Seattle is a beautiful seaport city situated on the West Coast of the U.S. It is the biggest city in both the Pacific Northwest and the state of Washington. With its immense beauty and character, Seattle offers plenty of things to do and to see, from adventure to a vibrant shopping scene; from cuisines to nightlife; to name a few. Seattle is blessed with natural charm too, like wildlife and forests, which means that you can enjoy more land adventures like hiking, trekking, biking, and more. The best hiking trails in Seattle are some of the best places to witness panoramic views. Whether you want to take a break from the world, find refuge amidst the bustling city, or you’re up for a little bit of adventure - Seattle has you covered. If you are eager to hike and trek, check out this article and discover the top hiking and trekking spots in Seattle, Washington.
1. Frink Park
Take a break from the bustling city of Seattle by taking a hike in Frink Park. The moment you step into the park’s premises, you will forget that you are in the middle of the city. Situated in the gorgeous neighborhood of Leschi, Frink Park is a 17.2-acre (6.96-hectare) park with a tranquil atmosphere, and it has a web of recreational trails. It is surrounded by lush and green trees, which are great for experiencing nature at its finest. The hike is quite difficult, which is 90 m (295.28 ft) high.
Frink Park
Address: 398 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, WA 98144, United States
Website: Frink Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
2. Schmitz Preserve Park
Another sweet escape from the hustle and bustle is this natural preserve, Schmitz Preserve Park. Situated on the east of Alki Point, this 53.1-acre (20.76-hectare) park offers walking paths, and one of the oldest-growth forest in town, Schmitz Park Creek. The 30 acres (12.14 hectares) of land was donated by Emma and Ferdinand Schmitz. They wanted to save the part of the park in its natural state as forests are rapidly disappearing. Overall, the length of this hiking trail is 1.7 mi (2.74 km) roundtrip. This park is famous as the atmosphere is serene and relaxing.
Schmitz Preserve Park
Address: 5551 SW Admiral Way, Seattle, WA, United States
Website: Schmitz Preserve Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
3. Discovery Park
Surrounded by great meadows and greenery, Discovery Park gives possibilities to see wildlife in their natural environment. During summer, blue herons are usually just around the corner, while the snowy owls are wonderful to look at during winter. Discovery Park is Magnolia’s green treasure, which is known to be the biggest park in town. Meanwhile, Discovery Park Loop Trail is delegated as a National Recreation Trail with 4.51 km (2.80 mi) in length, and an elevation change of just 42.67 km (140 ft). Bird sighting is one of the highlights when you hike in this area.
Discovery Park
Address: Puget Sound and Islands – Seattle-Tacoma Area
Opening hours: 4am - 11pm (daily)
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4. Seward Park
Seward Park is another exciting and popular hiking destination in Seattle. Its 300-acre (121.41-hectare) forest land is home to numerous eagle’s nests. No wonder there is so much to do and to see in this area because of its huge size, from exploring the native plant garden to checking out its amphitheater, as well as biking and hiking. The hike will take approximately one hour. It also takes pride to be known for the high caliber and substantial variety of vegetation, plus it is home to the biggest remaining conifer within city limits.
Seward Park
Address: 5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S, Seattle, WA 98118
Website: Seward Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
5. Carkeek Park
Situated in the area of Broadview, Carkeek Park is a gorgeous 216-acre (87.41-hectare) park that offers everything you are looking for if you want to take a break from the world for a while. There are plenty of picnic shelters and spaces, which are great for some quality time with your friends or family. Creeks, beach, greenery, wetlands, to name a few - these are just a fraction of the attractions that you can experience when you visit this park. And of course, if you want to level up your adventure, hiking is possible along Pipers Creek Trail, which is a 3.2-mi (5.15km) averagely trafficked loop trail.
Carkeek Park
Address: 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd., Seattle, WA 98177
Website: Carkeek Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
6. Lakeridge Park
This wonderful park is blessed with natural beauty like flowing streams, lush forests, hiking trails, and wildlife. With that being said, plenty of activities are waiting to be explored. Previously known as “Deadhorse Canyon” in 1909, Lakebridge Park was named by The Seattle Planning Commission in 1947, and it is consistently known as a great urban oasis of running water and forest. The length of the trail is 1.61 km (1 mi) and the highest elevation point is 67.06 m (220 ft).
Lakeridge Park
Address: 10201 Holyoke Way S, Seattle, WA 98178
Website: Lakeridge Park
Opening hours: 4am - 11:30pm (daily)
7. Interlaken Park
If you are looking for a great park to hike, bike, run, drive, and stroll, Interlaken Park is your go-to-go place. It is a 51.7-acre (20.92-hectare) park with canyon and wooded hillside, forming a division between Montlake (north) to Capitol Hill (south). Meanwhile, there are good bikeways available, which are safe spots for bikers. It offers panoramic views of lakes and mountains, which makes grabbing a coffee and enjoying the view of nature so relaxing. The loop is a 1.61km (1mi) heavily trafficked trail, and the elevation gain is about 50.91 m (167 ft).
Interlaken Park
Address: 2451 Delmar Dr. E, Seattle, WA 98102
Website: Interlaken Park
Opening hours: 4am - 11:30pm (daily)
8. South Beach Trail
Panoramic views and a splendid trail - that’s the best of South Beach Trail. The leisurely trail reaches the upper bluff, to the sandy and driftwood-strewn beach at the bottom. The 2.41 km (1.5 mi) trail has a lot of things you can enjoy like nature trips, bird sightings, strolling and hiking. The trail is not difficult, and it is suited for all skill levels, but it still needs some precaution. As you hike, you will notice a spot to rest, with some benches where you can also admire the breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound in the distance.
South Beach Trail
Address: Seattle, WA 98199, USA
9. Kingfisher Natural Area on Thornton Creek
You cannot visit Thornton Creek without mentioning Kingfisher Natural Area. Thornton Creek is an area situated in the neighborhood of Northgate, and it offers leisurely green spaces. It is blessed with wildlife, rich vegetation, native plants, and trails. Meanwhile, Kingfisher is a small and splendid trail that has direct access to the creek. The length of the trail is approximately 0.80 km (0.5 mi). The hike is easy, and it is suited also for kids and your best fur buddy.
Kingfisher Natural Area
Address: 13002 10th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
Website: Kingfisher Natural Area
Opening hours: 4am - 11:30pm (daily)
Discover Seattle's hiking and trekking spots
Seattle offers two worlds: the bustling and vibrant city life and nature at its finest. This city has green gems where you can relax and connect to the world amidst the chaos of city life. It’s now time to discover hiking and trekking spots in Seattle.
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