Timeline
07:07
Arrive at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. The park opens at 4AM, so you have plenty of time to find a good spot on the edge of the bluff. Face west toward downtown Seattle as the sky begins to lighten.
07:52
Watch the sun crest the horizon. On mid-January mornings, the sun sets toward the WSW, meaning the sunrise is on the opposite side, but the golden light that starts around 15:55 in the evening is a different phenomenon. For this sunrise plan, focus on the early morning glow hitting the city skyline from this elevated vantage point.
08:22
Walk nine minutes to Marination Ma Kai for a portable breakfast. By 08:00, they are open and serving Korean-Hawaiian plates like Kalbi Beef or Miso Ginger Chicken in corn tortillas. It is a perfect, quick bite to keep you warm after the chilly viewpoint.
08:37
Head back toward the water’s edge or find a quiet bench in the park to digest. The morning light is now fully established, offering clear views of the ferry traffic and the city across the water.
Local tip
The water taxi from downtown is a scenic way to arrive, but check the schedule in advance. Hamilton Viewpoint Park is free and open from 4AM to 11:30PM.
Check before you go
- Marination Ma Kai is open Mo-Th 11:00-20:00, Fr-Sa 09:00-21:00, and Su 09:00-20:00. Arrive by 08:00 on weekends to ensure they are open.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Seattle (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).