Saint Edward State Park

Saint Edward State Park: Historic Seminary Campus Meets Lake Washington Recreation

Saint Edward State Park offers a unique blend of architectural grandeur and natural beauty on 326 acres along the shores of Lake Washington in Kenmore and Kirkland. This day-use park showcases the magnificent 1931 Saint Edward Seminary, designed by renowned architect John Graham Sr. in Late Romanesque Revival style, which now serves as The Lodge at Saint Edward after a stunning $57 million renovation completed in 2021. With extensive forested trails winding through second-growth Douglas-fir and western red cedar, plus the largest children’s playground in Washington State, the park successfully combines historical preservation with modern recreation along nearly a mile of Lake Washington shoreline.

Saint Edward State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

Saint Edward State Park preserves a remarkable chapter of Pacific Northwest history where a Catholic seminary’s peaceful grounds have been transformed into one of the region’s most distinctive recreational destinations. The centerpiece 80,900-square-foot seminary building, constructed of tapestry brick in buff and brown tones, stands as a testament to 1930s religious architecture while now serving contemporary visitors through its conversion to The Lodge at Saint Edward. The surrounding 326 acres encompass diverse forest ecosystems dominated by Coast Douglas-fir, western red cedar, bigleaf maple, Pacific madrone, and western hemlock, creating a dense canopy above carpets of western sword fern, native shrubs, and moss.

The park’s location along Lake Washington provides nearly a mile of undeveloped beach access where visitors can experience the lake’s natural shoreline within an increasingly urban landscape. Historical elements throughout the property, including the iconic stone Grotto built around 1945 and the Seminary Trail leading to the lake, offer glimpses into the contemplative life that shaped these grounds for over four decades before becoming a public recreation destination.

Activities & Recreation

Saint Edward State Park is one of 24 Washington State Parks with geocaches hidden within its boundaries, adding a treasure-hunt element to your historic seminary adventure.

The park’s trail system provides miles of pathways through second-growth forest, connecting historical sites like the stone Grotto with natural areas along Lake Washington’s shoreline. The Seminary Trail follows the original logging road route used to transport timber to the lake’s edge during the property’s earlier logging periods. Children’s recreation centers around the state’s largest playground, built primarily by volunteers in 2003 and recognized as one of Washington’s top five playgrounds.

Facilities & Amenities

Saint Edward State Park provides comprehensive day-use facilities anchored by its historic architecture. The Lodge at Saint Edward offers dining and event facilities within the renovated seminary building, while the park maintains separate public amenities including restrooms, picnic areas with tables and grills, and accessible parking. Sports facilities include baseball and soccer fields south of the seminary building, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits. The Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool, built in the late 1960s, has been closed since 2009 pending new operational arrangements. A gymnasium and the outdoor stone Grotto both date to the original 1930s construction period and remain available for public use.

Camping & Accommodations

Saint Edward State Park operates as a day-use only facility with no camping permitted anywhere on the grounds. Overnight accommodations are available at The Lodge at Saint Edward, the renovated seminary building that reopened in May 2021 as a full-service hotel featuring 84 guest rooms, event spaces, restaurant, and two bars. The lodge operates under a 62-year lease arrangement with Washington State Parks while maintaining harmony with park visitor experiences and preserving the building’s historic character.

Planning Your Visit

Saint Edward State Park welcomes visitors year-round from 8:00 AM to dusk, requiring a Discover Pass for entry. The park’s proximity to Seattle and Bellevue makes it easily accessible for day trips, while the Lake Washington shoreline and extensive trail system accommodate visits of varying lengths. Dogs are permitted throughout the park but must remain on physical leashes of eight feet or less at all times. The park surrounds Bastyr University’s Saint Thomas Center, creating a unique environment where public recreation, higher education, and historic preservation coexist on the same property.

What to Bring & Know

• Lake Washington access provides swimming and water recreation opportunities without designated beach facilities
• Trail system accommodates both hikers and mountain bikers on designated routes
• Historic seminary building operates as The Lodge at Saint Edward with dining and event facilities
• Largest children’s playground in Washington State attracts families from throughout the region
• No camping facilities available, making this strictly a day-use destination
• Stone Grotto remains a popular location for weddings and special events

Final Word

Saint Edward State Park offers visitors the rare opportunity to explore a historic Catholic seminary campus transformed into a premier recreational destination, where architectural grandeur meets Pacific Northwest forest beauty along the shores of Lake Washington.

This park is part of the Explore Washington State Parks Directory—showcasing all of Washington’s State Parks from the rugged Pacific coast to the Cascade peaks. Whether you’re camping under old-growth forests, hiking scenic trails, or discovering local history, we’re highlighting the places where people connect with the state’s incredible natural and cultural heritage—all year long.

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Explore Washington State

Explore Washington State has been covering the real Washington for more than a decade. State parks, small towns, back roads, rest stops, and the people who make this place worth exploring. What started as a hyperlocal project covering individual communities grew into a full media project with more than 340 podcast episodes, a weekly newsletter with 3,800 subscribers, and coverage of all 146 Washington State Parks. The content here comes from people who have actually been to these places: locals, regulars, and lifelong Washington residents who care more about getting it right than getting clicks.

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