape.
Seattle and their hills are gonna be the death of me. But at least the hills in Discovery Park were scenic enough to justify the jelly legs that came after. If Seattle could only be known for one thing, it would be their abundance of green spaces, parks, and hiking trails. Discovery Park is huge and sparsely populated on a Tuesday afternoon. There's a lot of open space, trees, wild raspberry plants, flowers, and a small beach outlook featuring an unnamed lighthouse and cottage. While you can easily drive to the beach at the edge of the park, my partner and I decided to make the hour trek to enjoy the foresty hiking trails and nature views leading to the beach. The hiking trails are a little rocky/eroded at some parts, but overall the trail is pretty clearly defined. There are signs to guide you around the park and it wasn't hard zigzagging our way to the beach outlook point. The views by the beach are nice and relaxing, but the smell while walking up is strong and off-putting. Not sure if the view was worth the hike, but it was pretty nonetheless. It was much harder hiking back because the path is up a hill rather than down a hill and the hill going back is very steep. If you want, you can rent one of the lime scooters and get yourself back to the entrance of the park. Would I do it again? Probably not. Was it fun? Yes. Did I feel one with nature for a few hours? Most definitely.
This park is huge with lots of trails for hiking. Plenty of parking and we enjoyed our day hike here. The paths and signs were clear to follow and there were some scenic views. A great park to come for a good hike and some scenic views.
You could spend all day exploring the many winding trails that this beautiful park offers! The old military buildings are a unique feature but the real treat is the view as well as a lighthouse should you get all the way to the bottom of the hill on your journey. Many different starting points and routes to explore. My favorite park in the city.
hike is around 2-3 mile from the parking to the beach depending wher you start. we started at the discovery informational center, then enter into a playground, into a wooded area, forest with slight incline, then to another parking, and entering the beach. u can park and enter throught he top of the beach and start walking down. honestly the beach was rocky, not the prettiest but didnt expect much for washington. cool view from the top, cool with shade hike. good easy hike for whole family!
This is a great urban wilderness area that makes you wonder if you are really still in a major city. Miles of trails provide good walking. The loop trail is an excellent way to see most of the park areas and it is generally well marked. But, most signage has seen better days. Maps are available at parking lots but the real problem is that many of the markers and signs on the trails are gone. A GPS map from All Trails is much better. It would be hard to get too lost as trails frequently converge and take you to a road or parking.
Discovery Park is a great park is supposedly the largest park in Seattle at 534 acres. There is a beach which includes Fort Lawton and a lighthouse. There is the Star Indian cultural center and of course plenty of paths, both well travels and some are a little more blazing before being considered trailed. I've come here a few times now and there are plenty of places to walk whether you want trails that are more open, or more wooded you've got both. How a little elevation that gives way to nice views of water. There is a visitors center as well as parking lot with a fair amount of parking before embarking on foot. There is a neighborhood that's seemingly within the park, I'm not sure about the details or history which I'm sure there is, but I think that's a cool transition as you're walking about the park and happen upon the houses that all have a quaint look to them. If you're checking out parks in Seattle, add Discovery Park to your list.
came here nearing sunset time, so thankful for the parking lot on this site because I could comfortably park my car with safety not feeling compromised. good spot to stroll around without much steepness as I was able to do it all in knee-high heeled boots. watch out for the muddy ground that is at the first step of each staircase that was at this park. but, gosh...the view of the water did it for me. worth it to admire the beauty if nature at this viewpoint. Jealous of the people who work here. I just wish that they had more lights around this park with signs on which direction to go for the trails so thatguests have an easier time to navigate...especially during evening or nighttime
Stunning park with everything from open fields to forest to bluffs, beach, and lighthouse. Located in what was Fort Lawton, the historic buildings are still standing and add to the experience. A great place to hike with over 11 miles of walking trails. Great place to get your nature on!!!
An underrated park to go on relaxing hikes! Some of the best fresh air you can get - without driving out too far from Seattle. Very beginner friendly. Many elderly and children here. There's a variety of different views since the park scales out to Shilshole Bay, but the majority of the park is forrest-like. There are MULTIPLE parking lots! So choose wisely to optimize your hike. If you plan to visit the West Point Lighthouse, I would recommend parking at the South Parking Lot. We parked at the North Parking Lot, which gave us many views of the water, but the trail definitely took us longer to get to the lighthouse.
Discovery Park is Seattle's largest park and a walker's paradise. The loop trail is scenic, and the park is very lush, foresty and clean. Once you get to the beach, it's really nice and relaxing and you can see the lighthouse. The only bad thing is it can't hide the fact that it's next to a water treatment plant, so part of the trail has a very strong treatment chemical smell. Probably better for those who aren't as sensitive to smells but it definitely keeps me from revisiting.
Great park with trails for everyone. Very well maintained. You can see many birds, and an assortment of other creatures. Some parks can be busy while some trails and other areas (like the photo) are totally empty. We did the loop trail. Very easy and scenic hike. Hope to go back again and try one of the beach trails.
Please note that Discovery Park Visitor Center is closed until Summer 2027 so I feel like this review is somewhat incomplete. However, this park is so amazing I think I can rate it 5/5 stars without needing to visit the visitor center! Discovery Park is Seattle's largest park and has amazing views of the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. You can head down to the tidal beaches to look at sea critters if you time it during a very low tide, or visit any time to hike and admire the forest, cross the open meadows, and listen to the streams crisscrossing the park. There's even a lighthouse! During summer season, there's a free shuttle bus Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to help you get around the park, as it's so large some people might be put off by the distances needed to walk around the various points of interest. read more
A Seattle Gem with Breathtaking Views! Discovery Park is hands down one of the most beautiful spots in Seattle. My husband grew up in Magnolia, so he took me here for a hike last weekend, and I was completely blown away. We explored the south side and walked the Loop Trail. The path is well-maintained and offers stunning panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. It's hard to believe you're still within the city limits! It's the largest park in the city, so there is plenty of space to enjoy nature. Whether you want a serious hike or just a peaceful stroll to see the water, this is the place to go. Don't forget your camera--the scenery is post-card perfect! read more
The trail is paved and only muddy in some spots, some elevation gain but not too bad. The park is crowded but it's a large space so there's plenty of spots for picnics or a walk/trail run. Service is spotty here so I would download a map or pick up a map . read more
5 months ago
Absolutely always a beautiful park to visit. And with trails directly next to the Puget Sound and views of the cascade mountains and Mt. Rainer when it is clear, like wow. My recent visit on Saturday 04/18/26 I was so happy I arrived fairly early. I started my walk at around 10 am and returned back to my car at 12:00. The parking lot was nearly full at that time. Of course. Because it was a gorgeous sunny day. Just spectacular. I was planning on walking a loop around but when I discovered that the tide was at a very low status decided to spend most of my time on the beach. Walking out as far as I could. The four stars is because of the lack of bathroom facilities here. And one of the restrooms was locked and honey pots (porta potties) were there instead. Seems like there should be more restrooms for such a populous park. Elite, Daren D. makes some good points in his review that bring my review to four stars. Otherwise, will continue to be a favorite! Enjoy life and SYOY. read more
8 months ago
Seattle's Discovery Park is the bee's knees! I was completely blown away by this picturesque public space. From an urban park perspective, the only other experience that comes close for me is when I moved to the Old Town Manchester neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia, and had Belle Isle in my backyard, which offers access to hiking, large flat rocks for sunbathing, and whitewater rafting on Class II, III, and IV rapids on the James River right in the middle of downtown. Okay, back to Discovery Park. I spent an entire day exploring the park. I started by ordering a carryout lunch at Damoori Kitchen, which is now closed according to Yelp. I then walked to Discovery Park and hiked the 4.4-mile Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop. A map for that trail can be accessed using a trail app. The loop trail took me through several ecosystems such as coastal meadows, tidal beaches, forest groves, sand dunes, and vast stretches of thickets with wild berries. Once I finished hiking the loop, I walked back to Damoori Kitchen and caught a rideshare back to downtown Seattle. Highlights from my Discovery Park adventure included eating lunch at the tidal beach, exploring sea cliffs, seeing jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier, hiking past the West Point Lighthouse, and experiencing the sights, sounds, flora, and fauna of the park's majestic landscape. read more
Seattle and their hills are gonna be the death of me. But at least the hills in Discovery Park were scenic enough to justify the jelly legs that came after. If Seattle could only be known for one thing, it would be their abundance of green spaces, parks, and hiking trails. Discovery Park is huge and sparsely populated on a Tuesday afternoon. There's a lot of open space, trees, wild raspberry plants, flowers, and a small beach outlook featuring an unnamed lighthouse and cottage. While you can easily drive to the beach at the edge of the park, my partner and I decided to make the hour trek to enjoy the foresty hiking trails and nature views leading to the beach. The hiking trails are a little rocky/eroded at some parts, but overall the trail is pretty clearly defined. There are signs to guide you around the park and it wasn't hard zigzagging our way to the beach outlook point. The views by the beach are nice and relaxing, but the smell while walking up is strong and off-putting. Not sure if the view was worth the hike, but it was pretty nonetheless. It was much harder hiking back because the path is up a hill rather than down a hill and the hill going back is very steep. If you want, you can rent one of the lime scooters and get yourself back to the entrance of the park. Would I do it again? Probably not. Was it fun? Yes. Did I feel one with nature for a few hours? Most definitely. read more
This park is huge with lots of trails for hiking. Plenty of parking and we enjoyed our day hike here. The paths and signs were clear to follow and there were some scenic views. A great park to come for a good hike and some scenic views. read more
1 year ago
You could spend all day exploring the many winding trails that this beautiful park offers! The old military buildings are a unique feature but the real treat is the view as well as a lighthouse should you get all the way to the bottom of the hill on your journey. Many different starting points and routes to explore. My favorite park in the city. read more
hike is around 2-3 mile from the parking to the beach depending wher you start. we started at the discovery informational center, then enter into a playground, into a wooded area, forest with slight incline, then to another parking, and entering the beach. u can park and enter throught he top of the beach and start walking down. honestly the beach was rocky, not the prettiest but didnt expect much for washington. cool view from the top, cool with shade hike. good easy hike for whole family! read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
This is a great urban wilderness area that makes you wonder if you are really still in a major city. Miles of trails provide good walking. The loop trail is an excellent way to see most of the park areas and it is generally well marked. But, most signage has seen better days. Maps are available at parking lots but the real problem is that many of the markers and signs on the trails are gone. A GPS map from All Trails is much better. It would be hard to get too lost as trails frequently converge and take you to a road or parking. read more
Discovery Park is a great park is supposedly the largest park in Seattle at 534 acres. There is a beach which includes Fort Lawton and a lighthouse. There is the Star Indian cultural center and of course plenty of paths, both well travels and some are a little more blazing before being considered trailed. I've come here a few times now and there are plenty of places to walk whether you want trails that are more open, or more wooded you've got both. How a little elevation that gives way to nice views of water. There is a visitors center as well as parking lot with a fair amount of parking before embarking on foot. There is a neighborhood that's seemingly within the park, I'm not sure about the details or history which I'm sure there is, but I think that's a cool transition as you're walking about the park and happen upon the houses that all have a quaint look to them. If you're checking out parks in Seattle, add Discovery Park to your list. read more
came here nearing sunset time, so thankful for the parking lot on this site because I could comfortably park my car with safety not feeling compromised. good spot to stroll around without much steepness as I was able to do it all in knee-high heeled boots. watch out for the muddy ground that is at the first step of each staircase that was at this park. but, gosh...the view of the water did it for me. worth it to admire the beauty if nature at this viewpoint. Jealous of the people who work here. I just wish that they had more lights around this park with signs on which direction to go for the trails so thatguests have an easier time to navigate...especially during evening or nighttime read more
Stunning park with everything from open fields to forest to bluffs, beach, and lighthouse. Located in what was Fort Lawton, the historic buildings are still standing and add to the experience. A great place to hike with over 11 miles of walking trails. Great place to get your nature on!!! read more
An underrated park to go on relaxing hikes! Some of the best fresh air you can get - without driving out too far from Seattle. Very beginner friendly. Many elderly and children here. There's a variety of different views since the park scales out to Shilshole Bay, but the majority of the park is forrest-like. There are MULTIPLE parking lots! So choose wisely to optimize your hike. If you plan to visit the West Point Lighthouse, I would recommend parking at the South Parking Lot. We parked at the North Parking Lot, which gave us many views of the water, but the trail definitely took us longer to get to the lighthouse. read more
Discovery Park is Seattle's largest park and a walker's paradise. The loop trail is scenic, and the park is very lush, foresty and clean. Once you get to the beach, it's really nice and relaxing and you can see the lighthouse. The only bad thing is it can't hide the fact that it's next to a water treatment plant, so part of the trail has a very strong treatment chemical smell. Probably better for those who aren't as sensitive to smells but it definitely keeps me from revisiting. read more
1 year ago
Great park with trails for everyone. Very well maintained. You can see many birds, and an assortment of other creatures. Some parks can be busy while some trails and other areas (like the photo) are totally empty. We did the loop trail. Very easy and scenic hike. Hope to go back again and try one of the beach trails. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This is my favorite park I've ever been to in any city limits ever! If you are a nature lover, an athlete looking for a good spot to run/bike or just want to take a break from city living, this spot feels like a peaceful stroll in the woods. If you're more of a beach lover, head further into the park to see the iconic lighthouse & ocean views - overall if you want a good taste of Seattle's natural beauty; do not miss this spot!! read more
Discovery Park is truly an escape from Seattle within Seattle. The park is a lot larger than it appears with multiple parking lots. However, it can get filled quickly on nice days so you may have to park on the street. Anyways, take the trail to the lighthouse and the beach at the west end of the park for spectacular views on a clear day. The trails are well-cleared but can be tight at some points where you may have to wait to let others pass. The lighthouse and beach area is perfect for a picnic too! Follow my Instagram and TikTok @thephotographerfoodie for more! :) read more
Went for a short hike with the dogs on what was suppose to be a partially cloudy day. Luckily the clouds didn't have any rain in them while we were there. So many trails to choose from. Most trails are relatively flat but some can be strung together for a more challenging route. We just love the different viewpoints of Puget Sound. read more
This park is just awesome. It is large with different areas to explore. I've hiked in the woods surrounded by mossy trees, and that alone was cool. However, I recently hiked to the beach for the first time, and that had a totally different feel. The beach is huge with great views of the Sound. The pebbles and sand extend far out into the water (at least while I was there, maybe it was low tide). One could stand barefoot on the wet earth while searching for hints of sea life among the rocks. At least that's what I wanted to do, but I wasn't prepared with any towels or extra shoes so I just watched others do it from afar. The hike back up the hills from the beach to the south parking lot was tough for this out of shape gal, but I got through it. Bring water. Oh there's also an area closer to the parking lot with an old church and a field on a hill with pleasant views of the Olympic mountains across the water. Some people were there lying on blankets and chairs, soaking in the scenery. I still haven't even gone to the visitor center, but I will someday. This is a park that offers a lot and needs a few visits to really get a feel for it. read more
5 years ago
COVID still here... masks are still required in indoors places, so it is NOT mandatory to wear masks at Discovery Park (trails or beach) I've been here in winter, spring, summer and fall and it never disappoints. You can park either north or south parking lot. A long time ago (before COVID times) in the summer they used to have a shuttle bus running from the visitor center (close to north parking lot) to the beach (light house) ... I really hope it comes back one day. These trails are full with runners, hikers, walkers, even strollers and dogs. It's a family hike. From the south parking lot to the light house (round trip) it's like 2.7 miles, there are A LOT of stairs so I do not recommend it for strollers or bikes. The light house is so pretty. Usually there's people there bird watching. Perfect for any photoshoot (I know!! I always think about photoshoots LOL) In the summer restrooms were open but during winter break they were closed. read more
Discovery Park is my absolute favorite park in Seattle. It's epic, like 500 acres, I think? Go see it! My hubs and I have seen ravens, woodpeckers, woolly bear caterpillars, owls, and more here. It's a magical place and it helped me survive (still surviving!) the pandemic. It's the silver lining to this COVID tragedy--I got out in nature more, discovered forest bathing, learned how to be in the moment while walking through the woods. I'll always be grateful to Discovery Park for keeping me alive and keeping me sane. read more
What a GEM! This is a beautiful park in the Magnolia area. It is ginormous and there are tons of paved trails all around & you can bring your dogs. My friend recommended for a sunset hike and hike down to the beach for a small picnic. We went too late the first day so we didn't hike down to the beach. But we were able to enjoy the sunset right above Magnolia Bluff. Gorgeous view of the sunset and the ocean. We came back the next afternoon to hike down to the beach. Make sure you wear hiking shoes and not sandals/flip flop. It is a hike down with lots of steps down to the beach (prob about a mile). It was high tide when we went so there weren't much of a sand beach for us to sit on, so we opted sitting on the logs. read more
1 year ago
6 years ago
4 years ago
Discovery Park is an absolutely beautiful park in Seattle that just offers so much. Dense trees, nicely maintained trails, wildlife sightings (seals, eagles), and views of the water and mountains including Mt. Rainier when it's clear out! It's a pretty popular park so there will definitely be others there but it's a big enough park to still get some quiet. The wastewater treatment plant is there but decently hidden, although sometimes the smell does come through. Stay close to the shore though and you forget about it! read more
2 years ago
What a lovely place to walk or trail run! We did the 2.8 mile loop that is very well maintained and marked. We never felt lost or confused on what path we should take. There are a few scattered toilets along the way. Most of the walk is through a tree covered forest with large, interesting trees and ferns on the forest floor. Many parts of the trail are quiet and if you pay attention, can hear a lot of good bird chatter. There is a section that opens up to great views of the water with a few good lookout opportunities. Around the open area we found some wild blackberries that were a little tart but fun to try. This is one of those places you wish you lived close to so you could do your daily walk through nature, which feels rejuvenating. read more
6 years ago
When we got to Discovery Park, I was so bummed because the gate was closed with a "Closed" sign. But, then I noticed you could still go in on foot. We followed the trail signs and walked down to the beach, saw the lighthouse and went all the way around the park. It was somewhat strenuous which I loved and the scenery was beautiful. I do not know how I forgot to take a photo of the old lighthouse. That was my highlight! Need to go back to get that photo. read more
I liked going from the South parking lot, loop trail, to lighthouse, to end at North parking lot. It was mostly downhill with some steps. Enough uphill and hiking variations to keep things interesting for me. Intra covid, parking lots are closed but there are lots of street parking. Loved the scenery and mostly shaded walkways. No water fountains and did not see any toilets along my way. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
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More info about Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park Blvd
Seattle, WA 98199
Magnolia
Directions
(206) 684-4075
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/discovery-park
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Discovery Park
I'm new to the area and not familiar with this park. I understand there are tide pools, but where specifically would I find them?
Down at the beach. There is a trail that leads you down to the beach, or you can ride our free shuttle https://parkways.seattle.gov/2025/05/23/free-2025-summer-beach-shuttle-at-discovery-park/
Is fishing from shore any good at Discovery Park? If so, where and what time of year?
Thanks for your question. We don't have specific info for fishing there, but you could check the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife's page here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/marine-areas/seattle-bremerton-area
Where is the best spot to put a paddle board in? I want to get as close as possible because my board is heavy.
There is no good spot for paddle boarding here; the water is reached through a long trail system. There is no parking available at the bottom of the road that goes down to the water sewage treatment plant. There are 2 disabled-person spots at the…
Where is the volleyball net?
Hi - there is no volleyball net at Discovery; thanks for bringing to our attention that the Seattle Parks and Recreation website erroneously lists volleyball as an activity here.
Is this a clothing-optional location?
Seattle Parks does not condone clothing-optional visits to any public park or beach. Regarding this location, Discovery Park sees a lot of families on the trails and beaches.
Are there fire pits?
No fire pits at Discovery. The only fire pits that are permitted in Seattle parks are within the metal rings at Alki and Golden Gardens beaches. However, the pandemic closed them in 2020 and we are waiting to see what happens for summer season 2021.…
Is this a good place for biking?
The paths that are 5 feet or wider are acceptable for bike riding. The narrower paths and dirt trails, or walking trails of any kind, are off limits for cycling. Thanks for asking.
Any recommendations of places to camp near Seattle? Not sure if this is the right place to post this but looking for any information at all!
You cannot camp here. There are not campgrounds within the City of Seattle.
Is this a good spot for a picnic -- are there tables anywhere?
Maybe further down the peer. Most of the paces to eat have out door seating.
Is there enough parking?
There is ample parking at Discovery Park. Many lots spread throughout the park.
Can you go fishing here? If so where are good spots?
Yes you can, the best spots are on boat about 50' off shore alone the high tire line.
How many trails are there? Any of them great for a 3 year old to tag along for the trip?
There are too many trails to count but the lighthouse trail is a favorite for toddlers who like to beach comb
Are there bike racks to lock your bike at ? Is it safe to leave your bike locked there for a couple of hours?
Yes, there are bike racks. I don't remember the entrance or name of the places but there is one at the information center and one on a trail close to the water. Hopefully that helps.
Can I bring my dog here?
Yes. As far as know, there isn't an off-leash area at this park. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails though.
Review Highlights - Discovery Park
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