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Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 57 Google reviews · Running trail in Lake Forest Park, Washington · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADARestroomsTrailhead parking

Relaxed, intimate creekside park with benches, eagles, a dock and lake views.

What runners say about Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (57 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful creekside park with benches and informative/educational signs.”

I shared a photo that shows where a few parking spaces are located that are reserved for the preserve. They are located near the SW corner of the Bothell Hwy / Ballenger Way intersection. They are next to the Lake Forest Park City Hall which is in the lower parking lot for the Lake Forest Park Town Center.

★★★★★ — Gayle , Oct 2022

Wonderful little park beside the Lake Forest Park Civic club on Sheridan Beach road. Easy access from the Burke-Gilman trail, no toilet on-site, and no parking space except for a single disabled parking slot.

★★★★★ — Kingfisher , Jun 2019

Nice little park on Lake Washington. Went to watch the coho salmon run up Lyon Creek on October 25th. Unfortunately there weren't any while we were there, but still it's a peaceful and pretty place. Very little parking on the street, but it was fine today.

★★★★☆ — Dick , Oct 2024

A nice secluded spot by the lake. The boardwalk and access way is narrow and can only accommodate one group at a time. But the little beach there has ample space for multiple groups to maintain adequate distance from one another.

★★★★★ — Shashidhar , Dec 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 57 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 8 mentions

“Easy access from the Burke-Gilman trail, no toilet on-site, and no parking space except for a single disabled parking slot.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Beautiful creekside park with benches and informative/educational signs.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Took my dog's hair to play in the water they loved it”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“The boardwalk and access way is narrow and can only accommodate one group at a time.”

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🚻 Restrooms

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitecityoflfp.gov
  • Phone(206) 368-5440
  • Social Instagram

Hours

Monday 6 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–9 PM
Thursday 6 AM–9 PM
Friday 6 AM–9 PM
Saturday 6 AM–9 PM
Sunday 6 AM–9 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve

17337 Beach Dr NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Get directions

Running trails near Lake Forest Park

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Log Boom Park

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under a mile away

Pfingst Animal Acres Park

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Laid-back park (dog run) featuring trails, ponds and views of the lake.

under a mile away

Grace Cole Nature Park

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BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

1.0 miles away

Linwood Park

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Northshore Summit Park

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Rhododendron Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 762 reviews

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ShadedScenic

Public park offering picnic and BBQ facilities, a playground, basketball court, athletic fields, and a trail.

1.3 miles away

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.