Seward Park

Seward Park occupies the Bailey Peninsula, a forested headland that juts into Lake Washington in southeast Seattle, Washington, at the end of Lake Washington Boulevard S. The park covers roughly 300 acres and protects one of the largest stands of old-growth forest within the city, giving it a very different character from Seattle's urban sandy beaches. Swimming is possible from a modest beach with a gradual entry, set among grassy lawns and views across the lake toward Mercer Island and the Cascade foothills. Because the water is a freshwater lake, it is calmer and usually warmer in July and August than Puget Sound, with no surf. The shoreline around the peninsula is a mix of sand, gravel, and rocky edges, and a paved loop trail of about 2.4 miles circles the peninsula, popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Seasonal lifeguards are provided in the peak summer weeks, and visitors should confirm current dates and hours with Seattle Parks and Recreation before swimming. The park feels more natural and quieter than Alki or Green Lake, appealing to nature lovers, families, and people looking for a long walk rather than a crowded beach scene. Amenities include restrooms, picnic areas and shelters, an amphitheater, and an art studio building, while forest trails lead through tall Douglas firs and bigleaf maples where bald eagles are often seen nesting and soaring. Food options are limited inside the park, so visitors usually bring a picnic or drive to cafes in nearby Columbia City and Seward Park Avenue S. Access is by Link light rail to Columbia City Station, followed by roughly 2.5 miles by rideshare or Metro bus, or by bicycle along the Lake Washington Boulevard route. The park has a large parking area near the entrance, which fills on sunny weekends, and the boulevard is sometimes closed to cars for Bicycle Sundays in summer, a long-standing local event that suits cyclists. The combination of beach, forest, and wildlife makes the park a good half-day outing.