Howell Park

There are only two well known nude beaches in Seattle and Howell Park is literally a stones throw away from the other nude beach – Denny Blaine. While Howell Park doesn’t have as much beach area as Denny Blaine, it makes up for it with an enormous grassed area which is hidden between waterfront mansions in this upper class suburb.

One of the unique experiences we had at Howell Park was seeing an impromptu yoga session start up, led by a friendly local. The calm waters of the lake formed the perfect backdrop for some mindful stretching. We also noticed some playful beach volleyball games going on, contributing to the beach’s cheerful atmosphere. But hey, if all you want to do is sprawl on the grass and relax, you can definitely do that too!

While nearby Denny Blaine Beach has a sunny beach area, this is a little lacking at Howell Park due to the tall trees. In the afternoon the grass area is mostly shaded and while we were there it got a little chilly. So, if you’re looking to catch some rays, early morning or late afternoon might not be the best times here.

There are no bathroom facilities or food and drink vendors on-site. But a quick dash down the road to Denny Blaine will lead you to several Porta Potties. Most people came prepared with packed lunches and we spotted some pretty epic picnic setups. It seemed to us like most folks preferred to hang out naked on the grass at Howell Park, while the popular choice at Denny Blaine was swimming and tanning. That could be due to the lack of shade there, and the need to cool down, though!

All in all, we had an absolute blast at Howell Park and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. It’s so tucked away and private, definitely more so than Denny Blaine. You’re not gonna get any gawkers here because anyone curious would have to wade through a sea of naked people just to sneak a peek. From the street, it doesn’t even look like anything’s happening in the park.

A visit to Howell Park offers a truly authentic and accepting Pacific Northwest nude beach experience. And, as a bonus, you can also take a glimpse at Kurt Cobain’s house. The bench where the Nirvana front man used to sit is just up from the beach and serves as an informal shrine to his memory.

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