Carkeek Park

We went to Carkeek Park earlier this summer for a group picnic with an organization I am involved in. I have to say this is a great park for such an activity but a lot of other people had the same idea as well making it a fairly busy place. We stayed at Shelter One and had a shade to get out of the sun due to a roof at the shelter which was great! There was also a grill that we uses which worked out very well. We cooked hamburgers, hot dogs and later on someone even cooked a pizza... which if you follow online instructions for this you can accomplish this.
We were right next to the salmon slide which is very popular with kids here but also with adults for picture opportunities. Bathrooms are close by and are very suitable compared to previous picnic outings at other parks this organization has done.
We were very close to the beach and so we took some time to stroll across the pedestrian overpass and meandered on the beach and enjoyed the view of Puget Sound which was awesome as always!
There are lots of park paths to explore but we didn't want to be gone too long from our group so we didn't explore any of those so that will definitely need to be explored another time for sure!

I really wanted to like Carkeek Park and quite honestly, it's just wasn't for us.

We started out strong, walking through the Mary Ave Ravine. The homes on either side as you walk up to the trail have quite a bit of fun decor and as you walk into the park you feel surrounded by beautiful trees.

From there we found the trail went from a path to a very rocky downward slope that was not fun on the knees, passing through the neglected and washed out Chum Salmon Viewing Area, complete with broken wooden railings. We stopped into the Model Airplane Field for a rest and found it contained nothing but picnic tables. No culture, not mosaics, no sculptures.

The bulk of the draw of the park seems to be Carkeek Park Beach, which you need to cross over a very high narrow chainlink pedestrian bridge to visit. There's no underpass or well designed modern bridge, but it's very clear that the entire park could have used additional funding and upgrades, especially the almost entirely dissolved sidewalk you tiptoe past as you walk up the paved parking road that breaks off from NW Carkeek Park Road.

It's a beautiful park, but quite a bit of it feels unsafe and outdated so I would probably skip it if you're looking to visit local parks in Seattle.

Carkeek Park spans 220 acres and consists of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, and creeks. It's located west of the Northgate area of Seattle and is next to the water. There are plenty of walking and hiking trails here.

To get to the beach, drive down the long narrow road. There are multiple parking lots throughout; on weekends and warm days, I'd recommend parking at the first spot you can find because it can get very full. There was a large grassy area with a playground structure and tables for large gatherings. You can even reserve some areas for private events.

From the grassy area there is a small bridge and stairs that lead to the beach. The stairs can be a little shaky and vibrating as you walk down, so I'd recommend holding onto the rail for safety. The beach itself is very rocky so walking barefoot might hurt, and I'd bring towels to sit or lay on.

Even past the beach there were more grassy areas with tables and trees. The park was bigger than I thought and it's a really nice place to spend a warm day or afternoon.

Absolutely lovely park! I was going to be in the area for other things and wanted to get there early, which means I gotta find a place to get my walk on! I asked Washington Trail Association what was in the area and Carkeek was recommended.

This is a huge park with a lot of trails to choose from as well as a very nice playground area and beach access. When I was here I was able to catch was appears to be the tail end of the cohos going upstream which was a nice find!

This park is very dog friendly and has a low elevation so it's good for the little kiddos as well. Definitely worth stopping by!

Carkeek Park is a 200+ acre park that's considered to be in the Broadview neighborhood. Residents can get here easily, but it's a just a little drive off a main street giving anyone an opportunity for a nice day out.

To start - there is a kids/visitors center when you make your way down the to the parking area. It wasn't open on this visit, but information sits outside about programs and wildlife potentially seen in the park. This is nice.

Down to the main first - parking area is a sort of open field with some creek points that have alcove like areas where Salmon and other water dwellers may be depending on the time of year and conditions. There are Information plaques around to add to the education for any readers. There is nice open space for picnicking and field activity.

There are trails around, none very elevating but good enough for me. At Carkeek you can make your way to the beach which is entered by a bridge of "locks" (literal locks for your high school locker adorn this bridge), or you can take paths that lead you into very forest-y trails that for some moments let you get lost in the trees and brush.

Carkeek Park is a good way to spend a day or at least a few hours. It has simple trails, beach and open field to offer while being that are great for being outside.

salmon slide is based

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Magic park right in the city. Clean trails. Elevation change. A stunning beach. A railroad bridge. The only downside are the bathrooms but hey it's a city park.

Come enjoy the views in nearby any kind of weather. Breathe in.

Great little hidden gem in North Seattle. Tucked away on a small street just off 3rd Ave. Upper level of park has large open grass areas, kids playground and plenty of picnic benches. There is a small covered area that you can reserve. Lower part of park has a pedestrian overpass that goes over train tracks and down to beach. The beach is not huge, but big enough to enjoy some sun and sand castle building. The kids love to stand on overpass and watch trains going under them! There are a few short hiking trails that lead to a small stream. Best part of this park is it's hardly ever crowded and the sunsets are amazing!

We love this park! We have been here a few times and love it more each time. So many different areas, we love walking on the beach and watching the sunset. There is also a great play area for kids, lots of picnic benches with great views of the water, a large lawn, and some paths in the woods. We love watching the trains go by too.

There is something for everyone.

Such an amazing adventure to have here! We got to see the Salmon returning upstream, take a walk and go to the beach for a bit, and play at the playground. It's such an amazing hidden park and I can't believe I haven't been here before, such a treasure!