Hiking at Magnuson Park in Northeast Seattle

Looking for more great parks to explore along Lake Washington?
Head across the lake to Saint Edward State Park or hike through the ravine at O. O. Denny Park.

CURRENT INFO

You can find a map of Magnuson Park, including many of the places talked about in this post, online with Seattle Parks & Recreation. To find out more about the park, visit Seattle Parks & Recreation’s Magnuson Park webpage. Trip reports and other hiking info can be found on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) webpage. If you’re interested in the area’s history, I recommend the 3.5 mile self-guided walking tour found in the book Seattle Walks by David B. Williams. This excellent book provides historical walking tours through a fascinating mix of Seattle neighborhoods.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at Magnuson Park.
• Dogs on leash are welcome – or off leash, if you’re in the dog park! Both dogs and people can swim in Lake Washington, but dogs are only allowed in the water at the dog park beach (and if you’re a person, you probably prefer swimming elsewhere).
• Restrooms and port-a-potties are available throughout the park.
• Magnuson also offers picnic tables (including a covered picnic shelter by the lake), a playground, boat launch, swimming beach, and more.
• If you take public transportation, King County Metro bus routes 75 and 62 both stop by Magnuson Park.
• If you prefer to bike, the Burke-Gilman Trail passes by on the opposite side of Sand Point Way.

HIGHLIGHTS

Come to Magnuson Park for beautiful views across Lake Washington, to bring your dog to Seattle’s biggest dog park, or to take the kids to the extensive playground. The park is well known for its many athletic fields, and on any given day you’re likely to find local community teams out on the turf. But look beyond the playfields, and there’s much more to discover, from wetlands where frogs and birds hide in the thickets, to a hidden garden oasis. And on a clear day, the views form the lakeshore are simply stunning!

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Let’s be real – what the kids like most about Magnuson Park is the playground. Oh, and playing down by the waterfront is pretty fun, too. And those big dirt piles along the road near the ponds, those were cool! Did you know you can also ride bikes on the waterfront path? Or go swimming in the summer? OK, I think you get the point. Magnuson Park is an awesome place for kids, hands down!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There’s plenty to keep you busy at the park, and it’s the perfect place for a picnic when the weather cooperates. But if you’re hungry and didn’t pack a lunch, check out Magnuson Brewery. Serving delicious food and beer and offering plenty of outdoor seating overlooking Lake Washington, this is the place to be when the sun is shining. Dogs and children are welcome, and you can get food to go as well. It’s a lengthy walk from Magnuson Park, taking you past a variety of repurposed former military buildings, but has plenty of parking if you prefer to drive.

On the opposite side of Lake Washington, check out the trails at beautiful Saint Edward State Park or O. O. Denny Park.

Welcome to northeast Seattle’s premier park! Magnuson Park was created on the grounds of a former navy base on the Sand Point peninsula. Plans to convert the base to a park began in the 1970s, but the base didn’t fully close until 1995. Work began on the park in earnest in the 2000s. Since the landscape had been completely altered during its time as a navy base, this was no small task. Instead of hills covered in trees bordered by lakeside wetlands, Sand Point had been razed to create space for an airstrip that ran the length of the peninsula.

When you visit the park today, you’ll find many reminders of its past life. The airstrip may be gone, but the flattened landscape was perfect for creating wide expanses of playfields. The paved lakefront path is also a remnant from Sand Point’s military past. Closer to Sand Point Way, former barracks and other military structures have been converted to all manner of uses, from housing local nonprofits to storing archives for the University of Washington. Many of the gorgeous colonial brick revival buildings have been updated to provide low income and student housing.

All this goes to show that Magnuson Park is a unique place, and an important part of our local community. It’s a park for the people, with something for everyone. Even if you’ve been there before, chances are there are a few corners you haven’t yet explored. So, why not get started? For a taste of what it’s like to experience Magnuson Park on foot, read on!

My first suggestion, if you have kids, is to park at the south parking lot near the boat ramp. Or, if you have access to the Burke-Gilman Trail, try biking to Magnuson. But why start by the boat ramp? Well, if you hope to get a little hiking in, this puts you at the opposite end of the park from the playground. In my experience, it’s far easier to convince your kids to start walking when you’re headed toward the playground rather than away from it.

At the north end of the parking lot, with Lake Washington on your right, head straight past the boat ramp to reach the Beach Walk. Or, turn right and head inland, where small trails, collectively called the Frog Pond Trail, weave in and out among the freshwater ponds. This landscape was created in an effort to draw wildlife back to Magnuson. If you plan to do a loop, consider starting with the Frog Pond Trail. Since the Beach Walk provides the most direct route through the park, starting with the Frog Pond Trail means you’ll be more than half done by the time you reach the playground. I find this is another effective way to keep the youngest hikers from protesting too much on the trip back.

You don’t have to worry too much about your route. Despite its size, it’s hard to get lost in Magnuson, in part because the landscape is still largely open. Climb to the top of one of the small hills en route and take in the view. You may well have it to yourself – these “backwater” trails don’t get nearly as much traffic as the more popular lakeshore.

Eventually, the hills subside and give way to playfields. But with rows of trees lining many of the fields, you can still find respite in nature. Continue north to find both the playground and the dog park. Magnuson’s dog park is famous (or infamous) throughout Seattle, drawing hundreds of dog owners and their playful pets. The dog park has multiple entry points, so if you brought your pooch, head on in.

Inside, there are multiple play yards, perfect for a game of fetch. A long, winding path connects the larger play areas to the dog swimming beach along Lake Washington. Dog owners steadily trek from one end of the park to the other, while the dogs scamper back and forth, looking for new canine friends on the trail.

If you don’t have a dog and all this friskiness sounds like a bit much, no worries. Gravel paths outside the dog park gently wend their way from the playfields to the lakeshore, passing through small woodlands and meadows.

Of course, if you have kids, don’t neglect to stop by the playground. Located west of the dog park, next to the large north end parking lot, it’s one of the largest playgrounds in Seattle. If you have time to go further, another surprise awaits to the north of the playground. Just across the road, the Children’s Garden is a hidden jewel. Seek out the Tidepool or Gray Whale Gardens, or wander the spiral path to the top of the Lookout. Next door to the Children’ Garden is an extravagant community garden. It’s a lovely place to wander in late spring or summer, when the plots overflow with colorful blooms.

If the small delights of the Children’s Garden whet your appetite for more art, make your way back down to the waterfront. The concrete promenade along the shore takes you directly back to the boat ramp and south parking lot. In the meantime, gaze across Lake Washington and enjoy the view. But don’t forget to look to your right from time to time. There, rising from a green sea of grass, orca fins glide through the landscape. Called “The Fin Project”, and created from decommissioned submarine wings, this playful sculpture is one of Magnuson’s best-known public artworks.

Not far past the orcas is Magnuson’s swimming beach. With restrooms, a covered picnic pavilion, and fire pit, this place is busy on sunny summer days. Continue a little further to find yourself back at the boat ramp where it all began. Even without a boat, the docks provide a meditative place to end your walk as you ponder the gentle lapping of Lake Washington (if you are lucky enough to time your arrival to miss any motorboat traffic, that is). It’s a lovely way to end your beautiful day at Magnuson Park.