Golden Gardens Park
Rate this placeNearby: Shasta Ballfields Mangan Street Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Golden Gardens Park is located in the state of Washington, not Oregon.
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Summary
It is a popular park located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, overlooking the Puget Sound.
There are several good reasons to visit Golden Gardens Park, including its beautiful beach, scenic views, and abundance of recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and more. The park also features a playground, volleyball court, and fire pits for bonfires.
Some specific points of interest to see at Golden Gardens Park include the Bathhouse and the Ballard Locks, which are located nearby. The Bathhouse is a historic building that dates back to the 1930s and now serves as a community center and event space. The Ballard Locks, also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, are a popular tourist attraction that allow boats to travel between the Puget Sound and Lake Union.
Interesting facts about the area include that Golden Gardens Park was once a popular destination for Native American tribes, who would gather clams and oysters from the beach. The park also played a role in World War II, when it was used as a training site for Navy Seabees.
The best time of year to visit Golden Gardens Park is during the summer months, when the weather is mild and the beach is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round and offers beautiful views of the Puget Sound even in the cooler months.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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