Carkeek Park

About

Carkeek Park Visitor Center
Since opening its doors in the Fall of 2022, there is now a Visitor Center available to the public in Carkeek Park. The Carkeek Park Visitor Center lobby and restrooms are currently open Wednesday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm. During this time, Carkeek Park staff will be available to answer questions, offer hiking trail recommendations, provide printed maps of the hiking trails and other resources, and assist with Carkeek Park program registration.

This popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Explore the secrets of this northwest Seattle watershed, nine miles from downtown. Here, 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach are formed by the magic of water and time. Come take part in an education program, have a picnic, or get involved as a volunteer teacher or as part of an outdoor work party. Walk the Pipers Canyon Story Trail, play on the uniquely salmon themed play area, or touch time at the historic Piper Orchard.

In Carkeek Park, years of hard work by neighbors and volunteers have brought salmon back to Pipers Creek, restored major portions of the forest, built miles of trails, created sustainable gardens, educated visitors, and restored a unique fruit orchard. A group of dedicated forest volunteers, named the WEWOS (Weekday Workers), work every Friday morning in the Carkeek Park forests, removing invasives, planting trees and shrubs, and doing aftercare. More information at Green Seattle Partnership.

Hand carry boating access is located at the shoreline south of the overpass and extending south for 300'. Access is restricted to boats arriving by water only.

Environmental Learning Center

The Carkeek Park Enviromental Learning Center building is currently not open for visitors. A weekday preschool program for ages 3-5 is offered at the Center through a partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation and Creative Kids. For more information, please call them at 206-706-KIDS.

To schedule a guided educational field trip to Carkeek Park and for more information about Environmental Education opportunities across Seattle please visit the Environmental Education webpage.

Current Projects

Visit Carkeek Park Playground Renovation for information on the playground renovation and how to participate in the community input process.

Carkeek Park Overpass Project

In 2020 Seattle Parks and Recreation completed the Carkeek Park Pedestrian Bridge Feasibility Study Report. It studied current conditions of the bridge used to access the beach at Carkeek and created recommendations for its replacement. As of December 2022, we have completed the consultant RFQ process to select a consultant team to design and prepare for construction of the new bridge. We expect to have them under contract in early 2023. Together, we will host a public meeting in spring 2023 to discuss the project and expected timeline.
For more information please contact the project planner, Colin Campbell at Colin.Campbell@seattle.gov

Carkeek Earthkeepers Day Camps

Carkeek Park's EarthKeepers Day Camp for children (ages 6-12) is within 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach formed by the magic of water and time. On any given day a camp participant may explore the tide pools, hike the many trails, play in a field, learn about nature or create art. We offer activities to foster friendship, learning, creativity and leadership. EarthKeepers Summer Day Camp is a collaboration between the Carkeek Park Advisory Council, the Associated Recreation Council, and Seattle Parks and Recreation. 

History

The first Carkeek Park was located at Pontiac Station just north of Sand Point and in 1918 was named for Morgan J. Carkeek, an English building contractor who came to Seattle in 1875. In 1928 the park moved to its location in northwest Seattle. From the beach you can see the southern tip of Whidbey Island, the Kitsap Peninsula, and the Olympic Mountains.