Carkeek Park - Seattle Parks & Recreation

One of the most popular parks in Seattle, Carkeek Park offers beach activities, forested trail walks, wetlands, creeks, open space, kids play areas, picnic areas, etc. The views on a nice day are perfect for viewing Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Everyone enjoys the elevated walkway over the railroad tracks and waiting for trains. Unfortunately, the tracks up and down the shoreline are a bit of an eyesore. The longest trail is the Pipers Canyon Trail along Pipers Creek which has been restored by neighborhood volunteers enough to get the salmon to return. This trail has self-guided interpretive signs that tell the story of the canyon. Other interesting park features are a fruit orchard and a large environmental learning center. The learning center is used during education and stewardship activities as a community gathering place.