Hiking with Kids Open

Foster Point Trail

Name: Foster Point Trail
Address: Foster Point Trail, Seattle, WA 98112, USA, Seattle, WA, US
Rating: 4.7

4.7(120) Seattle, WA

Directions

About Foster Point Trail

Foster Point Trail offers an easy, relatively short city hike with captivating water views, a unique bridge over lily pads, and a fantastic sunset vista. It serves as a less crowded escape within the bustling Washington Park Arboretum, making it a valuable spot for families seeking nature without a major time commitment or large crowds.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families looking for a short, easy nature walk within the city.Parents seeking a scenic spot with water views for a peaceful outing.Combining a nature walk with a visit to nearby botanical gardens or parks.A 'less crowded' alternative to other popular Seattle tourist attractions.A quick, beautiful sunset viewing experience with kids.

Why families love it

Easy city trail, suitable for quick outings.
Offers nice views over the water at the end.
Features a 'pretty cool' bridge leading through water from Foster Island to Marsh Island.
Surrounded by 'tons of lily pads' near the bridge.
Provides a 'fantastic view,' especially at sunset, described as 'the most beautiful view in Seattle'.
Generally 'not crowded', even when the larger Arboretum is busy.

Insider tips

**Prepare for Mud:** If planning to explore Marsh Island, wear appropriate footwear or be prepared for muddy conditions.
**Plan for Sunset:** For the most 'beautiful view', plan your visit to coincide with sunset.
**Combine with Other Attractions:** To make a longer outing, combine your visit with a walk around the Washington Park Arboretum or a visit to The Japanese Garden.
**Consider Off-Peak Seasons for Main Arboretum:** While Foster Point is less crowded, if accessing the broader Arboretum, be aware it's 'hammered during the summer', so off-season visits might offer a more serene overall experience.

Good to know before you go

If you have a strong aversion to muddy trails, avoid the Marsh Island section.
If you require pristine, paved, or perfectly manicured trails, as it's described as 'not very well maintained'.
The trail on Marsh Island 'can be muddy', potentially impacting strollers or young walkers.
The trail is described as 'not very well maintained', which might mean uneven surfaces or natural overgrowth.
The broader Arboretum area 'is just hammered during the summer', suggesting potential difficulty with parking or accessing the general area, though Foster Point itself is noted as 'not crowded'.

Crowds: Foster Point itself is noted as 'not crowded'.
Value: No pricing information provided in reviews. Assumed to be free as part of a public park/trail, but cannot confirm.
Accessibility: No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned. Given the 'not very well maintained' and potentially 'muddy' sections, full wheelchair or advanced stroller accessibility might be challenged on parts of the trail.
Safety: No specific safety features mentioned in the reviews (e.g., patrols, railings, signage).

What parents say

Mikhail Badylevich

5.0

"Easy city trail, quite short. Nice view over water at the end"

a month ago

Casey T

5.0

"Beautiful park! Located conveniently next to Washington Park Arboretum/The Japanese Garden, you could easily spend a few hours walking around both parks. The bridge leading through the water from Foster Island to Marsh Island is pretty cool, there are tons of lily pads surrounding the bridge. The trail on Marsh Island can be muddy. Overall, worth checking out, especially if you’re a Seattle native and you’re tired of taking visitors to the same tourist attractions over and over again."

3 years ago

Chris Millar

4.0

"The Arboretum as a whole is such an amazing and wonderful park to find in the middle of a metropolitan. We're incredibly lucky to have this in Seattle. The Foster Point Trail is one of my favorites in the park. Any time of year is going to be an excellent time to visit. Each season offering different views, smells and levels of use. Obviously this whole area is just hammered during the summer but still worth a visit."

6 years ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.