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    Saint Edward State Park

    4.7 (142 reviews)

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    Devil's club colony
    Shawn C.

    TLDR; super pleasant, pup-friendly nature trails down to and around Lake Washington. ... Basically grew up at St Edwards Park hiking and playing tennis since the late 1980s. The addition of The Lodge (2024 Michelin Key!) is for sure a net positive but that's a separate review. Long gone are the tennis and racquetball courts and the pool is now closed. Happy the gym has been taken over by The Lodge and now hosts 4 indoor pickleball courts (basketball floors). The old baseball diamond is still there although I never see anyone use it. Now there is also a cricket pitch in the middle which sees use in the summer. The massive children's playground is also still there next to The Lodge and reminds me of the big old wooden playground at Marymoor Park back in the day. The best parts of this park of course are the trails. The lower trails down to the lake are moderately steep but worth it. The main trail is wide and the least strenuous. There are a couple benches for rest. I like to take the more challenging side trails down and then walk back up the main trail. There are now two restrooms at the bottom so you don't have to piss on a tree like in the old days. Pups are welcome. The trails are very well maintained and clean although there is the occasional stray dog poop unfortunately so be alert. There are some muddy areas. Upper trails along Juanita Drive are also very nice and flatter. Just be mindful as some allow mountain biking. Most bikers are courteous and give a heads up, I have never had an issue. Lots of lovely native plants and enjoy eating wild huckleberries in the summer. There is a massive stand of Oplopanax horridus that I like to visit to give myself the chills. IYKYK Parking is via Discovery Pass and is usually packed on weekends, mostly empty on weekdays. Alternatively the hotel has separate valet parking if you plan on grabbing a brewski afterwards. 10/10 I shall stop rambling now.

    The lodge from the park!
    Latifa S.

    This was our Covid favorite! Well also the lodge opened during Covid ( 2021). It got even better. You need discover pass to park here. Baci loves coming here. We hike! We can go inside the hotel. Even stayed at the hotel once. Smaller rooms, older charm. Cute. Love the bar downstairs and the spa too. The grounds are kept well. Awesome for hiking !

    Ming L.

    Really nice State Park that abuts the Northeastern end of Lake Washington. Parking requires a Discoverist Pass or paid one-day parking so make sure to plan accordingly since it's not as easy as just finding an available spot and calling it a day. There's a small handful of trails in the park, most comprised of ~1 - 3 mile brief hikes. It'll take you just under a mile to get to Lake Washington via the Grotto or Seminary trail and there's a bit of elevation getting down. The Seminary trail is much more gentle of a slope while the Grotto trail poses slightly more elevated drops managed via switchbacks. Both are accessible, but if you're looking for less impact on your knees, it may be doing the Seminary trail there and back. We tried to do the Orchard Loop but realized it was an extremely steep and slippery trail that didn't seem to be worth the hike given the brevity (either that or we completely went on the wrong trail... sorry Orchard to shame your name if you don't deserve the criticism). Overall nice little State Park that also includes a nice little resort (The Lodge at St. Edward Park) and a unique little university just slightly East of the main park that is private / not available for public recreation.

    Great spot to hike with your pup
    Lizzy S.

    We enjoyed the most beautiful hike at Saint Edward State Park! The trails were very well kept and all of the other hikers, and dogs, were so respectful. It's a cool spot to bring your furry friend, but there were some very steep inclines and descents that may be tough for kiddos. Gorgeous views of the forest and Lake Washington, with plenty of spots to for a rest to take in the scenery. Parking wasn't free. It's $10 for a day pass or $30 for a Discover Pass. We went for the Discover Pass as it seemed like the best investment.

    Mojdeh S.

    This is a great park with the most amazing playgrounds - one for littles and one for biggers, and adjacent to one another making it easier on the parents and caregivers of multiple children. There are plenty of fields to run free, play games or simply sit and soak in the weather or enjoy a picnic. Surrounding woods give more space for exploration, discovery and imaginative play. Creativity abounds in all parts of this great state park!

    Grotto - the huge playground
    Eva M.

    Saint Edward State Park is an urban oasis, easily reachable from multiple eastside neighborhoods. It is a 326-acre day-use park with 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Washington, fourteen trails, a huge playground (aka the Grotto), picnic tables, and a newly opened hotel called "The Lodge at Saint Edward State Park". We have barely begun to explore this park in depth. Their huge playground is a tremendous attraction for this park. If you have a child of playground-age, I highly recommend visiting here. Meanwhile, it's always a pleasure to explore the trails, especially trail #1, the Beach trail, to reach the coastline of Lake WA. Note that it's a short but steep walk; see the website's pdf for the trail symbols that denote difficulty level. https://parks.state.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/871/Saint-Edward-State-Park-PDF?bidId= Because this is a state park, the WA State Discover Pass needs to be displayed on your vehicle to park. Day pass or annual pass can be purchased online or on site.

    Susan S.

    Get out on the trails in the park and rejuvenate your mind and spirit in nature. Be inspired by towering trees, lush ferns, soft moss, lichens, fungi and so much more. Fill your lungs with fresh air and contemplate life in a whole new way.

    St Edward State Park Grotto
    Esperanza D.

    St Edward State Park Grotto Review We've been here several times and it's such an amazing Park. Great for hiking, picnics, play by the water with the little ones. And now there's even a hotel. In this review I'll talk about the "St Edward State Park Grotto" only which is a playground made out of wood. Big enough so kids can share without the feeling of being in a crowded space. It has a little bit of everything: slides, sledges, swings, stairs, lots of opportunities to practice your balance, musical instruments. I liked the fact that it's tall enough that children can get some shade in a sunny day (so mostly in the summer) There are restrooms and several tables and benches for you to seat and have a snack before going back to play or go for a hike. Remember to bring your Discovery Pass for your car.

    The beautiful lodge
    Martina C.

    Bike and walking and hiking trails, super clean, gorgeous trees and a GREAT play structure. Loads of picnic tables available for fun outings for larger groups. What a great park!! You have absolutely everything here. Little and big kids alike can love it here. And adults.

    Small beach area
    Karolina N.

    Nice state park to visit for a short hike! It offers some elevation gain/loss which is nice. The best is the lake access it provides - it was perfect during this last summer's pnw heat wave. There are plenty of spots along the water to provide some privacy for your own mini beach! We found a good open spot with other people there and enjoyed the cool water for a while. There are restrooms along the trail also.

    On the trail

    This is a beautiful park. There are trails down to the beach. Or you can just hike through the woods. It's beautiful, quiet and peaceful.

    Scandinavian festival on the Lodge grounds
    Vinay P.

    Beautiful setting, very well done hotel. Checkin staff could use extra hands, but very pleasant.

    Grotto trail
    Tara L.

    We've been using this COVID-19 time to do more exploration of our local state parks, and have been thoroughly enjoying it! Most recently, we spent some time at Saint Edward. This park has a diverse offering for everybody, so it is very family-friendly. There's a huge playground, and it's one of the biggest and nicest that I've seen so far at a state park. During this time, it is closed, though we did see quite a few kids and parents using it. Our curious minds took us on the many trails that surround this park. There are easy, moderate, and difficult trails, though most of them are under 1 mile. The Grotto trail was listed as one of the difficult trails, and I would highly recommend going on this one if you don't have any underlying injuries or health conditions as it is pretty steep and narrow. It's a steady half mile incline over various terrain but the views are stunning. It is also extremely quiet, so you can fully immerse yourself and take in the fresh air and lush greenery. The trail leads you down to the beach overlooking Lake Washington, so definitely don't miss on that. The Seminary trail is moderate in difficulty, so that's an alternative to the Grotto trail. The trailheads are not far from each other. We came on a weekday afternoon, and there were several people on the grounds, and it's easy to socially distance. I imagine the weekends will yield bigger crowds, but with over 326 acres, there's plenty to explore. :) Overall, this is one park that I would come back to regularly, and it's easily accessible from downtown Kirkland. It's also not far from Bridle Trails State Park, another park worth checking out. Don't forget your Discover Pass, or you can pay $10 in the automated machine.

    Beach

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    Love this park. A beautiful loop trail skirts the edge of the lake and you can swim in the middle of a quick convenient conditioning hike.

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    Ask the Community - Saint Edward State Park

    How far/steep is the walk to and from the water? Is it doable with small kids?

    The Orchard Loop to Grotto Trail is about 1.5 miles - it is not too difficult, I did it with my 5- and 7-year old children. As you walk down the trail there are posts that indicate the difficulty level.… Read more

    Is there a place to have a bon fire?

    I haven't seen any signs of bonfires ever being there. As it is a state park, my guess is, you can't do it here.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Saint Edward State Park

    Gorgeous views of the forest and Lake Washington, with plenty of spots to for a rest to take in the scenery.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    Saint Edward State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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