Finding a Park Near You!

by | May 6, 2020 | At Home Resources, Find Your Forest | 0 comments

Right now we’re all working to balance our love of the outdoors and our need to keep our communities safe. This weekend, many major parks are closing to keep even the most well-meaning of folks from gathering in great abundances. But fear not! Seattle has 2,500 acres of forested parklands, and lovely parks in every neighborhood of the city. Below we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite parks in the different areas of Seattle. Click on a region or a neighborhood to find walkable parks near you!

Parks by Region

North

North

Bryant

This iconic trial runs from Ballard to Bothell, and has views of the sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington. Great for walks, runs, and biking!

Bryant Neighborhood Playground is a charming park with a small slope located along NE 65th Street. 

Ravenna Park is a ½ mile wooded ravine with lush wooded areas, and is a popular spot for hiking, jogging and picnics. A great place to spot skunk cabbage blooms!

The Union Bay Natural Area is a public wildlife area, natural restoration laboratory, and an important habitat next to Lake Washington. It is the second largest natural system left on the lake. Considered one of the best bird-watching sites in the city of Seattle!

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Haller Lake

Bitter Lake Playfield is a large community park featuring playfields, tennis courts, and other activities. Though we cannot use many of the amenities now, it’s a great place to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors. It even includes a small section of shoreline where you can get a glimpse of Bitter Lake. 

Just North of Bitter Lake Playfield, Bitter Lake Reservoir Open Space features a P-Patch run by the Department of Neighborhoods with garden beds for community members. Check out what folks have been growing or get a glimpse of wildflowers as they start to bloom for the summer. 

Head east off the Interurban Trail down N 125th St to find the delightful Haller Lake Park. Winding paths lead to public access to the west side of the lake with excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Enjoy this street end park? Consider getting involved with the Shoreline Street Ends program. 

The Jackson Park Trail features 2.2 miles of mostly flat gravel trail that winds along the edge of the Jackson Park Golf Course. This trail leads you through old growth conifers and native shrubs and provides the opportunity to spend time in an iconic PNW forest without leaving the city. Note that only a small part of this trail is wheelchair accessible and there are a couple short yet steep climbs on this walk. 

A neighborhood favorite, Northacres Park is surrounded by a conifer forest with walking trails throughout. In addition to the classic park amenities, note that Northacres also has an off-leash dog park.  Are dog parks open right now?

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