This Spectacular Urban Washington Forest Makes A Perfect Escape

Washington has plenty of diverse landscapes, and some of them are in places you'd never expect. For example, you'd never guess that our largest city has a beautiful and secluded forest. But that's exactly what Seattle's Schmitz Preserve Park is, and it's a perfect little oasis within city limits.

Schmitz Park is located at 5551 SW Admiral Way in West Seattle.

It borders Alki Beach Park, and it's a 15 minute drive from downtown Seattle, but you'd never know it.

Here you'll find one of the last stands of old-growth forest in the city.

In 1908, this land was donated by Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz, who wanted it to be used as a park. Ferdinand, a German immigrant, was Seattle's Parks Commissioner from 1908 to 1914.

The short 0.6 mile trail that runs through the forest provides a refreshing nature walk.

You can even reach Alki Beach from the area.

In 1949, a preservation policy was applied to Schmitz Park that is still in effect today.

It stated that only foot trails were allowed and all signs were to be removed from inside the park's borders.

The next time you're in Seattle and you need a quiet escape, this is the perfect place to go.

While it's far from the only place to take a nature walk in Seattle, the park remains delightfully uncrowded, and you just might have the forest to yourself.

Seattle's forest park is open and free to the public every day from 6 a.m. until 20 p.m.

You'll love this iconic local spot.

Believe it or not, Seattle has plenty of places where you can enjoy nature. Discovery Park is a little piece of paradise.