Howarth Park

Everett's Howard Park offers various levels of difficulty on several short trail. The longest leads from the bluff, losing about 80' of elevation until you cross a small stream at the bottom of the gully, then climb 3 flights of stairs on a bridge that takes you safely above the railroad tracks and 3 flights down to the beach.
You can shorten the hike by driving to the lower parking lot by the stream crossing, leaving only the stairs to climb.  The beach here is fairly small, but the views are large, taking in the Olympic Mountains, Whidbey and Camano Islands, Everett's waterfront, Mount Baker and the North Cascades. When the tide is out you might be tempted to walk the beach a bit farther, but if you do be sure to consult a tide table, since the barnacles clinging to the rocks here are at eye level.

Eagles and ospreys are common here, as are the usual Puget Sound shorebirds like grebes, cormorants, herons and gulls. Harbor seal are usually either seen or heard (they hang out on large log rafts near the navy base), and if your lucky you might see gray whales feeding where the alluvial fan of the Snohomish river estuary tapers off into Port Gardner bay.
There's a short trail along the creek, maybe a 200 yard round trip with negligible elevation gain. There's also a nice little concrete sloping pad at the beach waterline, a perfect launch site for my kayak when the weather warms up, maybe a chance to see the seals close up in the sheltered waters of the bay.