Discovery Park

I moved to Magnolia neighborhood to be closer to this beautiful, HUGE park. There's so much to see and it's extremely safe to explore alone or with a small group. I've enjoyed sunsets over the distant Olympics with small groups of friends, here. The scenery and beauty is unimaginable until you've spent a few hours a day here (best to visit in late spring or summer - but that's Seattle in general haha).

See
1 The lighthouse
2 The beaches
3 The outer loop trail - 2.9 miles around the parameter of the park. You'll also see vastly different types of spaces (jungle, beach, plains, flowers, diverse trees and other plant life, etc..
4 any of the trails that meander through the park. Take a whole day and enjoy here. It's worth it even if you're visiting only for 4 days. Just see it!
5 the historic district (military site and settlement)
6 the stunning views of the sound looking toward the Olympic Mountains westward on the peninsula
7 honey bucket restrooms now scattered around and restrooms are operational (multiple water fountains and restrooms scattered around)
8 you can't get lost here. It's huge but it's surrounded by city, so you're in a safe but large area to explore.
9 don't worry about bears and other wild animals that you'd be expected to exercise greater caution in the other areas outside and near Seattle. This place doesn't have much to worry about - maybe a couple sitings of mountain lions a few years ago. Coyotes... but both of these exist in many cities around the US so Seattle is no more dangerous than those places. I mean, gators eat babies in Florida, gaters eat gaters and pets in Louisiana cities, ..... "danger" is subjective so yea.


That's it. That's all I have to say today.

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.

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.

Discovery Park is a fantastic hike.

Ended up parking near the Visitor's Center and make the 4.5 mile-ish loop. It can get really muddy, but there's some incredible views and beaches that more than make up for it.

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.

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!

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Went for a short hike with the dogs on what was suppose to be a partially cloudy day. Luckily the clouds didn't have any rain in them while we were there.

So many trails to choose from. Most trails are relatively flat but some can be strung together for a more challenging route. We just love the different viewpoints of Puget Sound.

Always a gorgeous place to hike with views of the Pugent Sound. Especially on a day with an ultra low tide. I was able to walk all the way around d the lighthouse and down the beach. On the beach. Absolutely stunning and awesome. Lots of parking options here and multiple trail options. Lots of shade too. Much appreciated when it's hot and sunny. No discovery pass needed. Keep your valuables locked and hidden, and or at home. This park is definitely worth the drive to get to. Happy trails fellow Yelpers. SYOP.

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.

It has been a long time since I visited Discovery Park. Definitely over 10 years. However, I can still remember the feeling of serenity I felt when I was there. I remember the walk to the water, the song I was listening to (on loop), the emotions I felt. I can't give you details of the park, but I can tell you this. If you want some peace away from your crazy daily life, pick a weekday, drive out to Discovery Park, put on your song of the moment on loop, and walk to the water. Just sit with it. Cmonnnnnn just do itttttt