Best Parks in Seattle (2025)

Seattle’s largest park mixes bluffs, meadows, and the West Point Lighthouse with room to breathe. Condé Nast Traveler flags it for sweeping coastal walks, and Seattle Parks confirms the park remains open even during periodic visitor center closures.

An industrial relic turned public lawn with kite-flying breezes and postcard views of downtown across Lake Union. Praised in The New York Times and repeatedly recommended by local editors, it’s where Seattle’s gritty past frames its gleaming skyline.

Jointly cared for by UW Botanic Gardens and the City, this living museum spans Azalea Way to the Pacific Connections Garden. Time Out and Axios Seattle highlight it for year-round color and serene loops just minutes from downtown.

Operated by the Seattle Art Museum, this free waterfront park threads monumental art with Elliott Bay views. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler and lauded by local critics, it’s perfect for sunrise strolls, family outings, and casual culture fixes.

Designed by master landscaper Fujitaro Kubota, this 20-acre landmark blends Japanese garden craft with Northwest plantings. Celebrated by local writers and community stewards, its bridges, waterfalls, and koi ponds feel miles from the city.

A peninsula of old-growth forest, paved lakeside loop, and swimming beach—recognized with the international Green Flag Award in 2024. Birders, runners, families, and clay studio devotees all share this Southeast Seattle anchor.

Ballard’s sandy beach pairs driftwood sunsets with views of the Olympics. Local editors regularly suggest it for bonfire season and tidepool rambles; Seattle Parks notes seasonal fire pit operations—check signage before you spark.

Forest ravines tumble to a pebble beach with an overpass above the rails and sweeping Sound views. Seattle Parks spotlights fall salmon runs in Piper’s Creek and active volunteer stewardship in the orchard and demonstration gardens.

Seattle’s second-largest park combines restored wetlands, an Art Deco historic district, sports fields, and the region’s only off‑leash dog area with freshwater access. Frequently recommended for family days and lake swims by local publications.

A pioneering park over I‑5, this Brutalist cascade of plazas and plantings is a designated Seattle landmark. Seattle Parks and the Freeway Park Association outline new lighting, wayfinding, and restroom upgrades ahead of its 50th anniversary.

Port of Seattle’s West Seattle lookout pairs a quiet shoreline walk with a 45‑foot observation tower for downtown and shipyard views. Local coverage notes the pier remains closed for replacement, but the park and tower are open.

A classic 2.8‑mile loop encircles this lively urban lake, with ballfields, summer beaches, and endless people‑watching. Frequently cited by local editors as a must‑do stroll, it’s where runners, skaters, and picnickers orbit side by side.