King County, WA · Puget Sound

Golden Gardens Park

An 88-acre Ballard park with the best sunset view in Seattle — sand, two wetlands, forest trails above the bluff, and the Olympics straight across the Sound. The other legal bonfire beach in the city, and the busiest one on a warm evening. The 1929 bathhouse is a designated city landmark.

Eats & Drinks 30 Charters & Tours 4

Today's Conditions

Great day for photography.

NWS alert active · 60°F air

Full NWS forecast for Today

Mostly cloudy. High near 60, with temperatures falling to around 58 in the afternoon. South wind 5 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Rain after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Weather

60°F air — chilly for a beach day
Cloud cover — overcast reduces uv exposure but the vibe too

Safety

NWS alert active — gale warning issued november 7 at 8:35am pst until november 8 at 7:00am pst by nws seattle wa

47 /100

33 Sunbathe

62 Walk

40 Fish

71 Photo

Best for photography today

Gale/Storm Gale Warning

Gale Warning issued November 7 at 8:35AM PST until November 8 at 7:00AM PST by NWS Seattle WA

NWS · In effect through Nov 8, 7:00 AM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...South winds 25 to 35 kt. * WHERE...Puget Sound and Hood Canal. * WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 7 AM PST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

60°F

Mostly Cloudy

Wind

5 to 17 mph

Rain

Today

Air Quality

58 Moderate

PM2.5 (fine particles) · Seattle-Bellevue-Kent Valley

UV Peak

1 Low

Peaks 10 AM · burn in ~200m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 11 AM

Tomorrow

55°F

Chance Light Rain

Water

Water Temp

—

Next Low Tide

9:46 PM

-0.7 ft · in 3.2h

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

7:03 AM

Sunset

4:43 PM

Moon · 5%

Waning Crescent

Spring tides — bigger range

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Nov 7

60°

Mostly Cloudy

Sun Nov 8

55°

Chance Light Rain

50%

Mon Nov 9

54°

Light Rain

98%

Tue Nov 10

57°

Light Rain

95%

Wed Nov 11

61°

Slight Chance Light Rain

22%

Thu Nov 12

58°

Chance Light Rain

41%

Fri Nov 13

55°

Light Rain

80%

What to Bring Today

Nothing unusual - conditions are unremarkable today.

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Best Fishing Times Today

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major

9:20 PM - 11:20 PM

Minor

5:10 AM - 6:10 AM

Major

9:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Minor

3:10 PM - 4:10 PM

Beach Info

Parking

Paid and free lots that fill by early afternoon in summer; overflow street parking up the hill on Seaview Pl NW.

Dogs

No dogs on the sand — Seattle bans dogs from park beaches. There is a fenced off-leash area in the upper north end of the park, away from the shoreline.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

8499 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117

Amenities

restroomsfire pitssand volleyballgrillsdrinking fountainsfishing pierboat launchplaygroundoff-leash area (upland only)trails

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Golden Gardens Park today?

Golden Gardens Park shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Golden Gardens Park dog-friendly?

No dogs on the sand — Seattle bans dogs from park beaches. There is a fenced off-leash area in the upper north end of the park, away from the shoreline.

Is there an entry fee at Golden Gardens Park?

Entry to Golden Gardens Park is free.

Are there lifeguards at Golden Gardens Park?

No lifeguards are stationed at Golden Gardens Park. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Golden Gardens Park?

Amenities at Golden Gardens Park include restrooms, fire pits, sand volleyball, grills, drinking fountains, fishing pier, boat launch, playground.

When is the water warmest at Golden Gardens Park?

Puget Sound and the Salish Sea stay cold year-round. Surface temperatures peak in late July and August at roughly 55-62°F, and the deeper channels stay in the low 50s. Swimming is short-dip territory for most people; wetsuits are normal. Shallow, sun-warmed bays like Birch Bay run several degrees warmer than the open Sound.

Where is Golden Gardens Park located?

Golden Gardens Park is in King County, WA, at 8499 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117.