Location guide: Best Dog-Friendly Urban Parks for Seattle Pet Portraits
Here are some of the top urban parks in and around Seattle, perfect for pet portraits. Some with greenery and flowers, some with city views, some with views of gorgeous Elliott Bay, and all providing the perfect backdrop for your photoshoot with your best friend. Be sure to click the link at the end of each description to learn more about that specific location.
Washington park arboretum
This 230-acre park is home to a variety of gardens and breathtaking flora collections, including a rhododendron glen, a camellia collection, and beautiful tree-lined gravel walkways.
Important info: Free admission, free parking lots on north and south end of the park, and dogs allowed on-leash.
Location: Northeast Seattle, just south of the University District.
lincoln park
Just off the Fauntleroy ferry lies sprawling forested hills, grassy meadows, and beachfront shoreline with views of Puget Sound and the Olympic mountain range. The upper portion of the park (next to the parking areas) several hiking trails, including the historic Colman Trail, which winds through old-growth forest. There are open fields, evergreens, ferns, and other flowering plants that make for the perfect backdrop.
Important info: Free parking and dogs are allowed on-leash. This is the perfect location for forest photos and beach photos alike, or even both!
Location: West Seattle.
point defiance park
Point Defiance Park is a beautiful natural oasis that offers stunning views of Puget Sound. It features over 700 acres of forest, beach, and gardens, making it the largest urban park in Pierce County. The park has over 5 miles of hiking trails, offering plenty of opportunities to explore its natural beauty and take portraits.
Important info: Free parking and dogs allowed on-leash.
Location: Tacoma
seward park
This 300-acre park is located on a peninsula jutting into Lake Washington and offers beautiful views of the lake and the mountains with lake-side (with stunning views of Mt. Tahoma/Rainier on clear days!) and wooded trails perfect for leisurely walks. In the spring, you can see trilliums, bleeding hearts, and other wildflowers blooming.
Important info: Free parking and dogs allowed on-leash. Very busy, especially in the summer, so weekdays-only.
Location: East side of Seattle, along Lake Washington.
gasworks park
Talk about iconic, quintessential Seattle! This park offers stunning views of the Seattle skyline and Lake Union, as well as unique industrial structures that make for really cool urban backdrops. You can see Seattle’s lake houses and watch sea planes take off and land on the lake, and this is the PERFECT location for any fellow millenials who are obsessed with “10 Things I hate About You.”
Important info: Free parking and dogs are allowed on-leash. Gets crowded, so best for visiting on weekdays.
Location: Fremont, on the north end of Lake Union.
