TL;DR: The parks and trails north of Capitol Hill reach well past Volunteer Park, and from 605 15th Avenue East most are a short walk or ride up 15th Ave E. Lake View Cemetery, Louisa Boren Park and its lookout, the forested Interlaken Park trails, and the Washington Park Arboretum give the north end a stretch of green space you can explore on foot or by bike.
- Walk straight up 15th Ave E to Lake View Cemetery and the Louisa Boren lookout, both within about a 15 minute walk of 605 15th Avenue East.
- Reach the forested trails of Interlaken Park on a short walk or ride east of the building.
- Treat the Washington Park Arboretum as a longer outing, about a 25 minute walk or a quick bike ride, open daily from dawn to 8 pm at no charge.
- For Volunteer Park itself, see the separate Volunteer Park rainy day guide.
- See how the rooftop garden terrace and nearby parks fit daily life by checking available apartments and booking a tour.
The North End Green Spaces Worth Knowing
The green spaces north of Capitol Hill worth knowing are Lake View Cemetery, Louisa Boren Park, Interlaken Park, and the Washington Park Arboretum, all reachable on foot or by bike from 605 15th Avenue East. Volunteer Park sits in the middle of them and has its own guide, so this one focuses on the quieter spaces around it.
Why the north end is built for walking
North Capitol Hill was laid out as a walking neighborhood long before Walk Score existed, and the numbers hold up. The building carries a Walk Score of 92 and a Bike Score of 94, measured at 605 15th Avenue East, so park visits happen on foot or by bike as a matter of routine. That fits a carbon neutral constructed building that relies on passive cooling and pairs low impact design with a location where you do not need to drive to reach green space. The parks are part of the same sustainability story, not separate from it.
North of Volunteer Park, the green space keeps going: a cemetery, a lookout, a ravine of trails, and an arboretum.
Lake View Cemetery on 15th Ave E
Lake View Cemetery at 1554 15th Ave E is about a 15 minute walk straight up 15th Ave E, just north of Volunteer Park. It is a historic cemetery open to visitors at no charge, best known as the resting place of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee, whose graves draw visitors from around the world.
What to expect
Lake View sits on the highest ground in the area, with quiet paved lanes, mature trees, and open views on a clear day. It is a working cemetery rather than a park, so visits are low key and respectful, but it is one of the calmest places to walk on the north end. Hours shift with the season, roughly opening in the morning and closing in the late afternoon in winter and the evening in summer, so it is worth checking before a late visit. Bus route 10 stops nearby at E Roy St and 15th Ave E for anyone who would rather ride than walk the full way.
Louisa Boren Park and the Lookout
Louisa Boren Park, at 15th Ave E and E Garfield St just past Lake View Cemetery, is a small hillside park with one of the better viewpoints on Capitol Hill. From the Louisa Boren lookout the view opens east across Lake Washington, with Mount Baker, the University of Washington, and the 520 bridge visible on a clear day.
A quick stop with a long view
At about seven acres, Louisa Boren Park is more of a lookout and a slope of lawn than a destination park, which makes it a good turnaround point on a walk up 15th Ave E. It was created in 1913 and named for pioneer Louisa Boren Denny, and it pairs easily with Lake View Cemetery next door for a single loop.
The Forested Trails of Interlaken Park
Interlaken Park is the north end’s forested escape, a ravine of wooded trails on the north side of Capitol Hill about a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short bike ride east of the building. It feels far more remote than its location suggests, with a network of short trails under a dense tree canopy.
Trails, cycling, and dogs
The park is open daily from 4 am to 11:30 pm and is popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists, with dogs welcome on leash. There are no restrooms or other facilities, so it suits a walk or a ride rather than a long picnic. The trailheads sit near E Interlaken Blvd and around 19th Ave E and E Galer St, an easy reach from the quiet residential blocks east of 15th Ave E.
| Green Space | Approx. Walk Time | What Is There |
|---|---|---|
| Lake View Cemetery | About 15 minutes | Historic cemetery, Bruce and Brandon Lee graves, long views |
| Louisa Boren Park and Lookout | About 15 minutes | Hillside lookout over Lake Washington and Mount Baker |
| Interlaken Park | About 15 to 20 minutes | Forested ravine trails for walking, running, and cycling |
| Washington Park Arboretum | About 25 minutes or a short ride | 230 acres of gardens and trails, open dawn to 8 pm, free |
The Washington Park Arboretum
The Washington Park Arboretum at 2300 Arboretum Drive E is the largest green space in reach, about a 25 minute walk or a short bike ride southeast of the building through Interlaken. Run as part of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, it is open daily from dawn to 8 pm with free admission.
Gardens, trails, and a long loop
The Arboretum covers acres of plant collections, open lawns, and walking trails, including the Azalea Way path and water views along the edges. It rewards a longer visit, so it works best as a weekend outing, and the ride through Interlaken Park connects the two green spaces on quiet streets for a car free trip. The Graham Visitors Center keeps shorter hours than the grounds if you want a map first.
Living Near the Parks at The Fifteen
Living near this run of parks is what The Fifteen is set up for, with a rooftop garden terrace, sustainable building features, and floor plans built for car optional living. The building offers studio through two bedroom loft homes, from around 390 square feet up to about 1,051 square feet, all within the same easy reach of the north end green spaces.
The rooftop garden terrace as a second park
The rooftop garden terrace is a planted roof with a fire feature and grill that works as an extension of the park routine. On an evening when a walk up 15th Ave E is not in the cards, the rooftop offers the same outdoor pause without leaving the building, and select homes add private decks. It sits alongside other sustainability features, including a reclaimed storm water system and water saving landscaping.
Taking a look
Anyone weighing the walk to the parks against the floor plans can review available apartments, and for the park in the middle of this map, the separate Volunteer Park rainy day guide covers what to do when the weather turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What parks are north of Capitol Hill besides Volunteer Park?
North of Volunteer Park sit Lake View Cemetery, Louisa Boren Park and its lookout, Interlaken Park, and the Washington Park Arboretum, all within about a 25 minute walk or a short bike ride of 605 15th Avenue East.
Is Interlaken Park worth visiting in Seattle?
Yes. Interlaken Park is a forested ravine on the north side of Capitol Hill with a network of walking and cycling trails, open daily from 4 am to 11:30 pm, about a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short ride from the building.
Can you visit Lake View Cemetery on Capitol Hill?
Yes. Lake View Cemetery at 1554 15th Ave E is open to visitors at no charge with seasonal hours, and it holds the graves of Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee. It is a working cemetery, so visits stay low key and respectful.
Where is the best viewpoint on north Capitol Hill?
The Louisa Boren lookout at 15th Ave E and E Garfield St looks east over Lake Washington toward Mount Baker and the University of Washington, about a 15 minute walk up 15th Ave E from 605 15th Avenue East.
How far is the Washington Park Arboretum from north Capitol Hill?
The Washington Park Arboretum at 2300 Arboretum Drive E is about a 25 minute walk or a short bike ride southeast of the building through Interlaken Park, and it is open daily from dawn to 8 pm at no charge.
Choosing a Home Near the North End Parks
The green spaces north of Capitol Hill come down to a short list of walkable choices: Lake View Cemetery and the Louisa Boren lookout about 15 minutes up 15th Ave E, the forested Interlaken Park trails a short walk or ride east, and the Washington Park Arboretum as a longer weekend outing, all reachable on foot or by bike from 605 15th Avenue East. Add a rooftop garden terrace and a carbon neutral building with passive cooling, and getting outside becomes part of the routine rather than something to plan around. If that sounds like the life you want, review the floor plans and book a tour online, or call the leasing team at 206-489-2747.
See what is available at The Fifteen
Studio to two bedroom loft homes at 605 15th Avenue East on the north end of Capitol Hill, with MFTE income qualified options. Check live availability and book a tour online, or call the leasing team at 206-489-2747.
