Discovery Park Visitor Center

I loved the Discovery Center! So sad that it has been closed since January and isn't expected to open again until 2027 - if a private contractor is hired to take over the center and the programming. I'll miss the friendly volunteers and the interactive exhibits. 5 stars for what it used to be and for the memorial garden nearby dedicated to the staff and volunteers who served the park until the closure in August 2025.

South Beach Area was beautiful. On a clear day, to the South you can see a grand view of Mt Rainier. To the West you can see the majestic Olympic Mountains. Sunsets are absolutely amazing. Dogs are not allowed on any beaches in Seattle and signs are posted. Lots of drift wood you can collect. Be careful where you are walking, near the shoreline because lots of living sea creatures are there!! Enjoy!!

@Troy Wuelfing Money. In case you haven't seen, the city has a budget shortfall. The mayor is prioritizing other projects such as graffiti removal (moved to parks from another department). Write to your councilmember or to the parks board if this center provides services that are important to you.

Worth a visit if this is your first time visiting the park. They have a handful of interesting exhibits and guides to the park to check out.

The visitor center has some nice exhibits and information. They have water bottle fill stations and map hand out etc. If you’ve never been the park it worth a stop in.

Some sort of school in the back, it was cold this morning, all the bathrooms and school rooms were open, I thought it was part of the visitor center. Lady acted all rude and told me bathrooms were only for preschoolers. There should at least be signs, also strange all the doors were open with it being November 1st at 930am

See the picture I took- that’s the entire “visitor’s center” experience. Four placards of text outside. I give it 2 stars because at least there are a couple toilets with running water. Extremely disappointing though for the biggest park in Seattle. So much history here, and so little effort put into sharing it.

Cute park but visitor center was closed

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 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 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.

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! Follow my Instagram and TikTok @thephotographerfoodie for more! :)

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.

This is my favorite park I've ever been to in any city limits ever! If you are a nature lover, an athlete looking for a good spot to run/bike or just want to take a break from city living, this spot feels like a peaceful stroll in the woods. If you're more of a beach lover, head further into the park to see the iconic lighthouse & ocean views - overall if you want a good taste of Seattle's natural beauty; do not miss this spot!!

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

My main pet-peeve for Discovery Park is it's very difficult to get into. You would think they would want as many inlets as possible, what with the locks nearby - but no, the two inlets on the right side are at Texas and 40th or Government and 36th. Go with Texas and 40th. If you choose to take the weird path off 33rd from Commodore (don't do it, it's literally a creepy path and not a trail) because you (like me) wanted to visit Kiwanis Memorial Preserve Park, good luck, because there's no inlet to that park either. What seems like it should be easy feat of walking from one park to the other is not. The parks don't adjoin with any type of trail even though they are all each only separated by a single street. With all that being said, much of the east side of Discovery Park was made up of very basic lawns, picnic tables, and benches. When we attempted to go further into the park we found some of it fenced off and ended up never making it to the lighthouse as we intended. So all in all, we intend to visit this park again next year, so hopefully we'll have a better experience then.

Discover park is a great and beautiful hike. I would recommend taking a picture of the map, as it is big and you could get lost. Not only did we see a lot of trees, the beach, the light house and barracks, but also A BALD EAGLE. There's so much wildlife out here it's hard not to have a fun time.

What a lovely place to walk or trail run! We did the 2.8 mile loop that is very well maintained and marked. We never felt lost or confused on what path we should take. There are a few scattered toilets along the way. Most of the walk is through a tree covered forest with large, interesting trees and ferns on the forest floor. Many parts of the trail are quiet and if you pay attention, can hear a lot of good bird chatter. There is a section that opens up to great views of the water with a few good lookout opportunities. Around the open area we found some wild blackberries that were a little tart but fun to try. This is one of those places you wish you lived close to so you could do your daily walk through nature, which feels rejuvenating.

Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! So much room, so many trails, such great views - what's not to love?

Cool trails I guess but was expecting more from the fantastic Seattle Washington nature. Didn't see much of anything except an abandoned army base.

This park is just awesome. It is large with different areas to explore. I've hiked in the woods surrounded by mossy trees, and that alone was cool. However, I recently hiked to the beach for the first time, and that had a totally different feel. The beach is huge with great views of the Sound. The pebbles and sand extend far out into the water (at least while I was there, maybe it was low tide). One could stand barefoot on the wet earth while searching for hints of sea life among the rocks. At least that's what I wanted to do, but I wasn't prepared with any towels or extra shoes so I just watched others do it from afar. The hike back up the hills from the beach to the south parking lot was tough for this out of shape gal, but I got through it. Bring water. Oh there's also an area closer to the parking lot with an old church and a field on a hill with pleasant views of the Olympic mountains across the water. Some people were there lying on blankets and chairs, soaking in the scenery. I still haven't even gone to the visitor center, but I will someday. This is a park that offers a lot and needs a few visits to really get a feel for it.

Beautiful and peaceful place to go for an easy hike. You can from the visitors center to the beach easily or you can drive to the beach. The military base buildings are interesting to walk past. The light house completes the picturesque shoreline. Unfortunate that some people have decided to graffiti parts. A great place to spend the day.

Beautiful, massive park with endless trails! Great spot for walking, hiking, running, even wind surfing! So many places to explore here!

What a GEM! This is a beautiful park in the Magnolia area. It is ginormous and there are tons of paved trails all around & you can bring your dogs. My friend recommended for a sunset hike and hike down to the beach for a small picnic. We went too late the first day so we didn't hike down to the beach. But we were able to enjoy the sunset right above Magnolia Bluff. Gorgeous view of the sunset and the ocean. We came back the next afternoon to hike down to the beach. Make sure you wear hiking shoes and not sandals/flip flop. It is a hike down with lots of steps down to the beach (prob about a mile). It was high tide when we went so there weren't much of a sand beach for us to sit on, so we opted sitting on the logs.

COVID still here... masks are still required in indoors places, so it is NOT mandatory to wear masks at Discovery Park (trails or beach) I've been here in winter, spring, summer and fall and it never disappoints. You can park either north or south parking lot. A long time ago (before COVID times) in the summer they used to have a shuttle bus running from the visitor center (close to north parking lot) to the beach (light house) ... I really hope it comes back one day. These trails are full with runners, hikers, walkers, even strollers and dogs. It's a family hike. From the south parking lot to the light house (round trip) it's like 2.7 miles, there are A LOT of stairs so I do not recommend it for strollers or bikes. The light house is so pretty. Usually there's people there bird watching. Perfect for any photoshoot (I know!! I always think about photoshoots LOL) In the summer restrooms were open but during winter break they were closed.

Discovery Park is an absolutely beautiful park in Seattle that just offers so much. Dense trees, nicely maintained trails, wildlife sightings (seals, eagles), and views of the water and mountains including Mt. Rainier when it's clear out! It's a pretty popular park so there will definitely be others there but it's a big enough park to still get some quiet. The wastewater treatment plant is there but decently hidden, although sometimes the smell does come through. Stay close to the shore though and you forget about it!

Was a very nice walk to the light house. Definitely ordered a car back from The light house as the hike back up hill is no joke.

Discovery Park is my absolute favorite park in Seattle. It's epic, like 500 acres, I think? Go see it! My hubs and I have seen ravens, woodpeckers, woolly bear caterpillars, owls, and more here. It's a magical place and it helped me survive (still surviving!) the pandemic. It's the silver lining to this COVID tragedy--I got out in nature more, discovered forest bathing, learned how to be in the moment while walking through the woods. I'll always be grateful to Discovery Park for keeping me alive and keeping me sane.

I have been recommended this park a lot when I moved to this city. I am not a huge nature lover but I am impressed with this park. It's a huge park with several trails and a good number of view points. Would highly recommend this park, do check it out if you are in the area. There is quite a good amount of parking. There are a few entrances to this park.

Beware of thieves lurking around the park waiting to make their move on your vehicle or even you. No security cameras and no police to follow up on your report. My car was broken into and purse stolen out of trunk immediately after I left the scene. According to receptionist, these incidents are reported so often that there's nothing they can do about it. Please take caution.

Discovery park has an amazing view of the water, it's usually quiet and there aren't a lot of homeless people around.

I was really underwhelmed by this park. Parking was confusing with the permit signs for families, which conflicted with online instructions. Visitor's Center was closed very early in the day. There wasn't much to see and we left within 20 minutes.

A beautiful park. Took the drive out to the lighthouse. Walked around a little and it was such a beautiful day.

Very verdant The shades of green bring you closer to nature Vivid, variegated greens The colour of so many things, diametrically opposed: money & matcha & Douglas firs that smell of Christmas The green light that tells you to go, go, go A riddle- outside the city, and yet within it Discovery Park- in the Emerald City You decide what Seattle really is- Is it in the graffito'd street, where rich and poor pass Or in the trails of this Park, where all can be equal?

Absolutely incredible park that offers numerous trails of various difficulty and spectacular views of the mountains and the ocean. I've been here multiple times and while parking can sometimes be a challenge (so park in the South Lot), the scenery is always absolutely beautiful and I never get tired of taking different trails and exploring different parts of the park. The place is also absolutely beautiful during the Fall and they have some pretty great biking paths as well. Definitely recommend if you are in the area!

It's been a while since I visited this park last time. We decided to stop by with a group of friends visiting from outside Seattle. The hike is short and pretty mellow. When you get to the lighthouse and the beach, you completely forget that you are still within the Seattle city limits - with all the expansive views of the Puget Sound. Overall, can recommend. Mind you - part of the loop trail is currently (as of July) closed off. A few of us did not notice the sign and ended up wandering a very deserted trail that ended with a closed off gate (were able to get around it but it was a little unnerving...).

Beautiful park to come enjoy by yourself, w/a friend or w/family. It's so peaceful and so fun for the kids. Lots to explore and lots to do. Enjoy the scenic routes, fresh air and beautiful surroundings. It's and we were cold lol I'd recommend bringing a light/warm jacket.

Organized car thieves and no security. We parked our rental car in a public lot near the water treatment plant. There was literally nothing lleft inside. Walked down the waterline for about 100 yards and heard the car alarm going off. Returned to the car to find all of the passenger side glass broken out or damaged. We realized after that the girl shadowing us down the beach was probably a lookout. She had immediately darted into the woods when the alarm went off. Beautiful park, next time I'll take an Uber or a complete junker and leave the doors unlocked.

When we got to Discovery Park, I was so bummed because the gate was closed with a "Closed" sign. But, then I noticed you could still go in on foot. We followed the trail signs and walked down to the beach, saw the lighthouse and went all the way around the park. It was somewhat strenuous which I loved and the scenery was beautiful. I do not know how I forgot to take a photo of the old lighthouse. That was my highlight! Need to go back to get that photo.

I liked going from the South parking lot, loop trail, to lighthouse, to end at North parking lot. It was mostly downhill with some steps. Enough uphill and hiking variations to keep things interesting for me. Intra covid, parking lots are closed but there are lots of street parking. Loved the scenery and mostly shaded walkways. No water fountains and did not see any toilets along my way.

This is now my third time at Discovery! Tbh I was a little disappointed the first two times. The trails were pretty generic. Make sure to do your research beforehand to find what you're looking for. I went on the Loop Trail yesterday and it was absolutely stunning! It's perfect to watch sunset across the water with mountains with friends. There are places to sit and have a picnic. You can bring your dog too! It's about a 3 mile round trip trail. There are restrooms at the viewpoint if needed (but they didn't look too shabby). Unfortunately parking is closed during these covid times, but there is plenty of street parking nearby.

Big enough to explore , beach access only thru car for the elderly but to get there is fun .

A park for everyone, seriously. From babies to babushkas and everyone in between. There's paved trails, expansive picnic areas, dog run play areas, kid playgrounds, beaches, forest, a little cave and history. It was comfortably busy this afternoon. It was lovely to see couples, multigenerational families, elders, kids, multitude of dogs, solo hikers, trail runners, and cyclists out enjoying this weather. A bluebird day in February in Seattle is rare. When you get one, your best bet is discovery park. 3 hours of wandering around earned me 6.25 miles today. Loved it. South Parking lot fills up alongside the parallel street parking. Carpool if you can!

Discovery Park is a beautiful and peaceful spot in Seattle. With its stunning views of the lighthouse and Mount Rainier, it's the perfect place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, including a beach trail that takes you to the lighthouse. The park is also home to many species of birds and other wildlife, making it a great spot for birdwatching. Overall, Discovery Park is a must-see destination in Seattle for nature lovers and anyone looking for a peaceful escape from the city.

Discovery Park is one of Seattle's most beautiful outdoor areas. I have been to this park countless times over the past several years. At this park, there are hiking trails, meadows, tennis courts, walking paths, several beaches, and many, many trees! Today was the first time that I visited this park during the pandemic. The website for the park says that the parking lots are all closed, and that the Visitor's Center (with bathrooms) is also closed. When we arrived there today, the parking lot next to the Visitor's Center was actually open. Maybe they haven't gotten around to updating their website yet. The Visitor's Center itself WAS closed, though. My wonderful close friend of 16 years, Emily, had texted me that she felt like wearing Care Bear Onesies as we are possibly starting to see an end in sight to the pandemic, to let people know that we care about them! I jumped right on that and bought us both Care Bear Onesies for our rendezvous at Discovery Park today, which delighted Emily and scared off some poor guy who was just trying to enjoy peacefully sitting in the sun. I guess he didn't feel the power of our CARE BEAR STARES!!! I was a tiny kid when Care Bears were all the rage so I actually don't remember much about them, so Emily clued me in on how to stand and how to beam Care and Love and Friendship! I was Friend Bear in the Yellow, and Emily was Bedtime Bear in the Sky Blue. Emily and I sent good wishes out to the world for good friends and good sleep for everyone!! Did you feel it? We hope you did!!

This is my proverbial "happy place". It is a beautiful park for hiking, reflecting on life, and it's got great views of Puget Sound. Your reward for making it through the park is coming to the West Point Lighthouse which if you generation Xers remember is the site of the "Hunger Strike" music video which featured the late Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and of course, Eddie Vedder. Come there in the morning, afternoon, or evening and you'll get a completely different feel to the park. I should mention that it might be a little intimidating the first time you come here because there are several paths you could take; however, just do a google map search before you come to get familiar and your GPS is also your friend. You can also get a permit if you want to drive down to the lighthouse but I'm not sure if that's for everyone or not.

This place is awesome. The hike was so beautiful and arriving at our destination at the lighthouse was the icing on our cake. I really enjoyed taking the scenic route (you can also take a paved path that is much easier but not as beautiful). I highly recommend exploring this park on foot rather than driving through it. Bring lots of water and pack lunch or some snacks and enjoy the spectacular views along the way.

Stopped by this park for a little exercise while visiting Seattle. It is a Great hike in the cool October weather. Parking and the entrance is free. You can park by the visitors center. Do stop by ask for guidance and a map. The main trail is a loop, so even if you get lost, you'll eventually get back. It happened to us. We ended up doing 5 miles instead of 3. The trails are well marked, you just have to pay attention. The best part is that some of the hike is through the forest and some by the beach. Do stop by and see the lighthouse. Bathrooms are available in the visitor's center and scattered around the trails. The hike is pretty easy. Not strenuous.

I've lived in Seattle for almost 15 years and had never gone on the Discovery Park loop trail before until this past month. There are lots of lovely spots to hang out and just enjoy nature. The walk along the coast by the lighthouse is also very serene and peaceful. We ran into a lot of joggers and runners during our stroll which was really great. The trail is relatively flat except some stairs to get down to the beach area. There's also the large field area by the parking lot where a group of us played bubble soccer before. That was a cool space!

Sometimes, spontaneous decisions are worth it. We came here on a whim and it turned out to be a good decision. Discovery Park is pretty large and is in close proximity to the city. We drove here and parked in one of the lots in the park. They also offer a shuttle service, which was quite helpful to taking tired hikers back to the parking lot. We took a short stroll into the forestry area and followed a trail that took us to the beach area. The hike wasn't hard and was mostly flat. The trail took us to the beach area where we walked along the coast and lighthouse. It was quite serene and peaceful. There are great views of the bay and you can even get a glimpse of orca whales from afar if you're lucky. Being tourists, Discovery Park was worth the visit. At first, we had no idea where to park. Therefore, I suggest doing your research to get coordinates to the the parking lots. The scenery is great and makes you feel far away from the city. There's plenty of different trails to take, but you'll definitely want to follow the ones that will take you to the beach. Overall, fun visit that killed a couple of hours.

Discovery Park is (still) a fantastic place to go. And, one of the main reasons I love it is because you can hike around the entire park and get such a diverse experience -- a wide open plain, wooden stairs, beach, rocks, tree-covered trails... You get it all! So, if you haven't been, well duh, go. And, then finish the day off in Ballard either getting some Zum soap at the Ballard Market (cheapest anywhere), some ice cream or food downtown, and perhaps grabbing some live music when that's a thing again. Bottom line: If you don't live in Ballard, this may seem like going too far off the 5 path, but it's worth it. Get outside!

What fun easy hike to start off the new year! I was needing some water time and this was the ticket. Fresh water ponds and streams, beaches along some amazing views of the Olympic mountains and to the south, beautiful views of Rainier and south Seattle, just a little hint of salt waiving through the air. Was blessed enough to be there on a rare sunny day in winter. As usual, taken the trail less traveled, but part of the adventure, following along the old landslide on the NW corner, a few steep drops and climbs there, but overall rolling or level walking. Come early if you want parking, otherwise you're rolling the dice. Popular park and trails for many reasons. I started at the north parking lot, heading north, then counter clockwise on the trails. Lots of runners and walkers, especially near the cute little lighthouse. Just amazing views throughout. Lots of driftwood logs to sit on and enjoy the views, or the many varieties of birds, was blessed with a sighting of a huge male sea lion. Come early for good parking, they have construction going on at the visitor's center at the south end, so that limits a lot of parking. Not a lot of restrooms, so be prepared. Reminded the Cali guy of a mix of Redwood regional, Marin headlands, and Wilder ranch/Santa Cruz. Sans redwoods, but plenty of evergreens. Highly recommended for any walking level and those looking for a water connection. Happy Yelping! God bless and Cheers!

Great spot for picnics, hikes, photo shoots, and more. I recommend parking at the south parking lot. I've never seen it full but if it is, you can just park outside the park along the street and easily access the same area. Didn't see any trash or anything, felt super clean and well taken care of!

Met up with some friends from Yakima at the Discovery Center Visitor's Parking lot, and decided to try the Loop Trail with a side trip to the South Beach (with lighthouse!) This park is in Seattle but makes you feel like you've escaped to the foresty mountains for a bit. Every time you walk through a canopy of evergreens and catch a glimpse of Puget Sound, it's absolutely gorgeous. There's a stretch of pebbly beach leading to the lighthouse, where we saw paddle boarders, happy dogs running free, seabirds, and honestly not that many people. A breath of fresh air in our Seattle trip that I recommend to visitors and locals alike.