Entry No. 28 — the Seattle file — filed under: outdoor-weird
Bhy Kracke Park
A tiny, almost impossible-to-find park crammed into the steep southeast face of Queen Anne Hill, reached by an ivy-shrouded staircase off what looks like a private driveway. A winding trail threads between a lower garden level and an upper viewpoint, climbing past azaleas and rhododendrons. From the top you get a surprise panorama of Lake Union, downtown, the Space Needle, and the Cascades that almost no tourist ever sees.
The story
Yes, go ahead and say it out loud: it’s pronounced "Buy Crack." Local history traces the absurd name back to Werner H. Kracke, who arrived in Seattle in 1930 with a habit of exclaiming "by cracky!" so relentlessly that the nickname stuck. He spelled it "Bhy" or "Bye," and when his land on the steep, southeastern face of Queen Anne Hill became a city park, the moniker went on the official sign.
While tourist buses choke the turnouts at nearby Kerry Park for the standard postcard shot, Bhy Kracke remains a quiet, terraced labyrinth. The park is practically vertical, carved directly into the hillside and veiled behind overgrown foliage. A switchbacking trail winds past rhododendrons, azaleas, and dense patches of ivy, climbing between a tucked-away lower garden and an elevated lookout.
At the top, you get a clean, uninterrupted panorama: Lake Union sprawling below, the Cascades lining the eastern horizon, downtown rising to the south, and the Space Needle off to the side. Because the entrance looks more like a private residential driveway than public land, you'll rarely share the view with more than a couple of locals watching seaplanes land.
What it's like
Finding the park is half the hurdle. If you start from the bottom at 1215 5th Ave N, look for an ivy-draped pedestrian entrance tucked into the hill. If you approach from the top, you’ll turn off Highland Drive near Bigelow Ave N onto a spur that looks unmistakably like someone's private paved driveway—keep walking anyway. The path involves steep concrete steps and tight switchbacks, so skip the sandals. Head up on a clear weeknight right before dusk to catch the lights coming on over Lake Union without fighting for elbow room.
The move: Hunt down the hidden stairway entrance together, climb the switchbacking path, and claim the upper viewpoint for a quiet sunset over Lake Union.
📍 Before you go Free, open daily. Genuinely hard to find: the upper entrance is off a spur of Highland Drive near Bigelow Ave N that looks like a driveway. Steep terrain throughout.
- 📍 Queen Anne, Seattle
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 1215 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Fremont Troll — Cross the bridge northward into Fremont after your hill climb to contrast a quiet lake viewpoint with an 18-foot concrete monster under the highway.
- Shorty's — Head straight downhill into Belltown after sunset to trade the peaceful silence for cheap drinks, hot dogs, and noisy pinball.
- School of Visual Concepts (SVC) Letterpress — Pair a quiet outdoor garden walk on Queen Anne with a hands-on trip to a non-profit print shop down at the base of the hill.
Good to know
How do you pronounce the name?
It's pronounced "Buy Crack." The name comes from donor Werner H. Kracke's favorite catchphrase, "by cracky!"
Where is the upper entrance located?
The top access point is hidden off a narrow spur of Highland Drive near Bigelow Ave N, disguised as a private residential driveway.
Is the park wheelchair or stroller accessible?
No. The park is built on an extremely steep slope and relies almost entirely on stairs and tight switchback paths.
What are the park hours?
According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, the park is open daily from 4:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · seattle.gov · qahistory.org · theticket.seattletimes.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-24