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Paramount Open Space

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
47.7364, -122.3181 Map & Directions
Length
0.95 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
120 feet
Highest Point
380 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Easy
Paramount Open Space grassy area. Photo by Quantum Guru. Full-size image
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This Shoreline city park seems to be little-known outside its immediate neighborhood, but it's worth a visit. The park is minimally developed, and it offers a variety of trails through open grassy areas and forested areas. Continue reading

  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
  • Good for kids
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None
Rating
3.00 out of 5

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Hiking Paramount Open Space

This Shoreline city park seems to be little-known outside its immediate neighborhood, but it's worth a visit. The park is minimally developed, and it offers a variety of trails through open grassy areas and forested areas.

At present (Fall 2017) no complete map of the park trails is available.

The park has four major trailheads, located at the northwest and northeast corners, and on the center-west and center-east sides. Hikers may find the approach from the northwest corner to be the most interesting. The route suggested here begins at that trailhead, but it leads past each of the other trailheads, so you can easily adapt the route if you opt for a different starting point.

From the northwest trailhead, follow the obvious trail as it heads gently downhill along a wooded slope. Soon, a mowed grassy area will begin to appear through the trees and you will reach it about 600 feet from the trailhead.
Once you reach the grassy area, note farther ahead and slightly to your right a small parking area. That's the center-west trailhead reached from NE 147th St.

Along the southern edge of the grassy area, a wide graveled trail heads east through a tunnel of high branches. Follow it about 600 feet to reach the center-east trailhead on 12th Ave NE, and note along the way a small creek, a second grassy area, and a minor trail heading off to the right.

Return back to that minor trail and head south. It meanders a bit and crosses the creek on a wooden bridge. Several improvised side trails head off uphill to the right. As of Fall 2017, these side trails all ended in brambles or in back yards, so it's best to avoid them and stay on the main trail.

The south-bound trail continues on for about 600 feet, eventually ending near a back yard with a high board fence. Outside the fence, and definitely on park property, is a very old, perhaps 1940s-ish four-wheeled loader. This artifact clearly has been parked here for a very long time, because there are significant live trees growing up through the framework.

Return to the main east-west trail and head back to the large grassy area. There may be no obvious trail across this area, but it's worth hiking up to the north end, where you will find a wide, graveled ongoing trail.
Follow that trail as it passes through a forested area for about 800 feet to reach the northeast trailhead at the corner of NE 152nd St and 11 Ave NE. From here, return to the grassy meadow and take the uphill trail back to your trailhead.

Throughout your hike you are likely to see and hear a variety of birds, and squirrel sightings are common. This is not a wildflower hike, but you may see a few flowers in spring and early summer.

For some additional photos of the park, you might check the Park Preview blog. While the text is not oriented toward hikers, the blog does offer an automated slide show. To view it, scroll down to the bottom of the blog page.

Hike Description Written by
Alan Gibbs, WTA Correspondent

Paramount Open Space

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 47.7364, -122.3181 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

driving directions

The route to any of the four trailheads begins from NE 145th St in Shoreline. If you are coming via I-5, take Exit 175 and head east on NE 145th St. Or, if you are coming via Hwy 99, turn east on NE 145th St.

For either of the west-side trailheads, turn left (north) on 8th Ave NE. For the trailhead near the center-west of the park, turn right on NE 147th St and follow that street as it bends around to the left and ends at a small parking area with room for perhaps 8 cars. The other three trailheads offer only street parking.

For the northwest trailhead, continue north on 8th Ave NE to NE 151st St and turn right. In one long block, where the street bends sharply left and becomes 10th Ave NE, look for the signed trailhead on the right.

For the east-side trailheads, stay on NE 145th St and turn left (north) on 12th Ave NE. For the trailhead near the center-east of the park, be alert for it on your left opposite NE 148th St.

For the northeast trailhead, continue north on 12th Ave NE to NE 152nd St and turn left. The signed trailhead will be obvious one block ahead.

There are no regular rest room facilities at any of the park trailheads.

The park is open "Dawn to Dusk."

take transit

This trailhead is accessible by bus! Plan your visit by bus using TOTAGO, or consult the schedules for King County Metro route number 308 or route number 348.

Routes 308 and 348 travel along NE 145th St, two blocks south of the park.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

City of Shoreline

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Paramount Open Space

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