outdoors
The Best Parks in Bellevue
Bellevue is, quietly, a parks city. Here are the ones we actually return to — and what each one is best for.
In this guide
Bellevue has more park land per resident than any other major Washington city, and almost none of it is the postcard-famous kind. That's a feature. Here are the parks we send visitors to first.
Downtown Park — for the loop
The half-mile crushed-granite promenade around Downtown Park is the city's living room. Go at 5:30pm on a clear evening and you'll see strollers, dog walkers, tower-residents on a break, and high schoolers learning to skateboard on the lawn.
Bellevue Botanical Garden — for the slow walk
Free year-round, world-class in spring rhododendron season, and the Garden d'Lights display in December is a genuine event. Bring a friend who likes to look at plants for slightly too long.
Mercer Slough — for the canoe
A 320-acre wetland in the middle of the city. The Visitor Center loans paddles in summer; the boardwalk is open year-round. Best at low evening light when the herons come out.
Kelsey Creek Farm — for the kids
Real working farm with sheep, goats, ponies, and a barn. Free, open daily, parking fills by 10am on summer Saturdays.
Wilburton Hill Park — for the trees
Connects to the Bellevue Botanical Garden via a forest trail most people miss. Big leaf maples, soft duff underfoot, no crowds.
Meydenbauer Beach Park — for the swim
Small, sheltered cove on Lake Washington with a lifeguarded swim area in summer and the city's best dock for a sit.
Newcastle Beach Park — for the lake day
Bigger than Meydenbauer, with a real beach, a long pier, and grills. The right park for a full Saturday with a cooler.
A weekend stack
One easy weekend route: coffee at a downtown café, a Downtown Park loop, lunch in Old Bellevue, a long afternoon at the Botanical Garden, dinner in Bel-Red.
Featured in this guide
Places to know
Bellevue Botanical Garden
4.8A free 53-acre public botanical garden in Wilburton with the celebrated Perennial Border, Yao Japanese Garden, Ravine Experience suspension bridge, and the annual Garden d'Lights holiday show.
Mercer Slough Nature Park
4.7A 320-acre freshwater wetland preserve in the heart of Bellevue with seven miles of trails, boardwalks over open water, a working blueberry farm, and the Environmental Education Center run in partnership with Pacific Science Center.
Newport
Meydenbauer Bay Park
4.7Bellevue's downtown waterfront: a swim beach, a pier, and kayak rentals ten minutes below Old Bellevue.
Old Bellevue
Lake Hills Greenbelt
4.6Wetland greenway with a working farm and trails.
Eastgate
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