Quiet, relaxing park with plenty of discreet little areas to explore. Met a few exceptionally…read moreaccommodating park visitors who made the visit particularly memorable. The only inconveniences I remember was a strange wet, leaking feeling around my back pocket and difficulty walking afterward. I'm sure that was just a poorly secured water bottle and the result of staying far too long exploring. Otherwise, excellent visit and will look forward to making new memories here!

4570 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106 fun and cruisey…read morecruises however quote has changed since when they put the habitatarea up

Originally the honey and I were hoping to take the trail that cuts off from the 1-90 trail down and…read moreunder the East Portal Viewpoint, however it was cordoned off so we ended up taking in the gorgeous view and going back through the tunnel to Bradner Gardens Park. The view at the East Portal Viewpoint is amazing, especially on a clear day. It's so pretty that when you're on the other side of Lake Washington, you can think back on what it looked like like from so high up. It's almost entirely an easy walk from Sam Smith Park through the large tunnel, though the last 20 feet or so after the tunnel up to the view is up a steep incline, so be prepared. Otherwise this was a fun point in our day, and definitely worth the detour!

We've driven under here for decades but never looked to see what's above. After studying Google…read moremaps, I learned of this viewpoint and decided it's time to search for it. Essentially, you'll be standing above where it says "Seattle - Portal to the Pacific" This spot is not easy to find so definitely GPS your way there. If you drive a stick shift, be aware of some steep streets in the area. It was a cloudy day and the fact this is not a park with resting places, it's not crowded at all. It's kind of nice to stand here and take some pictures. If you want to explore, there's a walk/bike path to get down to I-90 and Lake Washington. The walk/bike path tunnel has some cool art work. Because it's relatively quiet, I'd suggest proceed with caution rather you're on foot or bike. I'm not familiar with the safety in this area. Probably don't come alone at night for your first visit. Anyway, as a local, I think it's a visit at least once worthy scenic stop.

This spot is Seattle's backdrop overlooking the boats and boat plane traffic of Lake Union, the…read moreCascades mountain range, Lake Washington Bridge, Gasworks Park, and the University of Washington. It's off the beaten path so not many people will have taken in this perspective unless you make a trip on purpose. It's quite the hike from Queen Anne Ave but the view with benches await you.

I came to this park because the trailhead at Trolley Hill Park was blocked due to broken stairs…read more After looking at the map, we drove to the other end of the trail figuring we can walk a part of the way towards Trolley Hill Park. Nope, also a fail. They had blocked off this side, too. From what I can see, the trail didn't seem to be maintained. It certainly didn't look like the online photos. Very disappointing. I just took a photo of the view, walked along street side a little bit, and left.

Fritz Hedges Waterway Park at first blush really reminded the honey and I of Annabel Lake in San…read moreRamon. It has quite a bit of seating and a gorgeous view of the water. We loved watching the ducks and enjoying how peaceful the park is. The one star loss is that if you look a little closer you'll notice that the chairs are bolted down and could use a new coat of paint. The park is generally clean, but it appears that they've been doing some weed work on the garden and haven't yet cleaned out the dead plant material. I expected a bit more of Sakuma Viewpoint since wasn't really a viewpoint - it's just a water overlook and you have the same view almost everywhere in the park, but beyond that, we really enjoyed how relaxing the space was. So all in all, if you're in the area, I wouldn't hesitate to drop by.

The newest 'Fritz Hedges Waterway Park' really has some of the bleakest landscaping I've seen. In…read moresummer you will simply cook in the sun and the sparse parking lot tree species all look half alive. And the native landscaping is very weedy. I'm not sure why nobody put any thought into providing shade. It seems somebody landscaped it back in 2021 and forgot about anything but cutting the grass. I'm sure they send the folks in with gas powered blowers twice a week but god forbid they actually pluck a weed or water a tree. The grass is great if you're a goose or duck, and it's great for you to poop on, of course. It's a fine place to go swim or launch a boat but staying on shore...well you'd be better off visiting Greenlake.

3.2 mile hike today. Excellent…read moretrail..........................................................................................................................................................

Stopped here twice now. First killing time between a random drop off and pickup slot at SeaTac and…read morethis last time after dropping someone off. We all came to go back. Small park and bathrooms. Cell reception at the beach but not in the parking lot.. maybe next time I'll remember to load the maps before walking back up. This time I brought buckets and offered water shoes so we could gather and release shells and walk in the stream. Perfect.

SMALL but effective!…read more Depends on what you're visiting for. We stopped by with a pizza and a few beers just to chill out for a second before walking back to our airbnb. I love that there's a few different little waterfront parks on the west side of Mercer Island. Gives a few different options ... & they all feel pretty private too, which is nice! Seems well kept up enough. Worth a little stop to chill for a second if you're on the island!

Five stars. For the size and lovely location, this park is five stars. A small parking lot. Small…read moregrass are. But the views? HUGE!!! Amazingly huge. From I-90 to Seward Park across the lake. Wow. A regular stop for me when I take a walk on the Island. Excellent place to chill. SYOY.

A perfectly small park by the lake. A great park to walk by when on Mercer Island. A few parking…read morespots in the front. A few sitting areas too. No bathroom here. The beach area is also very small. A gorgeous spot to just chill and enjoy views of I-90 lol and the lake. Enjoy nature. SYOY!

A small but cozy park! The parking lot is a bit small but it is easy to find. The beach area is…read moresecluded and is great for swimming. There is a nice grassy area to set up a chair to relax, great for watching the view across the water!

Having headed up the effort to protect this important Great Blue Heron colony for many decades, I…read morewant everyone visiting Renton's Black River Riparian Forest have a safe experience. This is a magnificent, world-class sanctuary, but it requires local knowledge to navigate safely. 4/30/2026 The cottonwoods have leafed out, making visibility of the full 80-nest colony difficult. However, there is a clear gap in the center where binoculars offer a great view of 11 nests. These herons are a unique, non-migratory subspecies called the Pacific Heron (Ardea herodias fannini). Their population is small and at risk due to habitat loss, bald eagle predation, and human disturbance. What to Expect: Nestlings are currently small and quiet, but they grow quickly, reaching full size with 6-foot wingspan by July or August. The nestlings usually fledge in July (ideally) and sometimes August if they have suffered setbacks from predation (especially Bald Eagles). After fledging, they remain at Black River for about two weeks to hone their hunting and flying skills (landing is especially tricky with those massive new wings). While most disperse to other nearby shorelines, a few may overwinter here, especially if they fledge late in the season. Our Pacific herons do not migrate, instead, dispersing to nearby habitat. Their diets change from fish, frogs, and snakes in the summer, to small mammals such as voles in the winter, so where they disperse to will depend on the food sources. How to Find the Nests: Coordinates: 47°28'31.4"N 122°14'24.0"W From the Kidney Center, cross the short bridge over Springbrook Creek. STAY IN SINGLE FILE and hug the railing -- vehicles pass very close to the narrow sidewalk here. Immediately after the bridge, turn right onto the paved path. At the bottom of the short hill, the paved path veers right, but YOU WANT TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE UNPAVED TRAIL. The Arrival: Walk the equivalent of about one city block. The nests are directly across the pond. Listen for the nestlings' prehistoric-sounding "guk-guk-guk" calls. Safe Parking: Park at Northwest Kidney Center, 602 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton, WA 98057. This is the safest access point. This is a private lot but we have not had any issues parking here for a couple of hours. Areas to Avoid: Do NOT park in the small lot at the foot of Monster Road or walk through the upper meadow due to explicit adult meetups. Personal Safety: This is an isolated sanctuary. Women should NOT visit alone. It is strongly advised to stay in groups of 2 or 3. Maintain high situational awareness. Men from the meadow area often watch visitors, especially as the weather improves. If you are being watched and there are only a few of you, it's best to leave (we always do unless there are quite a few of us, and men are in our group). Trust your gut. There are no shortcuts. Stay on the main path to get back to Oakesdale. Bridge Safety: When crossing the bridge over Springbrook Creek, walk in single file and hug the railing. Vehicles pass very close to the narrow sidewalk. Accessibility: The final trail to the viewing area is NOT wheelchair accessible (uneven, unpaved dirt path). Gear: Heavy-duty mosquito repellent during warm weather and binoculars to see the herons are essential.

The Black Riparian Forest is a little get away from the city within a quick distance - perfect if…read moreyou work in the area. When you get down to it, this place really isn't that amazing. Generally it's not worth the drive...but it does have one thing: blackberries. When I asked the City they confirmed that the Black River Riparian Forest is a pesticide free zone and the blackberries are good to go! There are so many blackberries here, especially if you're willing to dress correctly and get in there, that you can get enough for a pie AND snacking while still not being a greedy pig -- there are soooooo many to go around! Lots of wild life in here because of the abundance of food and hiding places. Watch the ground closely - you'll find rabbits that are hoping that you don't see them!!