“one of breathtaking majesty”
Discovery Park is a 534 acre natural area park operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It is the largest city park in Seattle, and occupies most of the former Fort Lawton site.The site is one of breathtaking majesty. Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park offers spectacular view of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams.The role of Discovery Park is to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility away from the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn about the natural world. Maintained in its semi-natural condition the park will continue to offer a biologically rich and diverse natural area for urban dwellers and an unmatched opportunity for environmental education.
This is one of the best easy hikes around the Sound! Always a good place for picnics, photos, meditation, and Owl and Eagle watching. Short walks, and longer loops. Bus users can access easily and if you drive there is always tons of parking in multiple parking lots. I go on the week days for more reflective walks.
Really gorgeous trails and places to hike. We couldn't find parking near the beach. Tons of poison oak and ivy so be careful.
The beach is so gorgeous, and you can even explore the lighthouse. It's a perfect place for a picnic! They have a really fun hiking path that takes you through the nearby woods that's actually quite a bit of a challenge. During the weekend it's pretty busy, so if you're looking for a quiet day at the beach stick to a weekday.
There's really so much to love about this park! Since we were exploring other sights around the city we didn't have near as much time here as I would have liked. The lighthouse is fantastic! The mountains in the background, especially the tall peak is gorgeous! There was a seaplane flying overhead. There were big ships in the water. The beach had driftwood on it. It was not super crowded, but there were some walkers, runners, and bikers. There were benches along the walking/jogging path and informational signs. We saw a Maserati, not something you see every day in Ohio. I'd definitely return if in the area making sure I had more time, and I'd recommend others visiting as well!
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Discovery Park / Beach
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 4:00 am - 11:30 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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