I keep reading the accounts of birders at the lighthouse at Discovery Park. I have so wanted to experience this area. This morning we set out to visit the lighthouse area hoping for great birds and lighthouse at sunrise. I carried my 600mm Canon lens anticipating a two mile hike each way. My wife and I arrived at the South Parking lot! We arrived in the dark and set out for the lighthouse. Ultimately I realized we were not going in the right direction based on the direction of sunrise. We ultimately gave up and used the GPS on my phone to get back to the car. We then drove down to the lighthouse parking lot and then went to the Ballard Locks where we saw a tree full of cormorants.

First, does anyone have advice for a first timer trying to arrive at sunrise? Which parking lot. Best way for a first timer to find their way to the lighthouse and not get lost. I would love to accomplish this goal this week since sunrise is so late.

Second, I must say that the parking restrictions at the lighthouse make no sense to me. It says permits only. But at 6;00 a.m., there is no one giving out permits. It seems to me that the permit restriction should only apply to those hours when the visitor center is open to give out permits. It should be like the City of Seattle where parking meters only apply from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Elston