Birding should be for EVERYBODY! So what is Birdability?

The 256 acre Green Lake forms the heart of 400-acre Green Lake Park in north Seattle. A 2.8 mile paved asphalt loop trail around the lake is level and provides urban birding and accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices). Trail width is approximately 4 feet with an max grade of 1%. There are eight accessible parking spaces at the Bathhouse Theater lot and several accessible restrooms along the trail. Benches with shade are spaced frequently. Bike racks are also available. A popular and well loved park with more than 170 species of birds seen here year round. 

Bus Routes: 20, 45, 62

Green Lake Park Information

Magnuson Park is a 350 acre park with seasonal wetlands, forest, meadows and Lake Washington. Benches with shade are available and scattered throughout. A flat approximately 8 foot wide asphalt accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) trail, less than a mile long runs along Lake Washington. To access this trail enter on the N.E 65th street, then head towards the large parking lot near the lake. Accessible parking, packed dirt and gravel trailed wetlands and portable accessible restrooms are here. Seven accessible parking spots are located at the W6 play area lot and three at the Off Leash Dog Area. A popular urban birding spot with over 200 species of birds seen here. 

Bus Routes: 62, 75

Magnuson Park Information

Union Bay Natural Area, a former garbage dump is now one of the top urban birding spots in the city! The diverse habitat has drawn over 250 bird species here. Yesler Swamp onsite, is a wooden flat boardwalk with bump rails, benches and some handrails for an accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices). Parking and accessible parking with room for ramp are available in the large east lot near the Center for Urban Horticulture. Accessible restrooms are available in Merrill Hall. The loop trail is 1.5 miles of sloped at times packed dirt and light gravel and gets very muddy with rain. Benches are available. Canoe, kayak and rowboats can be rented for birding by water.

Link Light Rail & 

Bus Routes: 65, 75

Union Bay Natural Area Information

Seattle's largest city park for urban birding is over 500 acres has 12 miles of trails. Views include Puget Sound, meadows, mixed coniferous and deciduous forested trails and beach access. 270 species of birds have been seen here. The Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center in the east parking lot has trail maps, Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, event information and limited parking passes to park at the beach/lighthouse parking lot for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) on a short, flat packed dirt and asphalt trail. Near the center there is access to 2.8 miles of packed dirt trails with some sand dunes. 

Bus Routes: 24, 33

Discovery Park Information

Over 200 bird species have been seen at this 200 plus acre urban birding park in North Seattle. Habitats include upland forest, riparian, wetland, meadow and saltwater. Accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) is only available in some parts of the park. Trails are referred to as mostly level and easy with several sections that are accessible. The environmental learning center has accessible restrooms but is currently not open. The parking lot there is very small and busy. Marine birds, raptors, songbirds and shorebirds can all be seen here. Certain times of the year beach naturalist from the Seattle Aquarium assist in helping visitors identify marine life.

Bus Routes: 5, 40,

Carkeek Park Information

Seward Park is a 300 acre urban birding spot. The park contains over 100 species of birds, old growth forest and a 2.4 mile level asphalt loop path perfect for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices). An accessible trail called Sqebeqsed (A Duwamish name) is a fairly flat, hard-packed dirt and gravel path, surrounded by old growth forest. Seward Park Audubon Center hosts numerous programs and events here including Owl and Bat Prowls, Birding with Kids and special bird photography and raptor events. Eight accessible parking spaces can be found at the tennis court lot.

Link Light Rail & Bus Route: 50

 Seward Park Information

Lincoln Park is a 135 acre park in West Seattle. Upper trails are shaded, fairly flat and wide in parts. The trails consist of packed dirt winding through a conifer forest. The lower level of the park includes a flat asphalt, accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) path which allows for forest and marine birding as well as birding by bike along the beach. The lower level also contains benches and shade. Accessible restrooms are available on upper and lower levels. Nine accessible parking spaces (four at lower beach lot with room for ramp, and five at the southern upper lot) are available. Urban birding here can yield close to 100 bird species. Orca, whales, harbor seals and porpoises are seen here as it's part of the Whale Trail.

Bus Routes: 116, C Line

Lincoln Park Information

Numerous species of marine and shorebirds can be seen in the Alki Beach Park area in West Seattle, making it a popular urban birding spot especially in winter. Part of the Whale Trail is here so occasionally Orca, Whales and Harbor seals and Porpoises can be spotted too. The beach boardwalk is paved and allows for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) as well as birding by bike. Unshaded benches for sitting are available. Nearby Don Armeni Park and boat ramp offers accessible parking and restrooms as well as close looks at Black Turnstones, Surfbirds and Caspian Terns and is 10 min away from Alki Beach by car or bike. 

Bus Routes: 773, 775, West Seattle Water Taxi

Alki Beach Park Information

Don Armeni Park/Boat Ramp Information

Jack Block Park is an obscure 15 acre industrial urban birding park in West Seattle with bridges, piers, beach access and asphalt paved pathways. Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, benches, shade and picnic tables are available. The park provides accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) as well as birding by bike via a paved 0.4 mile path start to end from the first parking lot to the final viewpoint. The path does have some incline and not all of it is level. Raptors, songbirds, waterfowl and marine birds are here. Purple Martins nest in the gourds hanging off the pier. 

Bus Routes: West Seattle Water Taxi, Bus Route 773

Jack Block Park Information

Meadowbrook Pond located in NE Seattle is a storm water detention and flood control facility that happens to be a fabulous urban birding spot. A flat wooden footbridge perfect for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs or assistive walking devices) overlooks the pond. Shaded benches are available for sitting. Several flat  and wide asphalt paths and packed dirt trails can be found here as well. Accessible parking with room for ramp and restrooms are across the street at Meadowbrook Community Center. A flat, paved crosswalk links the community center and the pond entrance. 100 bird species are present throughout the year. This is a easy spot to get to for birding by bike as well. 

Bus Routes: 65

Meadowbrook Pond Information

Ravenna Park has access points to the trails for urban birding along Brooklyn Ave NE, Ravenna Ave NE, NE 62nd Street, NE 58th Street, and NE 55th Street. Accessible parking with small ramp space is on NE 58th street and 20th Ave N.E in the small parking lot within the park. The shaded "Trolley Trail" is a wide, flat compact dirt trail surrounded by trees for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs or assistive walking devices) for larger wheeled chairs and birding by bike. Cowen Park is part of this area as well. Advised to use caution at times in the lower (ravine) part of the park depending on level of unsafe activity present. Barred Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, songbirds as well as migrating species are seen here. 

Bus Routes: 73,79,62, 372

Ravenna and nearby Cowen Park Information

Golden Gardens Park is a 87-acre park in Ballard is situated on Puget Sound with views of the Olympic mountains. It features two wetlands, a paved short loop trail, footbridge and accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs or assistive walking devices) on a flat, asphalt paved promenade which starts by the pier and runs to the beach at the north tip. Accessible parking is available at the south parking lot (just north of the boat launch parking) and at NW 85 St. and 32nd Ave NW. Golden Gardens offers urban birding, a rugged coastline, hikes on forest trails, sandy beaches, fishing from a pier and a boat launch. Over 170 species of birds can be seen here including raptors, songbirds, marine birds and fresh water fowl. 

Bus Routes: 45,40,75

Golden Gardens Park Information

This 110-acre urban birding and wildlife habitat which surrounds Lake Washington is home to songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and beavers. Around 200 species of birds have been seen here. Accessible parking with ramp space is available at the sloped parking lot. Accessible restrooms are near the lot. Portions of the park trails have paved and level boardwalks, and gently sloping, paved pathways lined with meadows and woodland edges for accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices). Old Market Street Trail is a flat asphalt 0.9 mile trail with lake and riparian views. Eastside Audubon has led accessible walks here in the past.

Bus Routes: 255, 230/231

Juanita Bay Park Information

Olympic Sculpture Park is a 9 acre urban birding and accessible birding (accommodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) park on Elliot Bay which connects to Myrtle Edwards Park. Only a mile from downtown Seattle it boasts views of waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, marine birds and gulls. The Olympic Sculpture Park has ADA accessible ramps and the main Z path through the park is graded to provide universal access.  Wheelchairs, including an all-terrain wheelchairs are available at the front desk inside the PACCAR Pavilion. Identification must be left at the front desk for the wheelchair loan. Accessible restrooms can be found in the PACCAR Pavillion. No parking lot present. Street parking only.

Bus Routes: 1, 5, 24, 33

Olympic Sculpture Park Information 

Washington Park Arboretum Loop Trail contains 2 miles of wide paved concrete and asphalt multi use accessible trail creating a "loop" with the existing arboretum drive. It's now also a great accessible birding (accomodates wheelchairs and assistive walking devices) trail. Benches (some shaded) are scattered along trail. Accessible parking with ramp space, accessible portable restroom and trail access is from the Birch parking lot. Urban birding here and the nearby arboretum can yield 164 bird species. The Graham Visitors Center onsite contains an information desk, and a gift shop and restroom. The Japanese Garden located at the south end of the arboretum has a small entrance fee.

Bus Routes: 8, 48

Washington Park Arboretum Loop Trail Information