This is a great easy hike for those who haven't been in awhile or just want a breath taking scenic hangout/walk with friends. The stairs were a great work out and the trails were wide to accommodate many passers. The ocean view and light house was incredible from various parts of the park.

The North Beach trail is pretty muddy. I passed a couple who I overheard complaining about ruining their clothes from unexpected mud, so here's a friendly heads-up!

Instead of the usual, for us, Loop Trail we began at the north parking lot taking the first road west that then curves to the south and caught the Hidden Valley Trail that works its way down to the West Point Lighthouse. Even though we saw several people along the trail it is probably not as populated as as the Loop Trail from the East Parking lot. It also is a little wilder as it passes through the forest and over a couple streams, one with a small falls. This time of year the foliage is beginning to fill in with bright greens again. At the beach we watched as Mount Rainier came out from behind some of the clouds, still a little obscured as a backdrop for harbor Island and a passing ferry. The trail is in good condition except for a bit of mud here and there and we could see that there is some current maintenance going on and fresh gravel on the tread.

This park is one of my favorite local places to go. The parking lot was nearly full at 10:30am on a Sunday, and full by the time we left, around 1pm. But there is lots of space to spread out, so the trails don't ever feel crowded and that's one of the many reasons I love coming here. The grassy meadows and sandy areas near the cliff are perfect for toddlers, and the two in our group had a blast - although you'll want to keep them within arm's reach, especially near the cliff, if they're anything like ours and like to run away faster when you call their name. The views were dazzling in the sunshine, but it's totally worth coming here even on a rainy day. Enjoy!

We parked at south parking lot and got lucky to get a spot as someone was leaving. Lots of people had to park on the road outside the park. We walked out to the sand area plain on top of the bluff that gives a great view south over the sound. We then hiked down the south beach trail, which has some areas of pretty click ice, so watch your step! Along the way there was a large eagle up in a tree that caught the attention of lots of people. We reached the beach while the tide was out. I was able to spot the eagle in the tree and zoom way in on it. One thing we noticed was that there were lots of dogs on the beach. Dogs are not allowed on any Seattle beach! We walked along the water north to the north beach trail (also icy in spots) and hiked back up to the the top of the hill and followed the main loop trail back to the sand area plain and back to the south lot.