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Volunteer Park Water Tower

4.4 (87 reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Volunteer Park Water Tower Landmarks & Historical Buildings Photos

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Emily T.

A nice view from the spot and some really interesting history and facts inside about the Water Tower. I came on a rainy day with my partner and we made a date of it checking out the conservatory and nearby museum, at first we weren't sure if it was open but we walked up and saw some people going down the stairs. It's a little steep of a climb up but once you get to the top there are some benches to rest and lots of air circulating about the tower. We enjoyed the views and it was a nice quick stop in checking out the area.

Les R.

The views are amazing and what a beautiful design and building from the outside. We went to check out the Volunteer Park Water Tower with some local friends. It is quite impressive and that climb up had my heart racing. There were platform landings you could take a break and catch your breath if needed (I did). It is worth the clime to get the views and the walk down doesn't take as long and is much easier. Not sure the Volunteer Park Water Tower is on everyone's list but the park and surrounding areas is definitely worth checking out.

Just a little StairMaster workout :)
Gillian A.

A 75-ft water tower built in 1906 on the highest part of Capitol Hill. No fee to enter the observation deck but there's a mild workout cost of climbing a little over 100 steps (as someone who isn't one of the fittest I felt slightly winded when I reached the top but nothing too bad). A bit difficult to peer out of the windows here with the grating and bars on them (need a camera with good zoom to take nice overlooking photos) but the breeze felt very relaxing especially after the quick leg exercise. I stayed here for about 10 min before heading back down. Overall a nice spot to check out if you have some extra time during your Volunteer Park visit.

Melinda M.

Can't complain too much - it's a free view of the city! It's a nice big park with some good viewpoints of the city, including from this tower. We enjoyed the challenge of the 100+ steps to climb. However, it's a bit of the letdown at the top because the city is so far away.... the view at Kerry Park is much better! But if you're looking for a nice chance to stretch your legs and get a little exercise, this is it.

Daniel H.

The Volunteer Park Water Tower was inside Volunteer Park and you can't miss it. We were here on 1/3/20 and there were two stairs to walk to the top. The stairs were a tiny bit steep so it might be difficult to climb for some; however, it was fine for my friends and me. The view from the top let you see downtown Seattle and even have a photo op if you shot in between the linked fence. There were a few benches at the top if you wanted to sit, but it was more of a quick few minutes up there before going down since there was not much to see. It was worth checking out if you're already walking around Volunteer Park!

Arie M.

In an expensive city where everything has a toll, this is a nice free treat and a hidden gem. I had been to Volunteer Park several times but never knew you could climb up there until I saw a youtuber talk about it. It's a fun little walk up the spiral stairs and you get a unique view of the city. 10/10 would climb again.

Outside.
Ting A.

A neat tower which you can climb up to see a view of downtown! It's open to the public and is a nice addition to the park. There are two entrances opposite of each other that lead into a spiral staircase of a little over a hundred steps. I didn't see any other modes of accessibility though. At the top there are a couple of benches if you want to sit and rest. The view is unfortunately barred heavily with two layers, but a clear view of the Space Needle and the city can be seen between the slots.

Jennifer L.

This was one of my first stops upon arriving Seattle on a Thursday night. The view wasn't as beautiful as I expected, because the city was blocked off by many trees and let me be real... It looked like a city for ants. Taking pictures of the city was also a challenge, because the windows were barred off both horizontally and vertically. Nonetheless, it was free. And, hey! Walking up all those stairs was a great workout for my legs! To be brief, as a tourist I wouldn't come out here unless I was conveniently nearby. However, I think if I lived in Seattle, it would be a cool spot just to get some air and alone time.

Jon L.

The Volunteer Park Water Tower is perhaps the oddest attraction at Volunteer Park. It is a fort like structure straight out of a Disney fairy tale cartoon or some damsel in distress drama. As you walk up the winding stairs of one of the two entrances and reach the top you will encounter a cage like structure and barred windows. I wonder how many people take role play pics here like they are Quasimodo or Rapunzel locked up in this tower. Despite the tower dungeon feel at the top, this is a good spot to take pictures of the city. Since the bars are in the way, you do need to use your camera zoom feature to crop it out however. There is a nice view of the Space Needle and downtown Seattle. To the east, there is a partially obstructed view of Lake Washington. Large trees get in the way of a clear view. It is not an obvious spot to go to for a viewpoint of the city, but the Volunteer Park Water Tower is actually a pretty decent spot for this purpose and is one of the most interesting structures that I have come across in Seattle.

Irene G.

We've lived here for eight years now and had no idea we could even climb up the water tower here! It was such a fun quick side visit to when at Volunteer Park! Visited with our four boys, including our 3-uear-old, and they were all able to make the climb easily!

Kimberly B.

So I expected a bit more with this. It's Free so that's a plus. There's no wait and it literally is a walk up about 100ish steps. The struggle for me was the attempt to see out of the bars on the water tower to get clear pics. I'm not super tall and feel like the trees are heavily overgrown so the view isn't as spectacular as I'd hoped. There is also a museum located in the same vicinity but it happened to be closed when I visited. So I literally wasn't' at this location for more than 15 min. As another viewer mentioned I wouldn't make a special trip to see this. There are better skyline views in Seattle even on the drive to this park there are amazing views. Tip: Be careful of the cars cutting through the parking lot. Almost got hit by a lady in a Prius that ran a stop sign when I was walking from the Water Tower. Apparently, those stop signs in that area are just a suggestion. I saw another car go through it as well.

Mark B.

We drove up to Volunteer Park for its views of downtown. They are some of my favorites anywhere. When we got there my friend asked what the stone tower was and we decided to climb. This is a cool old stone clad water tower. There is a steel tank in the middle with stairs winding up inside, along the way up there are windows here and there. Its a long climb to the top there is a big room with benches and lots of windows. The middle of the room is the roof of the tank and is fenced off. The views are great. The tower sits on top of the hill so you see out in all directions (not there are smallish windows covered with steel mesh which does obstruct the views some. Still there are views in all directions, We saw Bellevue across Lake Union. U of W's campus tothe north. To the west there is downtown, the Space Needle, Puget Sound, ferries... Finally to the south there are views of homes in the neighborhood... It is worth the climb, but it is a steep and long one.

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Quite literally as good as easy traversing can be. Irregular brick with a mixture of slippery and grippy holds, what more could you ask for?

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Ask the Community - Volunteer Park Water Tower

Review Highlights - Volunteer Park Water Tower

On a clear day, you can see 360 degrees, with fantastic views of the sunset over downtown and the space needle.

Mentioned in 24 reviews

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People searched for Landmarks & Historical Buildings 1,370 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

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Fremont Troll

Fremont Troll

4.3(835 reviews)
2.2 miFremont

A fun experience, a bit off the beaten path in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle…read more We ventured from downtown to check out the troll. Very easy access via a city bus route. After a short stroll down a well-designed dirt path, we found the giant troll. The troll is great for photos and has a sign that describes the history of the troll. My kids enjoyed climbing around the area, too. Facing the opposite direction from the troll is a very cool bridge that creates some awesome cathedral-like architecture. There is lots to do in Fremont, and even though the troll is kind of a one-and-done deal, it's worth checking out simply to explore the rest of the neighborhood and awesome surrounding businesses. Enjoy your troll hunt!

A visit to the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge is a fun and quirky Seattle stop. Sculpted in…read more1990 by four artists after a competition launched by the Fremont Arts Council to help combat the garbage and clutter that had been collecting under bridges, the troll has become one of the city's most iconic public art pieces. It's a great destination to bring out-of-town visitors--like me--to check out another troll! As a fan of the whimsical trolls created by Thomas Dambo, this was a must-see. Street parking is available nearby, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood. I'd personally recommend not climbing on the troll due to safety concerns, although many people were doing so when we visited. Either way, it's a unique photo opportunity and a classic Seattle experience.

Photos
Fremont Troll - Underneath... by a turnaround...

Underneath... by a turnaround...

Fremont Troll
Fremont Troll

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Sky View Observatory - Elevator entrance

Sky View Observatory

4.5(555 reviews)
1.9 miDowntown

We were able to purchase timed tickets earlier on the same day to access the observation deck and…read morelounge near sunset. We timed it for a half-hour prior to sunset and wish we'd made it an hour before since it was a wait at times to capture photos due to so many people. The views were incredible and very enjoyable to walk the entire outer deck perimeter and then go inside to the lounge. The interior space was exciting to see clear glass floors with views of the gears working to rotate the outer lounge. It was a disconcerting feeling to walk on the glass, but definitely a memorable experience. We easily wandered around the observatory for at least an hour. Would have liked to maybe grab a drink and sat for a while, but it was fairly crowded. There is also a restaurant space if visitors want a dining experience with a fantastic view.

If you're thinking about going to Sky. View or the Space Needle for the view, I highly recommend…read moreSky View. I (unfortunately) paid $24 for parking right in the Columbia Center although there is street parking and other lots near/around Columbia Center. When I came around 4:30pm on a weekday, the building was dead - the food court was all closed. After scanning your ticket, you get in the elevator that takes you to the 73rd floor. Everything is indoors and you get a 360 view of the PNW. It's great if you're able to catch the sunset on a cloud free day. If you get the cafe voucher, you can combine them together to spend on food, drinks, or souvenirs. The space is a little dated but the views are worth it. Overall, a better option for PNW views than the Space Needle however there's no outdoor area.

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Sky View Observatory - Ticket area, but can also purchase online

Ticket area, but can also purchase online

Sky View Observatory - Vita-Tini

Vita-Tini

Sky View Observatory - A Roy rogers

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A Roy rogers

Space Needle - Inside the observation deck

Space Needle

4.0(3.6k reviews)
1.7 miLower Queen Anne

Didn't expect to spend 2 hours here, but the views, the fresh air and food and drink, made it easy…read moreeven with my fear of heights. Tickets were about $50 I think ( I didn't pay for myself), there's a gift store located on the lower level with mugs, magnets, post cards, sweaters, bags, and so much more. You're able to see views of the city, the water and some parts of the islands. There's a bar and an area to order small bites. I ordered an apple and ice cream I gave about a 6/10 definitely reminded me of apple pies from McDonald's. Didn't get to buy a drink from the bar as the lady there totally ignored us while in front of her( decided to spend any money at either bar). Purchased a few things from the gift shop before leaving... 10/10 experience I totally loved and enjoyed the whole experience please try it out!!!!!

I visited the Space Needle on May 14, 2026 around 3:30 PM. I purchased a ticket specifically to…read moreexperience and see the glass floor attraction. However, after going up, I noticed that the glass floor area was closed off for a private event. Unfortunately, there was no clear notice or warning about this before purchasing tickets or entering. I was very disappointed because this was the primary reason for my visit, and I felt like I wasted my money coming here. I understand private events happen, but I believe guests should be informed ahead of time when a major attraction or feature is unavailable so they can make an informed decision before purchasing tickets :( Wanted to share this feedback in hopes that future visitors can have a better experience.

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Space Needle - Waiting to board the elevator ride up the Space Needle

Waiting to board the elevator ride up the Space Needle

Space Needle - Inside the observation deck

Inside the observation deck

Space Needle - The digital pics prior to going up top

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The digital pics prior to going up top

Volunteer Park Water Tower - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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