Three Epic Sunrise Spots Near Seattle That are Accessible Year-Round
I love a good sunrise spot, especially one that’s close by and easily accessible. Many people find stuff like this to be a little daunting at first and I understand that, but picture this. There’s a warm drink in your hand, a cozy blanket in your lap, and in front of you the sky is lit up with oranges, pinks, and purples. Then the sun peeks over the ridge looking like a bright orange ball of fire. That feeling you get from the early morning light is such an incredible reward after the sometimes scary walk through the woods beforehand.
I made sure that all the locations I chose are accessible year-round by any kind of vehicle and that they are all easy to hike to if they require a hike at all. This will make it easier for you if you’re a little new to hiking sunrise or if you just need a quick getaway. These spots are all within one hour from Seattle. I did all the planning so that you can enjoy a stress-free morning. All you have to do is wake up and go!
If you have trouble getting up for sunrise, click here for a post that can help you!
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All images and videos on this website are owned by Caryn Wells and Zack Blake unless otherwise stated.
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Seacrest Park:
Seacrest Park is in the Alki Beach area of West Seattle. It’s a quick and easy drive from the heart of Seattle since it’s just across the West Seattle Bridge. You get a full view of the skyline from here, including one of my favorite views of the Space Needle. Even if it’s too cloudy for a great sunrise, the lights of the city in the early morning still make for an amazing view and we got to enjoy it from inside the car where we were happy, warm and sipping hot drinks. If you want a spot where you don’t have to get out of the car, this is the one. If you want to make a full morning of it, you can explore more of the West Seattle coastline! You can go see Alki Point Lighthouse, walk the beautiful Alki Trail, or if it’s warm enough you can rent kayaks from Alki Kayak Tours and get a front-row seat of the city skyline from the water.
Gold Creek Pond:
1.2 miles, 45ft elevation gain
Gold Creek Pond is about an hour away from the city without traffic. The parking lot requires a Northwest Forest Pass during most of the year and a Sno-Pass Permit if snow is present in the winter! The quick loop is only 1.2 miles, but there may be an extra five-minute walk in the winter if the parking lot is closed. It’s a short walk, but you should still bring a headlamp so you don’t trip in the darkness. If you want a quick view, you don’t even have to do the loop (which is especially nice if you’re late)! Simply take the left fork in the trail when you come to it and you’ll be in the picnic area. The right fork is the long way around, bringing you to multiple views and a small peninsula to explore. In the winter, you may want to amend your plans to include micro-spikes or snowshoes (and a Sno-Pass Permit) if the area gets a lot of snow. Just check the trail reports here or at the link below to be sure that you’re prepared!
Rattlesnake LEdge:
5.3 miles, 1459ft elevation gain
Come prepared! Bring your headlamps and some water! Rattlesnake Ridge is about 1 hour from the city and the sunrise views are incredible. The hike up to the top is relatively short, and I was easily able to conquer it even when I was in terrible shape. The whole hike is only around 5 miles round trip, so make sure you give yourself about an hour and a half to get to the top. You may want to be a bit more generous with the time if you expect to take some breaks along the way. Remember that this is probably the most popular hike in the Seattle area so most likely you won’t be alone. I’ve never had the ledge to myself, but there’s lots of room.
I’ve seen some incredible sunrises from up there in pretty much every color; red, orange, pink, soft purple, you name it. Although as a word of caution, please be extremely careful at the tippy top. It can get icy up there in autumn, spring, and winter, especially early in the morning. Someone actually died after slipping on the ice and falling in one of the chasms at the top. We don’t want that happening to you so please be careful, because even if it doesn’t seem icy at first, it’s hard to know for sure. One time I was up there in the spring and when we arrived the rocks were fine but a few minutes and a little sun melting later, they were very slick and I nearly fell on my butt just stepping on one of the rocks wrong. Anything can happen so be prepared.
Bonus: Discovery Park Lighthouse At Sunset
4.4 miles, 472ft elevation gain
I’m sneaking this one onto the list even though we decided not to include it as a sunrise rather a sunset. Zack and I tried going for sunrise one morning, but the surrounding area made us feel a little uncomfortable to leave our car in the lot. So I’ve decided that I’ll mention it instead as a sunset spot since we’ve been here lots of times to catch a sunset and every time we’ve had a pleasant experience. It’s also just too good not to mention!
At about 30 minutes from the city center, this is a remarkably close spot for a getaway. If you’re in the right spot, you can see Mt. Rainier in the distance and the sunset near West Point Lighthouse is incredible! You can hang out on the beach before the sun goes down, and if the tide is out it’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy viewing the wildlife in the tidepools. You have to hike down to the beach from one of the parking lots so leave plenty of time for that. Plan for at least an hour since you’ll probably stop to enjoy the sights along the way. Also, don’t forget your headlamp for the trek back up!
Note: There is a small lot for cars at the very bottom near the lighthouse, but please don’t park here without a permit! You’re very likely to get a ticket since it’s reserved for people who need it. You don’t want to take a parking space from someone who can’t walk down the trail themselves.
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LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT
It’s important to educate yourself on proper trail etiquette before visiting our wild spaces. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature responsibly. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can encourage other people to create a connection with nature. With this connection, people are more likely to care for and stand up to protect our remaining green spaces. We all can easily reduce our impact on the environment and still fully enjoy what nature has to offer. Anyone can help by following the seven Leave No Trace principles to the best of their ability and educating their family and friends about it. Always follow the leave no trace principles on your adventures and use your best judgment for your safety. Your safety is your responsibility.
“Setting a Positive Example is the Best Way to Encourage Others to Give Back”
– Len Ainsworth
Click here to learn more about the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles
Here’s How You Can Help!
Keep educating yourself on environmental impact
Be mindful of possible harmful content you post on social media. Look at your photos and captions and ask yourself if it promotes behavior that is damaging to the environment. Even if it only appears that you’re damaging the environment, this can be a negative impact on the positive ‘LNT’ message
Post on social media about your best example of what you’re doing to practice ‘LNT’ principles. For example, if you pick up trash, post it to #trashtag to spread awareness and encourage others to pick up trash when they see it
Speaking of: bring a trash bag when you go on your adventures to pick up whatever trash you find along the way
Don’t feed wild animals or leave food scraps even if it’s biodegradable. Learn more about this here.
Donate to your local state or national parks
Hold your friends and family accountable for their treatment of our little blue planet, by responsibly educating
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Research the area and have an idea of what to expect on your trip
Always check the weather before you go
Prepare for extreme conditions and emergencies. In the mountains, conditions can change quickly
Cancel your trip if you’re questioning the weather conditions
Visit backcountry areas in small groups, never alone. Leave an itinerary with a friend or family member
If you do travel alone, bring a safety device with you. Like a Garmin InReach or Spot Personal Beacon
Make sure you have a map of the area. You can download a topographical map or have a physical one with a compass. Just make sure you know how to use it
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
When possible, choose a campsite that’s already been used and always pick one on a durable surface - snow, rock, dirt, and not on fragile vegetation
Camp out of sight of heavy-used trails
Camp at least 200ft away from lakes and streams
Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Never bury litter in the snow or in the ground
Pick up all food scraps, and litter even if it’s not yours
Inspect your campsite for trash or evidence of your stay. Dismantle all structures and naturalize the area before you leave.
Bury solid human waste in a cathole 6-8 inches deep in the dirt only. Do not bury waste in the snow.
Pack out solid human waste from alpine areas and areas where it requires
Pack out all toilet paper or wipes. Bring a bag just for this purpose to be sanitary.
Only bury feces where you’re allowed to. It’s often different between human and dog waste. If you are allowed to bury it, bury it in a cathole 6-8 inches down in the dirt
Leave What You Find
Leave all plants, animals, rocks, and cultural or historical artifacts where you found them. Take pictures and nothing else.
Avoid damaging plants and other vegetation. Carving into the trees, wood, and rocks is unacceptable.
Keep loud voices and noises at a minimum, many animals rely on sound for their survival
Minimize Fire Impacts
The best thing you can do is not have a fire. Fire is very damaging for the backcountry
Only use prebuilt fire rings
Only use dead downed wood and put out fires completely
Do not cut wood from live, dead, or downed trees
Never leave your fire unattended
Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance, never approach or follow
Never feed wildlife or leave food behind to be eaten
Store your food and trash securely to protect wildlife, your food, and your gear
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Be respectful of other visitors and share the trail
Yield to downhill and faster traffic
Move off the trail when stopped
Separate ski, snowshoe, and hiking tracks whenever possible; avoid hiking on ski and snowshoe tracks
Follow rules and regulations regarding pets on the trail. Pack out all feces.
Only bury feces where you’re allowed to. It’s often different between human and dog waste. If you are allowed to bury it, bury it in a cathole 6-8 inches down in the dirt, not in the snow.
What are your favorite spots to watch the sunrise? I might even add your suggestion to this post if Zack and I love it too! Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below! Thank you!
Follow along with my adventures on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! You can also see all my social links just above the comment section at the bottom of the page! I share personal stories, travel tips, travel products that I’ve been loving, and so much more. If you want to get to know me and get a glimpse into my adventures, social media is where I put a lot of extra content!
Stay safe and explore responsibly,
Happy Adventuring!
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Hello I’m Caryn!
I’m a Pacific Northwest based adventurer and storyteller. I take a lot of photos, Zack takes a lot of videos, and together we try to bring our fun adventures to life to inspire you to go outside and have meaningful, unique outdoor adventures for yourself!