Carkeek Park Beach — Attraction in Seattle

A Park That Welcomes You—Unless You Have Paws

Tucked away in the city’s green sprawl is a beach so small it feels more like a puddle with a view. The shoreline is choked with seaweed and crawling with sand fleas, making the waterline less of a retreat and more of a dare. And yet, this modest slice of nature is somehow deemed too sacred for dogs.

Let me be clear: the rest of the park and its trails are open to our four-legged companions. But the beach? Littered with “No Dogs Allowed” signs like a passive-aggressive art installation. It’s a baffling, inconsistent policy that punishes the very creatures who bring joy, companionship, and—let’s be honest—more respect for nature than most humans.

Seattle claims to be progressive, inclusive, and dog-friendly. So why draw the line at a patch of sand barely big enough for a picnic blanket? This isn’t about protecting fragile ecosystems—it’s about arbitrary enforcement and exclusion. If the beach is shared among people, it should be shared among species, too.

Until then, this park remains a symbol of selective welcome. Beautiful in parts, but broken...

TLDR: Lovely area to walk. Very rocky beach. Don't slip on the seaweed.

Small parking lot so you may end up walking a ways.

Sorry, no dogs allowed. There's a sign on the bridge before you enter the beach.

Not as crowded as golden gardens which is nice but there's also not as much sand. The beach is pretty rocky. Watch where you step with the seaweed at low tide--it can get very slick!

Low tide doesn't have quite as much life as Golden Gardens but there are a lot of clam holes here. I also managed to find a few live moon snails--which I've found at Golden Gardens as well. Golden Gardens definitely has more crabs, fish, starfish, etc.

I think people mainly come here for the creek and view rather than for low tide.

There are no amenities here. Just a shoreline with one access point that is a bridge over a railroad. Mind those stairs! They are very hole-y so watch those floppy floppies! There is a single porta-potty in the parking lot but it's nowhere near the shore.

Overall just a nice place to...

Playground, beach access, trails, salmon view spots, grassy open fields, picnic shelters, benches, restrooms, plenty of parking and a beaver dam. Carkeek is a beloved park north of Seattle for all ages.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach (as per signages prominently posted) but of course some do not read or willfully ignore it. The trails though are wonderful for exploring with your dog/s. Just remember to pick up after your pet/s and steer away from the stream.

Weekdays can be busy but there will always be a parking spot (though you may have to hike a little to get to the playground and the beach).

Access to the beach area via a foot bridge that crosses over the train tracks and is a little steep. Not advisable for individuals on wheelchairs, with vertigo, or has mobility issues. Better to go to Richmond Beach or Edmonds for easy beach access and viewing passing trains.

Highly recommended for locals...