Looking for a truly special beach in the city? Seattle’s Discovery Park has you covered, the 534-acre park is our city’s largest park and truly has so much to discover for people of all ages. Here’s why you should pay a visit to the park’s beaches.

If you don’t know the history of this local park, it was once the home of Fort Lawton, a US Army post. Today, the sprawling park is home to a unique historic neighborhood, grasslands, sand dunes, beaches, and tons of hiking trails for the public to enjoy.

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The park technically has two beaches, North Beach and South Beach. Each is accessible via a trail with South Beach being a popular destination due to the historic lighthouse. It’s actually one of 18 active lighthouses in Washington State and has been used since 1881. The lighthouse isn’t open to the public, but is viewable from the trail.

The North Beach trail is great for taking in views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

 

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What makes both side of the beach so magical is their unobstructed views, the chance to view wildlife, check out the historic lighthouse, and watch some amazing sunsets.

Keep in mind if you’d like to visit the beaches you will either need to walk down the trails or get a parking permit from the visitor center. The trails are generally considered “easy”, taking around 40-50 minutes to complete.

 

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If you’d like to grab a parking permit, you must fall into one of the following categories:

  • You are a family with children under 6.
  • You are an individual over 62 years old.
  • You are unable to physically walk to the beach due to an injury, illness, or some other physical condition.

Remember that parking permits are extremely limited and are given on a first-come, first-serve basis in three-hour allotments. However, if you are able to walk the trails, you are sure to enjoy all of the beautiful nature and some probably much-needed outdoor time.

Discovery Park

Where: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd., Seattle, WA 98199

Information on Discovery Park is from Seattle Parks and Recreation and is accurate as of publication date.

Curiocity Staff

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