Magnuson Park, the Heart of It All
Nearly everything that draws people to Sand Point happens inside Warren G. Magnuson Park. Its 350 acres blend open water, playfields and natural areas, so you can cover a lot of ground and a lot of moods in a single afternoon.
Beach, Boats and Wetlands
Head to the Lake Washington shoreline for a swimming beach on summer days, or use the boat ramps to get out onto the lake itself. When you want a quieter pace, stroll through the restored wetlands, a calm counterpoint to the busier fields. For a closer look at the waterfront, browse the Magnuson Park beach and wetlands guide.
A Playground for Families
Bring energetic kids to Seattle's biggest playground, which makes Magnuson Park an easy choice for a family outing. Nearby sports fields give older children and adult leagues plenty of room of their own.
Room for Dogs to Run
The park's off-leash area is one of the main reasons local dog owners make the trip. Read the Magnuson Park dog park guide before you go, and check current rules with Seattle Parks and Recreation.
A Long-Running Community Garden
Just steps from the dog park, the Magnuson Park P-Patch is a City of Seattle community garden with 128 plots, and neighbors have been tending it since 1977. Find out more in the Magnuson Park P-Patch guide.
Walking Through Aviation History
As you cross the park, you are walking over an old airfield. In 1924 Sand Point marked the finish of the first flight to circle the globe by air, an achievement that helped persuade Congress to turn the site into a naval air station.
Naval Air Station Seattle operated here until 1970, and the park grew out of that former base. That legacy explains why the landscape feels so wide open and flat as it meets the water.
A Civil Rights Story
Gordon Hirabayashi, born in 1918, grew up in a family that farmed along the Lake Washington shore in the Sand Point area. He went on to become a civil rights leader who challenged the constitutionality of Japanese American internment during World War II, and in 2012 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
When to Go
Plan your beach days for summer, when Sand Point stays warm but not hot and tends to be dry, with average monthly temperatures that never top about 72°F. It is the natural season to get in or out on the water. Before you head out, check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for hours, closures and facility details.
