Discovery Park

Address:	3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199, USA
Phone:	+1 206-386-4236
Site:	seattle.gov
Rating:	4.7
Working:	4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM 4:30AM–11PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 8

Dan Erickson

There are many parks to chose from in Seattle, however Discovery Park is my favorite. The park has a great network of trails for hiking, walking or trail running and for being in the city it feels a bit like youre not. This is in part because you need to get out of your car to access the park. Its the largest park in the city so it never seems overcrowded. I spend a lot of time there and in all seasons, mostly running, sometimes falling off the driftwood logs that are strewn along the shoreline. When I am not running on the trails I enjoy exploring the tidal pools or just laying on the beach, basking in the sun when its out. There are great wildlife viewing opportunities in the park. I frequently see bald eagles and great blue herons on my runs. Ive seen a harbor seal on the beach northeast of the the lighthouse. Two winters ago I was most fortunate to see Orcas jumping out of waters of Shilshole Bay during a golden winter sunset. I cant say Ive seen anything more spectacular, it was a truly rare and memorable experience. Like any place it does have its downsides, however its really only the occasional foul smell from the waste treatment plant. Its unfortunate that its located there, although I hardly notice it anymore.

Jon Conley

The Best Day Hike Within The City Discovery Park is a great place to visit for a picnic, or to try out your hiking gear. The loop trail is the prefect amount of challenging exercise, and as a whole, the park is quite nice. The view from the bluffs is one of the best in the city. Its the perfect escape from the busy city, and one of the real gems of Seattle. However, there are some concerns to be aware of: The road down to the lighthouse / beach is dangerous. Cars speed down the hill quite frequently (Ive seen people cruising the area just to show off) and cyclists barrel down without any regard for cars or hikers. The sidewalk at the top of the hill is extremely uneven and hazardous. Ive tripped up and hurt my ankle quite badly here. The steps from the bluffs are extremely steep, and many people run with unleashed dogs along this path. If you go at dusk, take a light. If youre hiking, bring essentials such as water and food, first aid and batteries for your devices in the event that you fall. Also, wear lots of sunscreen! Parking is limited, so dont bother trying during peak recreation hours. Also, the toilets are pretty gross (prison toilets without seats or doors), so try to plan around that.

A Private User

The views are incredible. Coming off of W Emerson Street and and entering along Oregon Avenue you will soon see the footpath Loop Trail on your left. Following the footpath to the west, from the top of the cliffs you can see the Olympic Mountains virtually from their foothills to the south almost to Hurricane Ridge to the north, West Seattle and its Alki Point to the south, and well into Puget Sound, all from a single vantagepoint. There is a large, expansive, sandy beach, but much of the beach disappears at high tide. The lighthouse can be seen soon after you begin taking the trail from the cliffs to the beach but still the better part of a mile away and perhaps 80 yards down. When you get to the lighthouse there will be a sandy beach to the south, a slender peninsula that reaches well out into the water but disappears at high tide, then a rocky shore to the north. Along the way watch for decks that you can step out on to to get views of what is below. But there are other ways into the park and other paths well worth exploring. If you like taking photographs, be sure to bring a camera.

Joshua Parsons

Discovery park is a beautiful park very large. The park offers many different spots to see the ocean from. Many different hiking trails; great place to bring your dog to play. There are what I would consider 3 sections to Discovery Park. The first section being "The Cliff" which is what it says. A large area of land with sand, grass and trees that overlook the sound. Many people there participate in drawing the scenery there or go tanning. The second part of the park would be "Beach Access" to actually park down at the beach access a discovery pass is required otherwise you will be walking up and down a steep hill for what feels about a mile. At the beach access you can play in the water, enjoy a nice picnic or just relax to the sounds of the public and ocean waters. Lastly, there is the 3rd section the hiking. There are many areas to hike in here. From "The Cliff", to sections down near the cemetery that is across the street from the public restrooms at the information Center close to the beach access.

Drew Ariel

honestly didn’t expect the walk to be so long only to do more walking…………………………………………………………………………….i only leave my house like once a week and it was too late to turn around so i kept on going, saw a lot of nice families that made me cry and then i found the beach and i collected some rocks and there was some @SSHOLE with a dog off leash so i had to take MY UNPRIVILEGED DOGS away from him because he didn’t even notice me and then i almost got lost trying to find my way back even though there were signs pointing me everywhere ha ha i guess i forgot to read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!them!!!! anyway got in my car took a deep breath and ate more of the cinniman bun i got from cafe flora earlier. go there!!!!!!!!!! go to discovery park!!!!!

Bman Ish

Pretty cool to see a walking park with trails and paths in the middle of the city this size. Seems like a great place to get exercise or just enjoy nature. There are only four parking lots with one of those needing a permit. We didnt have a permit so we parked about a mile and a half from the beach, which ended up being our intended destination. The hike to the beach was fun to trail find (Its pretty well marked off) and would have been even better had we been prepared to walk that far but it was still very enjoyable. If youre in the city but dont want to drive out to the boonies to experience nice hiking and nature trails, this is a pretty cool place.

Ben Pope

On my visit, I walked along the southern shore part of the loop trail and through the meadows some. There are some marvelous views, both at overlooks and in the forest (especially on the descent of the South Beach trail). In August, blackberry bushes are everywhere and rapidly ripening, providing a sweet side note to your hike if you can brave the formidable thorns. The lighthouse isnt much worth visiting. Its just beyond a smelly and terribly placed water treatment plant, you cant go inside, and its rather small anyway. Spend your time elsewhere in the park.

Sara Andersen

Every visit I make to Discovery park I discover something new! I find the park is a bit out of the way being in Magnolia but it is a 18-25 min car or 20-30 min bus ride from downtown and well worth the trip. (The 33 and the 24 will get you close to the park) The park always has a good deal of people in it, bicyclists, families, runners, people playing sports, but it is always relatively quiet and never feels packed. I recommend the zip line in the playground, taking the loop trail that goes along the water and exploring a trail or two.