Lincoln Park Seattle

Enjoy one of Seattle's most spectacular waterfront parks.  

Lincoln Park is a heavily wooded park in West Seattle near Alki, just north of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal.

This gorgeous park has miles of beachfront and bluff trails, a unique saltwater pool with glorious views, and tons of amenities like picnic tables, a playground, seasonal splashpad and restrooms.

There's no-where to purchase food at Lincoln Park, so your best bet is to visit the beachfront restaurants at nearby Alki Beach.

5 best things to do at Lincoln Park Seattle

1. Walk, jog or cycle along the breathtaking 1-mile beach trail.

The 1-mile beachfront trail at Lincoln Park winds around the tip of the peninsula at Point Willams, passing South Beach, Colman Pool, and North Beach. This flat trail is easy for all skill levels, and has gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains.

Start at the South Beach Parking lot at Lincoln Park just north of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal (near the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW/ Cloverdale Street).

2. Walk through miles of forested, blufftop trails

Lincoln Park has a network of interconnected trails up on its bluff, with glimpses of Puget Sound through dense forest.  Here's a handy map with all these trails. It's a steep climb from the bluff down to the beach with lots of stairs, so you might prefer to stay up on the bluff.

See a wide variety of trees at Lincoln Park, like Ponderosa Pine, Coast Redwood, Western Hemlock, and Douglas Fir, and a Giant Sequoia. Tree lovers can access this Tree Walk map, so you know exactly where to find them.

3. Swim at heated Colman Pool with incredible views of Puget Sound.

The heated saltwater Colman Pool is at the tip of the peninsula at Point Williams, with magnificent waterfront views.  The pool is open in July and August, and only weekends in September.

Unfortunately there's no parking lot at Colman Pool, so you need to walk in.  The best option is the 15 minute beachfront walk from the South Beach Parking Lot at Lincoln Park.  The North Parking Lot requires a strenuous 20 minute walk from the bluff involving a lot of stairs in the final section, and is best avoided if you have kids.

4. Visit the playground and seasonal wading pool at Lincoln Park.

Visit the fantastic play structure at the north end of Lincoln Park (just past the North Parking Lot on Fauntleroy Way SW and Rose Street). The playground has slides, swings, a sandpit, and zipline rope bridges.  In summer there's a nearby wading pool.

5. Reserve a picnic table or picnic shelter.

Gather your family and friends together for a picnic at Lincoln Park. There are 77 tables and 5 picnic tables for you to reserve at Lincoln Park Seattle, and many are along the waterfront.  There's also a lovely picnic area on the bluff located next to the playground.

Choose from 2 parking lots at Lincoln Park Seattle

• The North Parking Lot is up on the forested bluff at Lincoln Park. (It's near the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW with SW Rose Street). It requires a strenuous 20 minute walk to get down to the beach from here, involving lots of stairs in the final section.  If you're happy to avoid the beach and enjoy the views from along the Bluff Trail, then this option is fine.   
• The South Parking Lot is at beach level, and is an easy stroll to the water. (It's near the intersection of Fauntleroy SW with SW Cloverdale Street). You will encounter some ferry traffic along the way because the Fauntleroy Terminal is just down the road.