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Great stair climbing workouts in Seattle parks

Do your new year’s resolutions include spending more time outdoors, connecting with nature, and being more active? If so, Seattle Parks and Recreation is here to help! We’ve put together a short list of some of our favorite parks for getting in a great stair climbing workout.


Located in the heart of Seattle, this 48-acre park offers plenty of walking and jogging paths, lots of open lawn space, and a grueling set of stairs leading to the top of the historic, 100-year old Volunteer Park Water Tower. At more than 75-feet tall, the tower features a steep, winding staircase with 107 stairs. Race to the top for a heart-pounding workout and you’ll be rewarded with an incredible 360-degree view of downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and more!

Located in Ballard on Puget Sound, this popular park offers extraordinary views, as well as strolls along a rugged coastline, hikes through forest trails, sunbathing on sandy beaches, and a series of staircases featuring nearly 300 steps with a steep elevation gain. Start at the top (at the edge of the Loyal Heights neighborhood) and climb down to the beach, where you can rest and relax at one of Golden Garden’s many beach picnic shelters and benches. If you’re feeling more adventurous, start from the beach and climb up – once at the top, you can treat yourself at one of Loyal Heights’ coffee shops.

Located on the west side of Beacon Hill, Dr. Jose Rizal Park has amazing views of downtown and Elliott Bay. If the views don’t take your breath away, climbing the park’s many series of steps surely will! Bring your four-legged best friend along for this workout: the park features a long set of stairs leading to a fenced off-leash dog area at the north end of the park.

Walk though deep ravines and natural areas as you go through Leschi and Frink parks on a 3+ mile walk that includes an impressive 704 steps up and 540 steps down. Leschi Park is a well-manicured, rolling hillside of grass planted with exotic trees and gardens of roses; Frink Park is a densely vegetated ravine with dirt trails covered by a canopy of fir trees. Click here to see a map of this popular stair climbing route.