McCurdy Park – Arboretum Trail

Gorgeous view, I love this park, but unfortunately they closed a parking lot on Mountlake blvd because of SR520 construction, as well as Museum of History and Industry there also moved to Mercer, and parking on the other side near Arboretum is too far away and not as big and nice as it used to be on Mountlake blvd. I Recommend visiting on Sunday, easy to park for free for whole day. In weekday, its so nice and quite, but street parking only 2 hours, and easy to get a ticket if you late even for half of minute. Its a great place for hiking with kids.

A nice little park to watch the boats go by.

A beautiful trailhead for running, walking, or general meandering.
From the large parking lot by the old MOHAI near the Montlake Bridge, the cedar-​chipped and bridged path heading east out of the park affords opportunity for getting hidden in marshy undergrowth or exposed to glorious wind and waves. Lookouts and fishing (or resting) piers are tucked along the length of the path, giving views either southward toward the lovely tangle of Highway 520 or northward toward Husky Stadium and the beautiful quiet space of the Center for Urban Horticulture just to the northeast across the water.
If you park either in the old MOHAI lot or in the Arboretum, you can easily create a nice three-​mile (ish) walking or running loop by connecting the two spaces via the Foster Island/​Marsh Island trail and utilizing the neighborhood streets just west of the Arboretum to go in or out depending on your direction. McCurdy Park also affords easy access to the bike path that runs along the east side of UW; if you walk west on the park’s pathway by the Montlake Cut, you can cross the Montlake Bridge and access the bike path right on the other side. Walking a bit north gets you to the small bridge that takes you to the Center for Urban Horticulture, so there’s a fair bit of looping and exploring you can do from here.
There isn’t any play equipment here nor are there restroom facilities, so if you’re looking for an outing with kids, this isn’t a self-​sufficient spot. The trails are an easy walk over toward the Arboretum and the Visitor’s Center, however, so if your little ones are mobile, it makes a good exploratory trek with plenty of opportunities to interact with and observe nature of all sorts.

This can be accessed from two different places.
Walking along the boardwalks is fun but bring shoes that can handle mud and aren’t going to allow you to slip on wet surfaces.
Dress warmly. It always feels 5 – 15 degrees cooler out here.
Lots of good birds to look at… bring the binoculars!

This is one of those Seattle secrets discovered only by accident or if you know someone who knows this place.
I’ve always wondered how people get to those bridges you see from 520 near the Lake Washington exit. Free parking in the lower lot of MOHI right next to the start of the trail.
It was easy and short enough for my 2 ½ and nearly 5 year old. I wouldn’t recommend a jogging stroller as it can get muddy in certain parts and there are a few small steps, but if you have to take one, you’d be okay. The end of the trail has a nice large, grassy area by the water, perfect for a picnic, throwing rocks into the water, or watching swimmers and kayakers.
I think this trail could use some maintenance. Also, there were a few spots on the bridges that had gaps large enough for my kids to fall through if they weren’t careful. My youngest was running ahead of me and during a right angle turn on the bridge, she failed to turn and nearly ran off the dock between one of these gaps.

This is one of my favorite urban walks… because you forget sometimes that you’re surrounded by the city!
Use the parking lot below MOHAI. The trail starts there and winds its way through the trees, along boardwalks and beauty-​barked paths. You can watch the kayakers bumping up against the 520 pillars, stroll through grassy patches or sit on some of the benches placed along the way and bird or people watch. Watch out for bird-people…highly disturbing to see, yet fun!
Eventually, you wind your way under 520 and over to the Arboretum, where other trails wander through its greenery. From there, the world is your oyster, baby!
Check out the linked map in satellite or hybrid mode to view the trail. It’s a lovely walk at any time of the year, gentle enough for small kids and can lead to some more strenuous paths for the hearty.