Where the Name Comes From
Broadview earned its name from those sweeping westward views over Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains, opened up by the steep hillsides on the neighborhood's west side. Along the western edge, a bluff drops toward the water, and below it the BNSF Railway mainline runs along the shore.
Carkeek Park and Its Creeks
Start where most visitors do, at Carkeek Park, with its beach, salmon trails and orchard. This 216-acre canyon park fills Broadview's southwest corner along the shoreline. Spend a few hours on its roughly six miles of forest trails, stretch out on the sandy Puget Sound beach, and stroll through Seattle's oldest orchard.
Pipers Creek winds through the park, and its restored channel supports returning salmon. The surrounding Pipers Creek Natural Area keeps that stream corridor wooded and wild, so you can follow a walk that carries you from a shady ravine out to open saltwater.
Smaller Streams Along the Way
Keep an eye out for Broadview's own creeks, too. Broadview Creek runs roughly 2,600 feet from its headwaters near Northsite Road down to Puget Sound, and short streams like it help explain why the neighborhood feels so green between the houses.
Old-Growth Forest at Llandover Woods
Head to the northwest side, right against the Highlands, to find the Llandover Woods Greenspace, about nine acres of protected native habitat. Light residential development nearby had kept the land largely intact before the city acquired it in 1995.
Today you can follow hiking paths through old-growth forest that also gives habitat to owls, eagles and mountain beavers. Choose it when you want a shorter, quieter walk than a full Carkeek outing.
Broadview Park is another neighborhood green space, and Seattle Parks and Recreation can give you current details on what it offers.
Dunn Gardens, an Olmsted Landmark
Step into the Dunn Gardens, which date to 1915 and follow a plan by the Olmsted Brothers, the landscape firm behind many of Seattle's major parks. The E.B. Dunn Historic Garden Trust owns the property, and volunteers tend the grounds under its direction.
The gardens open for public tours. Because schedules and booking rules can change, check with the trust directly before you plan your visit.
The Broadview Branch Library
Make the Broadview Branch of The Seattle Public Library, at 12755 Greenwood Ave N., your launch point. Several parks and green spaces sit within a short walk, which makes it an easy place to begin a neighborhood stroll.
The Library's Long Story
Library service here began in 1944, when community groups successfully lobbied for a King County Library System branch, and Seattle Public Library took over in the same building on January 3, 1955. A new building at Greenwood Avenue and North 130th Street won approval in 1967.
Funding then stalled because the city needed money to renovate Sicks' Stadium for Major League Baseball. The new library finally opened on January 25, 1976, with a collection shaped for its suburban patrons, was renovated in 1988, and expanded in 2007 with money from the 1998 Libraries for All bond measure. Hours can change, so check with the library before you stop in.
From Farmland to City Neighborhood
As you walk, imagine the farmers who began settling Broadview and neighboring Bitter Lake in June 1889, after the Great Seattle Fire. With no roads yet built, they floated their goods to Seattle over Puget Sound, and logging arrived later.
Both neighborhoods joined the City of Seattle on January 1, 1954. Many of the first homes went up while the area was still unincorporated, so most minor streets still lack sidewalks, and you should take care on side streets.
Planning Your Visit
Give Broadview a half day built around the outdoors. Pair a Carkeek beach and creek walk with the forest at Llandover Woods, or add a Dunn Gardens tour if one is available. Before you go, check Seattle Parks and Recreation for trail conditions and park rules.
