Why go? Multi-faceted and big, Lincoln Park is West Seattle’s finest. For dogs, the upper wooded park is great spring through fall when it’s dry. During winter and after considerable rain, it gets mucky and extra clean-up is the price paid for your fun. There are lovely meadows, great vistas overlooking the Sound, and many cool, secluded spots at which to linger, contemplate and picnic.
The walk from the lower parking lot down along the beach to Coleman Pool is paved, so it’s easy in any weather. Walking further along the shore involves a gravel path that can get muddy until you reach the terminus of Beach Dr.
There are 4.6 miles of walking trails in the park, plus the end of Beach Drive where the residences start, to Lohman Beach Park and the sidewalk up Lincoln Park Way back to Fauntleroy.
Technically, Alki is only part of a long walk that can start anywhere along Harbor Dr., Alki Ave. and Beach Dr.
Why go? This is an ideal place to walk dogs, and utterly gorgeous! This is why we live here! The widened exercise path extends from Spokane St/West Seattle Bridge around Duwamish Head, past Alki Beach, the Lighthouse, Richey Viewpoint/Constellation Park to where Beach Drive and 63rd Ave intersect. That’s about 4 ¼ miles one-way on the wide-walk.
Another 9/10 of a mile on a regular sidewalk gets you to Me Kwa Mooks Park, and from there it’s less than 2 miles to Lincoln Park.
Why go? This can be a spectacular place to watch a sunset over the Olympics and Sound!
Why go? This cool little ‘secret’ has incredible views of downtown and the Port of Seattle from the observation platform. It’s easily incorporated into a Harbor Dr./Alki walk.
Why go? Fifty-three acres of old-growth forest with walking paths make this an exhilarating oxygen-fest, especially walking up and down the hills. If you head all the way down under the Admiral Way bridge to the end of the path, you’re at Alki Elementary School a couple blocks from the beach. Seasonal differences in heat/precipitation can make this park a sneaker-romp or a boot-slog.
Why go? Another densely-wooded park with walking paths in a ravine, which is the watershed for Fauntleroy Creek, where cool things are happening. This park stays pretty mucky over the rainy season but is very nice in late summer, especially September, when blackberries are still perfectly ripe here.
Why go? West Seattle’s only sanctioned off-leash area.
Why go? The upper park has a nice paved perimeter path and the lower little league fields are a good chuck-it range for ball-driven retrievers. The fence isn’t tight, so your dog’s recall must be excellent here. This park gets little use during school hours; you might have it to yourself then.
High Point-Walt Hundley Playfield
Why go? This park has fantastic views of the downtown cityscape and is particularly pleasant in the evening.
Why go? This is a delightful place on a sunny morning. If you catch it just right, with a little fog on the Duwamish River and the sun ascending from behind Mt. Rainier early in the early morning, this place looks magical!