Golden Gardens Park

Golden Gardens Park at sunset.

Looking toward Shilshole Bay Marina from the beachfront picnic area.

A paraglider practices in the dunes. The forested upper portion of the park can be seen in the background and the old bathhouse at right is an official Seattle landmark.

Golden Gardens Park is a public park in Ballard, a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. The park includes wetlands, beaches, hiking trails, and picnic and playground areas. The park is bisected by the BNSF Railway railway.

Recreation

Foreground, freshwater marsh near the north end of the park, and the salt water of Puget Sound in the background.

The lower portion of the park is divided between wetland marsh and beach (on Puget Sound), and situated north of the Shilshole Bay Marina. It also has dunes and large grassy areas. Golden Gardens has exceptional views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains across the sound.

The water is not too cold for swimming, and sailing, kayaking, and canoeing are popular. Kitesurfing and sailboarding and other wind-driven sports are also common. The Sound is cut off from the open ocean for more than a hundred miles, sheltering the park from severe weather.

Golden Gardens is well known for the birds that live or migrate there:

• Mallard ducks in the wetlands
• Red-winged blackbirds in the marshes
• Canada geese are seen in the parking lot and near picnic areas
• Wood ducks make occasional appearances
• Eagles occasionally fish here
• Seagulls are common

The mallards and Canada geese are habituated to humans, and have been known to attack visitors. Sea lions are often heard, and occasionally seen lounging near the marina breakwater.

Location and Hours

Address: 8498 Seaview Pl NW Seattle, WA 98117

Hours: 6 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. daily

Website: Golden Gardens Park