Best Outdoor Activities in Seattle

Find breathing space at Magnuson Park, an urban, 350-acre park on Sand Point at Pontiac Bay, Lake Washington. This park, the second-largest in Seattle, includes pieces of Seattle's military past (it's situated on a former Navy airfield). Today visitors enjoy boating, walking, kite flying and, last but not least, swimming. The beach here includes a tiny pebble shoreline, the perfect gateway to refreshing waters that average 67 degrees during summer months (from June until Labor Day). Grassy flats west of the beach provide perfect lounging territory, and guests can also find a children's wading pool, picnic shelters and tables (perfect for a BYO feast) nearby.

Originally built in 1911, these Ballard (Seattle) locks offer a fascinating lesson in technology from days gone by. Observe ships and sailing vessels as they enter the locks and, following a series of mechanical adjustments, depart into either the sound or the lake at a completely different water level. When open, you can learn all about the locks' history in the visitor center. In addition, when all areas of the site are open (check the website before arriving), visitors may look through a viewing glass to see salmon run from fresh to saltwater in season (June through October and March through April). Also, be sure not to miss the seven-acre Carl English Botanical Gardens, which present nearly 2,000 varieties of plant life.

Olympic National Park provides Seattle visitors with a huge range of recreation options in a compact area. A couple of hours southwest of Seattle on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, the nature preserve centers around the Olympic Mountains and its system of rivers and valleys to the Pacific Ocean. Hiking, backpacking, kayaking or just touring by car, it's easy to check out the varying microclimates and zones within the park, which is encircled by U.S. Highway 101. So whether it's crunching along a dirt and gravel trail up a mountainside, padding over fragrant pine needles along a path deep in the temperate rainforest or finding solid wet sand to save energy exploring along rugged Pacific Ocean beaches, this natural wonderland offers it all.

This slumbering volcano is the second-tallest mountain in the continental United States after California's Mt. Whitney. Because of its northern locale and more extreme weather, though, Washington State's prime peak is used by many mountaineering groups to train for ascents of the world's most challenging climbs. In warmer months, flocks of climbers are queued up to challenge the summit's less strenuous routes, and throughout the year a variety of activities are available to extreme athletes and vacationing families alike. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails wind through dense past placid lakes and frothing waterfalls. The scenic Wonderland Trail encircles the entire park, catering to long-range backpackers. There are plenty of short, spectacular day trips, as well, whether hiking in summer or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. (As of mid-2021, lodging is available on the mountain once again at the historic Paradise Inn, where the visitor center offers meals and interpretive natural history.)

On the north end of Lake Union, you'll find what may be the most unique park in the area. The 21-acre industrial area, formerly the site of a gas plant, was transformed in 1975 into a recreational complex (a worldwide first). You'll find that there's plenty to do in the park, including kayaking, sailing, picnicking and bicycling. From atop the park's 60-foot hill (renovated in the winter of 2014/2015), visitors enjoy one of Seattle's best views (of seaplanes taking off and landing, and the downtown skyline). The park is a favorite (and packed) place to view the city's Fourth of July fireworks display, and other festive gatherings happen throughout the year.

This local park accommodates a host of joggers, in-line skaters and sunbathers who exercise and bask along the greenbelt that circles Green Lake, the park's picturesque centerpiece. A favorite of locals, the park's plentiful green space and open water (in the midst of an urban landscape) creates a true oasis. The park also serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees and plants, as well as for numerous birds and waterfowl. Seattleites also make good use of the expansive athletic fields or visit the park for boating, picnic and swimming. Make sure to visit the Green Lake boating house, which offers rowing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing rentals. (Check ahead of time for boating house hours/openings.)

Woodland Park, known for its exceptional non-profit zoo "dedicated to saving animals and habitat," has a lot of other things going for it. Located on approximately 90 acres, the multipurpose park and recreation space is just southwest of Green Lake and north of the Fremont district. Separated into two parts by Aurora Avenue, the part on the west of Aurora is largely occupied by the Woodland Park Zoo, but it also has picnic space, a formal rose garden, an open space, and a play area for children. Summertime visitors will want to check out the alluring lineup of talented musicians who take over the Zoo Tunes calendar. (To visit the zoo, the advanced purchase of timed tickets is highly recommended.)

Starting up again at the start of May, Seattle's Tall Ship takes passengers out on the city's twinkling waterways aboard the Bay Lady, an 85-foot-long traditional, gaff-rigged schooner. The family-friendly ship can accommodate up to 87 passengers and has two onboard bathrooms, an onboard drink and snack bar, plenty of outdoor seating and a cannon, too. Choose between the two-hour Seattle Harbor Sailing Tour around the Puget Sound (that departs from their downtown dock at Pier 66 Bell Harbor Marina), two-hour sunset sails that show off this city in all her glory (for 21-plus patrons) or the Brews Cruise (21+) that pushes off on select Thursdays.

Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, this expansive urban park, the largest in Seattle, offers two miles of beach trails and nine miles of winding footpaths. Ostensibly a bluff-top reserve, Discovery Park protects a remarkable urban wilderness and is a great place for nature-watching. The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center (check online for current openings), which features art and cultural exhibits, is also located at the park, as is a marine reserve. An 1881 lighthouse, the oldest in the area, can also be found here. Offering breathtaking views of both the Cascade and the Olympic mountain ranges, the park's remote site includes protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams.

Stroll through the grounds, and admire the fascinating large-scale works on display at this nine-acre green space that's just one mile north of the Seattle Art Museum. Extensive landscaping enhances the park's beauty, and a walkway, extending from the beach to Belltown, provides views of the Puget Sound and of downtown landmarks. Among the pieces on view, find "Eye Benches I, II, III" by Louise Bourgeois, a series of functional carved-granite benches that take the form of giant eyeballs. Also, find work from the height of famed sculptor Alexander Calder's career,"The Eagle" (1971), a huge, abstract steel sculpture that's bright orange and hard to miss.