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Some cities might be all about pounding the pavement, but Seattle is truly special in that it’s home to both the cultural spoils of an urban center and the gateway to the Great Outdoors.
With three national parks, five national forests, endless mountain ranges, lakes, streams, and rivers, there are plenty of places to go off the beaten path into nature, and more green spaces than you can count in Seattle. It’s safe to say you could live in this Washington city your whole life and still not see it all.
That said, there’s certainly more than one place to take a lap if disconnecting from your phone is a huge priority (isn’t it always?). Because it’s such a hilly city, hiking is guaranteed to happen whether you want it to or not. Seattle is famous for its snow sports, particularly at legendary parks like Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain Resort, and Summit at Snoqualmie. A low-key afternoon wandering Discovery Park, Golden Gardens, or Washington Arboretum is an easy stroll, but there’s plenty of outlooks for experienced climbers, too, on Rattlesnake Ledge, Mt. Si, and Mt. Rainier. Seattle also happens to be surrounded entirely by water and there are so many ways to experience it: taking a locks cruise of Elliott Bay to Lake Union or one of the Washington State Ferries, not to mention whale-watching, a necessity when visiting the Pacific Northwest.
So much nature, so little time. Here are 10 ideas to get you started.
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Biking Along the Waterfront
Biking is a way of life in Seattle, so expect to share the road when you hit the 8.5-mile Seattle Waterfront Pathway. Smooth pavement and endless views of the Elliott Bay shoreline make this bike path a must for experiencing the best of coastal nature and city sights on wheels. The trail careens past the Pike Street Hillclimb and the Lenora Street Bridge through the Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park. Plus, access to downtown makes it easy to hop on and hop off.
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Wandering Discovery Park
Explore 534 acres of woodland trails, bucolic meadows, and sweeping bluff views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains at this iconic park situated within Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. Truly the best of all worlds in one place, this is the spot to get a sample of Seattle’s natural wonders—plus 270 species of birds to peep on.
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Stroll Along the Shores at Golden Gardens Park
Take a walk along the rugged 300-foot shoreline at this popular park nestled within Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Built in 1907, this historic site was developed as a weekend attraction for nature-loving locals to enjoy the surf and sand. Along with its scenic northern beach that offers incredible views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, the park features two wetlands and forested trails for hiking, as well as a fishing pier and boat launch.
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Brush Up on Flora and Fauna at the Washington Park Arboretum
Get lost in an endless collection of 10,000 native plants spread across 230 acres at this gorgeous public park that’s unanimously considered to have one of the most impressively diverse collections in the western United States. Among its most impressive attractions: the Seattle Japanese Garden, an authentic 3.5-acre sprawling natural oasis that is also one of the oldest Japanese gardens in North America. During springtime, the park’s Azalea Way is in full bloom with a stunning technicolor array of flowers worth planning a trip around.
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Hit the Water on Washington State Ferries
Tours are nice, but if you want to pack in something quick ’n’ easy: why not take a scenic ferry from downtown Seattle across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton? You can’t beat the price ($8.65 for a passenger ticket), and its hourly commuter schedule from Colman Dock on the prime strip of the Seattle waterfront makes it easy to arrange an impromptu boat ride without the hassle.
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Grab a Kayak or Paddleboard at the Northwest Outdoor Center
If you’d rather hit the water than travel like a passenger, head to the Northwest Outdoor Center to rent a kayak or paddleboard for an afternoon around Lake Union and Puget Sound. Kayak rentals are reasonable for budget-friendly travelers, ranging between $18 to $30 for the hours, with kayak instructors and organized trips available if you’d like to join with a crew.
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Hiking Up Rattlesnake Ledge, Mt. Si, and Mt. Rainier
If the steep streets from downtown Seattle don’t have you working up enough of a sweat, try spending an afternoon trekking the trails. Rattlesnake Ledge is the easiest, offering 4 miles of trail ascending to 2,078 feet. Mt. Si is considered the most popular, albeit a more challenging 8-mile round-trip trek to 3,900 feet. As far as bucket list items go, however, Mt. Rainier National Park is one you’ll have to plan for: there are over 260 miles of trails with forests, lakes, streams, fields of wildflowers, and a network of glaciers.
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Cruise the Locks From Elliott Bay to Lake Unio
On a nice day, the open deck views off the Argosy Cruises Locks tour between Elliott Bay and Lake Union are downright magical. Aside from the very cool experience of witnessing the unique transition from salt to fresh water, you get the bonus of learning all sorts of cool facts and tidbits on local history while passing the nautical rush hours of large fishing vessels and seaplanes along the water.
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Hit the Slopes at Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain Resort, Summit at Snoqualmie
Those majestic mountains surrounding Seattle have some function to their form. Hit the slopes for alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and winter tubing. Situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, Stevens Pass features 125 acres of skiable terrain, including 52 major runs. As the largest ski resort in Washington State, Crystal Mountain Resort has a whopping 2,600 acres, 85 runs, and a summit of 7,012 feet (if you’re not into sports but still want to enjoy the mountain, take the Mt. Rainier Gondola up 2,500 vertical feet and enjoy the view. After dark, head to the Summit at Snoqualmie, which boasts the most night skiing of any in the U.S.
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Go Whale-Watching
The whale-watching in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands is legendary—a dream that many will still travel the world for. Where else can you come close to countless orca, gray, and humpback whales making the rounds year-round? There are many ways to have an encounter, including boat rides, seaplanes, and guided kayak tours for your own personal “Blue Planet” live-action experience.