Outdoor Activities in Seattle

Road cycling on the Burke-Gilman Trail

The Burke-Gilman Trail runs about 27 miles from Golden Gardens Park in Ballard through the University of Washington campus, along the north shore of Lake Washington, and out to Bothell. The surface is paved almost entirely, with one notorious gap through Ballard's industrial zone that the city has been arguing about for years. On weekday mornings you'll share the path with bike commuters moving fast. Weekends get crowded near Gas Works Park and the university, so starting early helps. The Sammamish River Trail connects at the eastern end and adds another 11 miles to Marymoor Park in Redmond, giving you a 38-mile one-way route if you want the full stretch.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, mostly flat with gentle grades

Duration

2-4 hours for the full Burke-Gilman, depending on pace and stops

Best season

April through October, though rideable year-round with rain gear

Rock climbing at Exit 38 (Deception Crags)

About 35 minutes east of Seattle off I-90, Exit 38 leads to Deception Crags and the surrounding walls in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The rock is solid andesite with good friction when dry. Routes range from 5.4 slabs to 5.12 sport climbs, with most of the popular lines in the 5.8 to 5.10 range. The Far Side Wall tends to stay drier in light rain because of its overhang, which makes it a go-to on typical Seattle spring days. The approach from the parking area is about 10 minutes on a well-worn trail. Bring your own gear. There is no rental available at the crag.

Difficulty

Moderate to advanced, depending on route selection

Duration

Half day to full day

Best season

May through October, though Far Side Wall stays climbable in light rain

Mountain biking at Duthie Hill

Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park sits in Issaquah, about 25 minutes east of downtown Seattle. Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance built and maintains the trail network, which includes roughly 7 miles of singletrack ranging from smooth beginner flow trails like Bootcamp to steep, technical lines like Semper Dirticus. There is a skills park with log rides, skinnies, and drops near the main parking area off Southeast Duthie Hill Road. The soil is loamy and drains well compared to many Northwest trails, so Duthie often rides well within a day of rain. You might notice that it gets muddy in sustained wet spells from November through February, though.

Difficulty

Beginner to expert, with clearly marked trail ratings

Duration

2-4 hours

Best season

Year-round, best conditions May through October

Trail running in Forest Park at Discovery Park

Discovery Park covers 534 acres on the Magnolia bluff, making it Seattle's largest city park. The Loop Trail is about 2.8 miles and circles the park through mixed forest, open meadow, and bluff-top sections with views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. You can extend your run down to the West Point Lighthouse on the beach, which adds roughly a mile of steep switchbacks each way. The footing is mostly packed dirt with some root sections that get slick after rain. On foggy mornings the park feels surprisingly remote for a place 15 minutes from downtown. You'll hear crows, maybe a barred owl, and the low hum of container ships moving through the Sound.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, with elevation change on the lighthouse spur

Duration

45 minutes to 1.5 hours

Best season

Year-round

Skiing and snowboarding at Snoqualmie Pass

The Summit at Snoqualmie is about 50 miles east of Seattle on I-90, making it the closest ski area to the city. It operates four base areas: Summit West, Summit Central, Summit East, and Alpental. Alpental is the one locals gravitate toward for steeper terrain and genuine backcountry access. The base elevation is around 3,000 feet, which means rain instead of snow happens more than anyone would like, especially early and late season. That said, a good powder day at Alpental's Upper International is legitimate alpine skiing. Lift tickets currently run around $90 to $120 for a full day, depending on the date. Night skiing is available at Summit West and Summit Central, typically running until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays from December through March.

Difficulty

Beginner to expert across the four areas

Duration

Full day

Best season

December through April, with January and February being the most reliable for snow

Sailing on Puget Sound

The Center for Wooden Boats on South Lake Union and the Sail Sand Point program on Lake Washington both offer affordable sailing lessons and boat rentals. Puget Sound sailing out of Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard gives you access to open saltwater with tidal currents that demand attention. The wind tends to fill in from the south around noon on summer afternoons, building to 10-15 knots by mid-afternoon. You can sail north toward the San Juan Islands or south toward Vashon Island on a long day. Water temperatures in the Sound hover around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit even in August, so a PFD is non-negotiable. Several charter companies at Shilshole rent keelboats to sailors with ASA certification.

Difficulty

Moderate, requires basic sailing knowledge for Sound sailing

Duration

3-8 hours depending on destination

Best season

June through September for the most consistent afternoon thermal winds

Rattlesnake Ledge

The most popular day hike near Seattle, and for good reason. The trailhead is about 30 miles east of the city off I-90 near North Bend. The trail climbs roughly 1,160 feet over 2 miles to a rocky ledge overlooking Rattlesnake Lake and the Cedar River watershed. The path is wide, well-maintained, and busy on weekends. Arrive before 9 AM on a Saturday in summer or you might not find parking. The ledge itself has a sheer drop with no railing, so keep an eye on kids and dogs. On a clear day you can see Mount Si across the valley.

Difficulty

Moderate, steady uphill with some rocky sections near the top

Duration

2-3 hours round trip

Best season

Year-round, though the upper section can be icy from November through March. Microspikes help.

Mount Si (main trail to Haystack Basin)

Mount Si is the big one that locals use as a fitness benchmark. The trailhead sits at the edge of North Bend, about 35 miles from Seattle. The trail gains roughly 3,150 feet over 4 miles to the Haystack Basin viewpoint. The lower half moves through mossy forest, and the upper half opens up with switchbacks through boulder fields. The final scramble to the Haystack, the rocky summit knob, adds another 200 feet and requires hands-on-rock scrambling that some hikers skip. The parking lot fills by 8 AM on summer weekends. A Discover Pass is required for the trailhead parking.

Difficulty

Strenuous, relentless elevation gain

Duration

4-6 hours round trip

Best season

May through November. Snow lingers on the upper trail into June some years.

Snow Lake

This is likely the most heavily used trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trailhead is at Snoqualmie Pass, about 50 miles east of Seattle on I-90 at roughly 3,100 feet elevation. The trail drops slightly from the pass, then climbs about 1,300 feet to a saddle before descending to Snow Lake at around 4,000 feet. Total distance is about 7 miles round trip. The lake is large, cold, and ringed by granite walls. It is still frozen into June in heavy snow years. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at the Alpental trailhead.

Difficulty

Moderate, with a steady climb to the saddle and some boulder-hopping near the lake

Duration

4-6 hours round trip

Best season

July through October. The trail is typically snow-free by mid-July.

Twin Falls Trail

A family-friendly hike in Olallie State Park, about 35 miles east of Seattle off I-90 near Exit 34. The trail follows the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River through old-growth forest to two waterfalls. The lower falls are about 0.7 miles in, and the upper falls viewpoint adds another mile or so. Total round trip is roughly 3 miles with about 500 feet of elevation gain. The forest here has some massive Douglas firs and western red cedars, and the trail stays shaded and cool even in summer. The sound of the river is constant.

Difficulty

Easy, well-maintained trail with moderate grades

Duration

1.5-2.5 hours round trip

Best season

Year-round. The falls are most dramatic in late spring when snowmelt feeds the river. A Discover Pass is required for parking.

Mailbox Peak (new trail)

Mailbox Peak is the local sufferfest. The old trail gains about 4,000 feet in roughly 2.5 miles, which is steep enough that it functions more as a scramble than a hike. The newer trail, built around 2014, stretches the approach to about 5.4 miles one way with a more sustainable grade, gaining the same 4,000 feet. Most people take the new trail up and the old trail down. At the summit, someone installed a mailbox decades ago, and hikers still leave notes inside. Views stretch from Rainier to Baker on clear days. The trailhead is at Exit 34 off I-90.

Difficulty

Very strenuous on either route. The old trail is extremely steep and eroded.

Duration

5-8 hours round trip via the new trail

Best season

June through October. Snow on the upper ridge persists into early July.

Franklin Falls

A short, easy walk to a 70-foot waterfall at Snoqualmie Pass. The trailhead is about 50 miles from Seattle along I-90, near the Denny Creek campground. The trail is roughly 2 miles round trip with minimal elevation change, following the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River through dense forest before arriving at the base of the falls. The mist from the falls keeps the area cool and damp, and the rocks near the base are slippery. This is one of the better hikes for young kids or anyone who wants a quick forest walk without a big climb. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking.

Difficulty

Easy, nearly flat with a well-groomed trail surface

Duration

1-1.5 hours round trip

Best season

May through November. Peak water flow in late May and June.

Kayaking on Lake Union

Lake Union sits in the middle of the city, ringed by houseboats, marinas, and restaurants. Renting a kayak from the Northwest Outdoor Center on the west shore or Agua Verde Paddle Club on Portage Bay gives you access to a flat, sheltered lake that is busy with floatplanes, sailboats, and tour boats. Paddling past the houseboat communities on the east side is worth the trip. The water is calm most mornings, and afternoon winds tend to pick up from the south. You can paddle under the University Bridge into Portage Bay and continue to the Arboretum's marsh channels if you want a longer route.

Difficulty

Easy, suitable for beginners. Watch for boat wakes and floatplane traffic.

Duration

1-3 hours

Best season

May through September. Rentals typically run around $20-30 per hour for single kayaks.

Swimming at Madison Park Beach and Madrona Park Beach

Lake Washington warms up enough for comfortable swimming by mid-July, typically reaching 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit by August. Madison Park Beach on the west shore of the lake has a roped swim area, a bathhouse, and a dock. It draws a crowd on hot days, and parking can be difficult along East Madison Street. Madrona Park, about a mile south, is a smaller beach with a grassy slope and slightly fewer people. Both have lifeguards on duty from late June through Labor Day. The water at Madrona tends to feel a degree or two warmer because of the shallower cove.

Difficulty

Easy, designated swim areas with lifeguards in summer

Duration

As long as you want

Best season

Late June through early September. August is the warmest water.

Stand-up paddleboarding on the Duwamish Waterway and Elliott Bay

SUP on Elliott Bay is a different experience than lake paddling. The saltwater is colder, around 50-54 degrees even in summer, and there is tidal current to manage. Alki Kayak Tours in West Seattle rents boards and offers guided paddles from Alki Beach along the waterfront. The views of the downtown skyline from the water are striking. On calmer mornings before the wind builds, you can paddle north toward the grain terminal and the Port of Seattle container cranes. Mind you, this is a working waterfront, so stay clear of the shipping lanes and ferry routes.

Difficulty

Moderate, requires comfort in open water and awareness of tidal conditions

Duration

1.5-3 hours

Best season

June through September, mornings before wind builds

Whitewater kayaking on the Skykomish River

The Skykomish River runs about 60 miles northeast of Seattle near the town of Gold Bar on US Highway 2. The most popular section is the Boulder Drop run, a Class III to IV stretch with large boulders and hydraulics that demands intermediate-to-advanced paddling skills. At higher water levels in spring, it becomes a continuous, pushy Class IV run. The river drops through a forested canyon and the water is clear, cold, and glacially fed. This is not a rental-kayak situation. You need your own whitewater boat, helmet, drysuit in spring, and ideally a group. Seattle-based clubs like the Washington Kayak Club organize regular trips.

Difficulty

Advanced. Class III-IV whitewater, cold water, remote canyon.

Duration

3-5 hours for the main run, plus shuttle time

Best season

April through June for peak flows. Summer levels drop and some rapids become bony.

Scuba diving at Alki Beach (Cove 2)

Puget Sound diving is cold, dark, and full of marine life that surprises people expecting tropical conditions. Alki Cove 2 in West Seattle is one of the more accessible shore dives in the Seattle area, with a sandy entry that slopes to about 30 feet. You'll find giant Pacific octopus, lingcod, rockfish, and nudibranchs on the rocky substrate further out. Visibility ranges from 5 to 25 feet depending on the season and tides. Incoming tides on neap tide days tend to give the best clarity. Water temperature hovers around 46 to 52 degrees year-round, so a drysuit is standard. Lighthouse Diving in South Seattle fills tanks and rents drysuits.

Difficulty

Moderate, requires open water certification and cold water comfort

Duration

2-3 hours including setup

Best season

Year-round, with best visibility from September through November when plankton blooms subside

At 534 acres on the Magnolia bluff, Discovery Park is the city's largest park and it still feels wild in places. The old Fort Lawton military structures are scattered through the grounds, slowly being absorbed by blackberry thickets and alder groves. The Loop Trail circles the park in about 2.8 miles, passing through dense second-growth forest where the light filters green even on overcast days. The bluff trails lead to a sand-and-gravel beach with driftwood piles and views across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island.

Highlights: West Point Lighthouse on the beach, the South Bluff overlook toward Mount Rainier, and the North Beach tide pools at low tide. The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center sits on a separate bluff with artwork and exhibits.

This 230-acre arboretum stretches along the western shore of Lake Washington between the Montlake and Madison Park neighborhoods. It is managed jointly by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle. The collection includes over 20,000 plant specimens, with particularly strong sections of Japanese maples, hollies, and Pacific Northwest conifers. In late April and early May the azalea corridor along Azalea Way is vivid with color. The air smells like wet bark and something faintly sweet most of the year.

Highlights: The Japanese Garden (small admission fee, around $8 for adults), Azalea Way in spring bloom, Foster Island trail through floating boardwalks over marsh, and Lookout Point above the ship canal.

This 48-acre Olmsted-designed park sits on Capitol Hill and has been here since 1876. The old water tower, built in 1906, has a winding staircase to an observation deck with 360-degree views. You can see the Space Needle, the Cascades, the Olympics, and Lake Union from up there. The park is calm during weekday mornings, with dog walkers and joggers on the gravel paths. The conservatory at the south end houses tropical plants in a Victorian glass structure that feels warm and humid even in January.

Highlights: The 1912 Volunteer Park Conservatory (free admission, donations encouraged), the 75-foot water tower observation deck, the Seattle Asian Art Museum (housed in the 1933 Art Deco building on the north end), and the mature dahlia garden beds.

A 19-acre park on the north shore of Lake Union, built on the site of the old Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. The rusting industrial towers still stand, fenced off but visible, giving the park a look that is part post-industrial sculpture, part kite-flying field. The hill on the south side provides one of the better vantage points for the downtown skyline and the July 4th fireworks over Lake Union. On summer evenings the grassy slopes fill with picnickers, and the smell of charcoal grills drifts across the hill.

Highlights: The hilltop sundial mosaic, views of the downtown skyline reflected in Lake Union, the play barn with painted machinery remnants, and kite flying on the open hill when afternoon winds pick up.

Tucked into the Rainier Beach neighborhood in South Seattle, this 20-acre garden was started by Fujitaro Kubota in 1927. He was a self-taught gardener who emigrated from Shikoku, Japan, and the garden blends Northwest native plants with Japanese design principles in a way that feels organic rather than curated. Paths wind through rock outcroppings, past a series of ponds connected by small waterfalls, and under a red-painted moon bridge. The garden is quieter than the Arboretum and rarely crowded, even on weekends.

Highlights: The Mountainside section with its granite outcroppings and waterfall, the Necklace of Ponds, the Tom Kubota Stroll Garden completed in 1999, and the mature weeping willows and Japanese maples that turn orange and red in October.

This 220-acre park in the Broadview neighborhood drops steeply from residential streets down through second-growth forest to a narrow Puget Sound beach. The salmon return to Piper's Creek here in the fall, and the park has built a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks so you can walk down to watch them spawn in November. The forest trails are shaded, rooty, and smell like wet cedar. It tends to feel more like a hike than a park stroll because of the elevation change, roughly 270 feet between the upper parking lot and the beach.

Highlights: Salmon spawning in Piper's Creek from late October through December, the beach access bridge over BNSF rail tracks, the Environmental Learning Center, and the Piper's Orchard area with heritage apple trees planted in the 1900s.