Amenities
Grills Tennis Courts Basketball Courts Baseball/Softball Fields Hand Carry Boat Launches Soccer Fields Art in the Park Play Area Drinking fountains Wading Pools Restrooms Swimming Beaches Fishing piersAbout
Green Lake is one of Seattle's most beloved parks. Its expanse of water and green space in the center of a dense urban neighborhood draws thousands of people daily from all over the city. The park serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees and plants, as well as numerous birds and waterfowl. The 2.8-mile path around the lake provides a perfect recreational spot for runners and walkers. Many others use the athletic fields or visit the park for boating, picnics and swimming.
Green Lake has multiple points of access for boats. The cove is 50' of shoreline at the eastern corner of Green Lake facing north, south of the East Green Lake Beach. East is 50' of shoreline along the eastern end of Green Lake at the foot of NE 64th St. West is located 50' of shoreline, northwest of Duck Island. The Small Craft Center has three low floats and adjacent shoreline at 5900 W Green Lake Way N. Priority use for these floats is reserved for Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation programs.
History
Green Lake's Formation
Geologists say the Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet, which also formed Puget Sound and other area lakes, formed Green Lake 50,000 years ago. Dredgings of Green Lake have produced volcanic ash from an eruption of Glacier Peak that occurred about 6,700 years ago.
Green Lake Park
The lake was included in the Olmsted Brothers' comprehensive parks plan, and was given to the City by the State of Washington in 1905. Green Lake underwent a series of changes over the next 15 years- it was diked, dredged and filled until it shrunk by nearly 100 acres! The last fill deposited in Green Lake was from the excavation of Aurora Avenue.
Multi-Use Inner Loop Path
Green Lake's 2.8-mile paved inner loop is one of the busiest car-free recreational trails in the city. Please share the space with hundreds of others by following these guidelines:
Pedestrians
- Use inside lane only (closer to lake)
- Travel no more than 2 people abreast
- For your own safety, we suggest you walk or run facing bicyclists and skaters
Wheeled Users
- Use outside lane only (farther from lake)
- Travel one way only in direction of arrows
- Ride single file
- Keep right except to pass
- Yield to pedestrians
- Speed limit 10 miles per hour
- No motorized devices allowed (gas or electric-powered) except for motorized wheelchairs
All Users
- Keep dogs leashed, max. 5 feet
- Move slowly through congested areas.
Swimming Beaches
Green Lake Park has two lifeguarded swimming areas:
- the west beach at 7312 West Green Lake Dr N., near what has been called the Bathhouse Theatre, and is now Seattle Public Theatre
- the east beach at 7201 East Green Lake Dr. N., near the Green Lake Community Center and Evans Pool