Seattle's Warren G. Magnuson Park is the City's Second Largest Park with Something for All!

At 350 acres, Seattle's Warren G. Magnuson Park in northeast Seattle is the city's second largest park. After some recent growing pains, Magnuson Park now has a newly restored wetland area and ponds, making it very attractive to a diverse population of native and migratory birds. This new area is located at the south end of the park as you drive in and has a large parking lot, which I have never seen completely filled. This is a federally protected wetland with a gravel trail loop that circles the ponds and skirts the wetland habitat. This area is rapidly regaining popularity with Seattle's birders. A short trip around the ponds will often yield sightings of hummingbirds, shorebirds, songbirds, ducks, hawks, and the occasional Bald Eagle. The new habitat has already attracted shorebirds that have found the area suitable for breeding - good news for Seattle, or anywhere for that matter.

Magnuson Park offers a large parking area and boat launch on the shore of Lake Washington at the south end of the park and the north end of the park caters to the sunbathers, dog lovers, swimmers, and kite fliers. The south end of the park is home to "kite hill" where all manner of kites and model airplanes can be observed hovering delicately on the breezes that blow westward off of Lake Washington.

There is a dog park with beach access at the north end of the park - something in short supply for dog lovers in Seattle. Dogs are not permitted on many of Seattle's beaches, so bring your dog down for a romp in Lake Washington at Magnuson Park without having to risk a fine or ticket.

There are trails extending from the more forested parts of the park through the meadows for those that enjoy a nature walk by the lake. There are also plenty of blackberries to pick in August in Magnuson Park. I don't mind sharing that information since I found a new hot spot for berries, which I'm unlikely to share with you, unless I'm under duress!

In autumn, the sunrises in Magnuson Park are simply stunning. If you get there early, before the sun is actually rising, you will enjoy watching the sky come to life in waves of color as fog drifts lazily across the water's surface. As a photographer, this is one of the spots I prefer to shoot sunrises in Seattle. There is an amazing view of Mount Rainier to the east as the sun comes up. If you haven't already enjoyed it, you should definitely add it to your bucket list.

Warren G. Magnuson Park is located in northeast Seattle at 7400 Sandpoint Way NE. You can use Yahoo! Maps for driving directions.

Sources:

Personal Experience
City of Seattle