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Discovery Park

4.6 (491 reviews)
Open 4:00 am - 11:30 pm

Discovery Park Photos

Recommended Reviews - Discovery Park

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Ren H.

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.

Joanna M.

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.

Raymond H.

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.

Amie N.

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!

Alexis V.

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

Marcus S.

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.

Brian G.

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!!!

Royal P.

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.

West Point Lighthouse
Alisa B.

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.

Lee A.

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.

Mount Rainier
Tai D.

Discovery park is a beautiful place to go on an easy "hike" especially on a nice sunny day. When walking to the lighthouse you may catch a glimpse of Mount Rainier in the distance.

Dominique A.

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!!

IG: @thephotographerfoodie
Brian C.

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! :)

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I loved visiting Discovery Park on my trip to Seattle! So many great walking trails and beautiful water views.

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Page 1 of 13

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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.

Can you swim at Discovery Park?

There is no lifeguard at this beach.

Is there enough parking?

There is ample parking at Discovery Park. Many lots spread throughout the park.

Are there restrooms?

There are.

Are there tide pools?

There are! But only at low tide.

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.

View All 19 Questions

Review Highlights - Discovery Park

At the lighthouse there were two men who had a tripod and camera set up and appeared to be bird watching?

Mentioned in 152 reviews

Read more highlights

Kerry Park - 2037pdt on 5/28/24

Kerry Park

(1.1k reviews)

Lower Queen Anne

Free activity in Seattle, Washington…read more.. When I was at the Post Office, mailing some postcards, the friendly clerk suggested that I go to Kerry Park to view in person, the city skyline as depicted in these postcards... OK! My niece was surprised at the size of "the park". It seems to be more like a strip of lawn instead of a park. Well... we were there for the beautiful view of Seattle and were happy to get a free parking space on the street! There also was an interesting steel sculpture called: Changing Form. It's 15 feet tall and can be used as a nice frame to photograph the Space Needle and its surroundings!

On clear days you can get an amazing view of Elliott Bay and the Central City (with the Space…read moreNeedle of course!), with a backdrop of Mount Rainier. The viewpoint is thoughtfully designed so many people can line up against the railings without too much trouble instead of photographers trying to jockey for space. If you didn't bring binoculars, there's a few coin operated telescopes to help you look at things in the distance. There's also a cool statue here if you're interested, and if you go down the steps there's a small playground. I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone use the playground though, since there are no bathrooms associated with the park and small kids can have bathroom emergencies. There are businesses nearby where I guess you could technically ask to use the washrooms, but it's just another hassle. Note: street parking only.

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park

(225 reviews)

Capitol Hill

Smackdab right in the middle of Seattle, this park is a treasure! In addition to the wide open…read morespaces, trees, and fountains, the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum are also located here. If you want to see a good view of Seattle, check out the Volunteer Park Water Tower's observation deck in the southeast corner of Volunteer Park right on top of Capitol Hill. There's no elevator so be prepared to climb the 107 stairs to the top and be rewarded with 360-degree view of Seattle! There are bars and fencing at the windows though, which does detract a little from the experience. Between the windows are informational signs about Seattle's history. I'll be back to check out the art museum and the conservatory in the future!

Definitely worth a visit. Volunteer Park is a beautiful historic park located in the heart of…read moreSeattle, designed by the Olmsted Brothers and a it's a must see as one of Seattle's well known landmarks. We skipped the inside of conservatory and Asian Art Museum but enjoyed strolling the grounds and admiring the views and taking in the fresh are. The sculpture, Black Sun by Isamu Noguchi, is here too and perfectly frames the Space Needle when you look through it. The highlight was climbing the water tower. The hike up was tiring, we were so out of breath and had to take some breaks, but the views were stunning. Definitely worth it and the walk down was so much easier! The park is peaceful and well-maintained, with plenty of spots to relax. Parking is free but fills up fast. A must-visit for locals and tourists alike! Check out the website for more info at https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/volunteer-park

Discovery Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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