Foster Point Trail
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
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.
Key Highlights
- ✓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.
- ✓Part of the 'beautiful park' that is the Washington Park Arboretum.
- ✓Can be visited 'any time of year,' with each season offering different views, smells, and levels of use.
- ✓Conveniently located next to Washington Park Arboretum/The Japanese Garden, allowing for combined visits.
Standout Features
- ⭐Panoramic water views, especially at the end of the trail and at sunset.
- ⭐Unique bridge feature over water, surrounded by lily pads.
- ⭐Relative quietness and lack of crowds compared to other Seattle attractions or even other parts of the Arboretum.
- ⭐Easy integration with a visit to the larger Washington Park Arboretum and Japanese Garden.
- ⭐Suitable for year-round visits, with seasonal variations.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**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.
Things to Consider
- ⚠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'.
Price & Value
No pricing information provided in reviews. Assumed to be free as part of a public park/trail, but cannot confirm.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •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.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews. As an outdoor public trail, it's generally assumed that bringing snacks and drinks for personal consumption is allowed, but no explicit policy is stated.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking details mentioned for Foster Point Trail itself. As part of Washington Park Arboretum, general Arboretum parking would apply, but no specific information on ease or cost is available from these reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Foster Point itself is noted as 'not crowded'.
- •The broader Washington Park Arboretum is 'hammered during the summer', suggesting potential crowds in the general vicinity, but Foster Point may offer a quieter escape.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features mentioned in the reviews (e.g., patrols, railings, signage).
⏰When to Avoid
- • 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'.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mikhail Badylevich
a month agoEasy city trail, quite short. Nice view over water at the end
Casey T
3 years agoBeautiful 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.
Chris Millar
6 years agoThe 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.
Timothy Goon
9 months agoWaterfront trail. Not very well maintained. It's quite nice regardless.
Liam Leeson
4 years agoActually, I wanted to visit the Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens to take a walk and pictures. However, it has not special view or something. It was just a park for a walk. So, I decided to stop walking through it and to go to the north of the Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic gardens. Finally, I found this spot. This place is not crowded as well as has a fantastic view. If you go to this island when sun sets, you can see the most beautiful view in Seattle. Thanks.
Contact Information
Foster Point Trail, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
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