Schmitz Preserve Park

Schmitz Preserve Park protects 53 acres of old-growth conifers that have stood since well before Seattle was a city. Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz donated this land between 1908 and 1912, and the trees they saved are the real draw: towering Douglas firs, western red cedars, and hemlocks rising above a carpet of sword ferns and seasonal wildflowers.

The trail network is short but surprisingly immersive. Within a few minutes of the trailhead at SW Admiral Way and SW Stevens Street, traffic noise fades and you are walking through a dim, mossy ravine that feels nothing like the surrounding neighborhood. Watch for pileated woodpeckers hammering overhead and rough-skinned newts crossing the path after rain. Trillium blooms in spring, and skunk cabbage fills the wetter sections with bright yellow.

Expect some mud, especially in the lower sections where small creeks cross the trail. A few spots have stairs and the occasional downed tree to step over. There are no restrooms and no official parking lot, just street parking along SW Admiral Way. The park closes at 10 PM. Bus routes 50 and 56 stop within walking distance, making this one of the more transit-friendly forest walks in the city.