clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
In the foreground is a sandy beach. A lifeguard is sitting on a tall chair on the beach. In the distance is a wooden pier in a body of water.
Green Lake.
Shutterstock

The best outdoor swimming spots around Seattle

Beat the heat by hitting the beach

View as Map
Green Lake.
| Shutterstock

With summer approaching, a little outdoor swimming may be on the brain—but by now you've probably exhausted your usual swimming haunts around Seattle. So why not try something new?

There are dozens of pools and beaches left to be explored around town, and starting Memorial Day weekend, lifeguards are on duty at pretty much every officially designated swimming spots.

Seattle is built around canals, lakes, rivers, and of course the Puget Sound, so we have a wide variety of naturally-occurring swimming areas. If seaweed and watercraft-created waves make you nervous, there are even a couple of public outdoor pools.

There are places perfect for kiddos, places perfect for serious swimmers, and even a few places that are probably adult-only. (We’ll let you track down that last kind on your own lest we blow up someone’s favorite nude beach, although we promise they exist.)

Here are the best places to get out on the water in the sunshine both in and around town, no matter what you're in the mood for. Happy swimming.

Map points are ordered north to south.

Read More

Matthews Beach Park

Copy Link

An ideal location for gatherings, work up a sweat at the volleyball net or running on the Burke-Gilman Trail and then take a dip in Lake Washington at Seattle’s largest freshwater bathing beach.

Golden Gardens Park

Copy Link

It can get crowded and trying to park here at the wrong time of the day will take up most of your plans (pro tip: the 45 bus goes there), but if you can settle in, it's a long, sandy beach—the sandiest beach in the city—full of things to do.

Warren G. Magnuson Park

Copy Link

Take a dip in Lake Washington along this shoreline of tiny pebbles. You can swim randomly or do a few laps back and forth to the swimming platform. After four feet or so the bottom drops off to around 12 feet, so heads up. There's plenty of room to sunbathe, picnic, or play when you're done with the water.

A post shared by Momo (@goldengirlmomo) on

Green Lake Park

Copy Link

Which will it be today? The East Lake Beach, or the West Lake Beach? Both provide a cooling place to go after a run or bike ride around the lake—or just a hot day around the house. Just don't go out too far, or you'll get stuck in some seaweed.

Idylwood Park

Copy Link

Dwarfed by Marymoor Park, Idylwood is a nice sandy beach with a playground and tons of shady picnic tables.

A post shared by Ralph Bijasa (@ralphbijasa) on

Mounger Pool

Copy Link

Mounger Pool, an outdoor pool open every summer, has two great pools. The big pool has a 50-foot corkscrew slide, and the little pool, warmer and shallower, is great for relaxing and teaching little tadpoles. The whole layout is built for relaxation, with ample deck loungers on a wide patio for a resort-like vibe.

Madison Park Beach

Copy Link

One of the most popular swimming beaches in Seattle, Madison Beach has a grassy area where sunbathers can relax and enjoy a stunning view of Lake Washington.

Madrona Park

Copy Link

Madrona Park Beach is located on the waterfront on Lake Washington, and has a more relaxed atmosphere than Madison Park Beach to the north. The park includes a wooded hillside that slopes down to a grassy beach and swimming area, plus a walking path to the south. The low diving board and swimming raft are highlights.

A post shared by PAO (@paosanchez) on

Chism Beach Park

Copy Link

Bellevue's largest waterfront swimming spot offers plenty of water activities for all different types, including floating dock for older swimmers and wading areas for the young ‘uns.

Alki Beach Park

Copy Link

Alki Beach Park is perhaps our most iconic strip of beachfront, helped along by the great view of the downtown skyline and the Olympic Mountains. The neighborhood is long with a boardwalk feel, so you can bike or skate in, have some beach time, then just pop across the street for a beverage or some ice cream at one of the many cute little restaurants lining the waterfront. There’s even a little sand—a rare find in the city.

Mount Baker Park

Copy Link

Mount Baker Park features multiple fields and sports courts along a trail gently sloping down to what you came here for: the beach. Both a long dock and a swimming raft provide plenty of room for sunbathing after a swim.

A post shared by Liz Larsen (@sparklesthatsme) on

Enatai Beach Park

Copy Link

Looking for some boating adventures? You can rent canoes and kayaks here from Cascade Canoe and Kayak and paddle up the Mercer Slough. Plenty of swimming space, too.

Seward Park

Copy Link

Wander through the Magnificent Forest, go for a bike ride around the 2.4 mile paved path while taking in views of Mt. Rainier, watch some crazy birds, go for a long swim, and end the day with a picnic. Your summer days will not be wasted.

Colman Pool

Copy Link

This public pool in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, open every summer, uses less chlorine and adds saltwater to make up the difference, meaning less accidentally green hair and more buoyancy. The outdoor facility also has a great view of the beach and a huge water slide.

A post shared by akin (@baby.bien) on

Pritchard Island Beach

Copy Link

This is a small, quiet beach on the western shore of Lake Washington. Amenities include a swimming raft and lifeguards on duty in the summer. Some find this to be a nice alternative to the Atlantic City Beach to the south, as there are no boat ramps here.

A post shared by rikkejane (@rikkejane) on

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park

Copy Link

In addition to the swimming area, this park along the southeast side of Lake Washington has boat docks and a fishing pier—or an Ivar’s if you strike out at the fishing pier.

Henry Moses Aquatic Center

Copy Link

This public water park, open through Labor Day, features 26-foot-high orange and blue water slides, plus two separate pools: a 9,000-square-foot leisure pool and a 3,300-square-foot, six-lane lap pool. The leisure pool includes a zero-depth entry, wave machine, water spray play area, lazy river, island lagoon, two water slides, a water play structure, toddler water area, and numerous spray features.

Seahurst Park

Copy Link

This Burien park has nearly a mile of Puget Sound beach—and a renovation two years ago removed a seawall and made the park even more beachy.

A post shared by Nichelle Johnson (@nichellenjo) on

Redondo Beach

Copy Link

In Des Moines, this beach also features a pier and a dock, making it optimal for post-swim fishing or picnicking.

Loading comments...

Matthews Beach Park

An ideal location for gatherings, work up a sweat at the volleyball net or running on the Burke-Gilman Trail and then take a dip in Lake Washington at Seattle’s largest freshwater bathing beach.

Golden Gardens Park

It can get crowded and trying to park here at the wrong time of the day will take up most of your plans (pro tip: the 45 bus goes there), but if you can settle in, it's a long, sandy beach—the sandiest beach in the city—full of things to do.

Warren G. Magnuson Park

Take a dip in Lake Washington along this shoreline of tiny pebbles. You can swim randomly or do a few laps back and forth to the swimming platform. After four feet or so the bottom drops off to around 12 feet, so heads up. There's plenty of room to sunbathe, picnic, or play when you're done with the water.

A post shared by Momo (@goldengirlmomo) on

Green Lake Park

Which will it be today? The East Lake Beach, or the West Lake Beach? Both provide a cooling place to go after a run or bike ride around the lake—or just a hot day around the house. Just don't go out too far, or you'll get stuck in some seaweed.

Idylwood Park

Dwarfed by Marymoor Park, Idylwood is a nice sandy beach with a playground and tons of shady picnic tables.

A post shared by Ralph Bijasa (@ralphbijasa) on

Mounger Pool

Mounger Pool, an outdoor pool open every summer, has two great pools. The big pool has a 50-foot corkscrew slide, and the little pool, warmer and shallower, is great for relaxing and teaching little tadpoles. The whole layout is built for relaxation, with ample deck loungers on a wide patio for a resort-like vibe.

Madison Park Beach

One of the most popular swimming beaches in Seattle, Madison Beach has a grassy area where sunbathers can relax and enjoy a stunning view of Lake Washington.

Madrona Park

Madrona Park Beach is located on the waterfront on Lake Washington, and has a more relaxed atmosphere than Madison Park Beach to the north. The park includes a wooded hillside that slopes down to a grassy beach and swimming area, plus a walking path to the south. The low diving board and swimming raft are highlights.

A post shared by PAO (@paosanchez) on

Chism Beach Park

Bellevue's largest waterfront swimming spot offers plenty of water activities for all different types, including floating dock for older swimmers and wading areas for the young ‘uns.

Alki Beach Park

Alki Beach Park is perhaps our most iconic strip of beachfront, helped along by the great view of the downtown skyline and the Olympic Mountains. The neighborhood is long with a boardwalk feel, so you can bike or skate in, have some beach time, then just pop across the street for a beverage or some ice cream at one of the many cute little restaurants lining the waterfront. There’s even a little sand—a rare find in the city.

Mount Baker Park

Mount Baker Park features multiple fields and sports courts along a trail gently sloping down to what you came here for: the beach. Both a long dock and a swimming raft provide plenty of room for sunbathing after a swim.

A post shared by Liz Larsen (@sparklesthatsme) on

Enatai Beach Park

Looking for some boating adventures? You can rent canoes and kayaks here from Cascade Canoe and Kayak and paddle up the Mercer Slough. Plenty of swimming space, too.

Seward Park

Wander through the Magnificent Forest, go for a bike ride around the 2.4 mile paved path while taking in views of Mt. Rainier, watch some crazy birds, go for a long swim, and end the day with a picnic. Your summer days will not be wasted.

Colman Pool

This public pool in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, open every summer, uses less chlorine and adds saltwater to make up the difference, meaning less accidentally green hair and more buoyancy. The outdoor facility also has a great view of the beach and a huge water slide.

A post shared by akin (@baby.bien) on

Pritchard Island Beach

This is a small, quiet beach on the western shore of Lake Washington. Amenities include a swimming raft and lifeguards on duty in the summer. Some find this to be a nice alternative to the Atlantic City Beach to the south, as there are no boat ramps here.

A post shared by rikkejane (@rikkejane) on

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park

In addition to the swimming area, this park along the southeast side of Lake Washington has boat docks and a fishing pier—or an Ivar’s if you strike out at the fishing pier.

Henry Moses Aquatic Center

This public water park, open through Labor Day, features 26-foot-high orange and blue water slides, plus two separate pools: a 9,000-square-foot leisure pool and a 3,300-square-foot, six-lane lap pool. The leisure pool includes a zero-depth entry, wave machine, water spray play area, lazy river, island lagoon, two water slides, a water play structure, toddler water area, and numerous spray features.

Seahurst Park

This Burien park has nearly a mile of Puget Sound beach—and a renovation two years ago removed a seawall and made the park even more beachy.

A post shared by Nichelle Johnson (@nichellenjo) on

Redondo Beach

In Des Moines, this beach also features a pier and a dock, making it optimal for post-swim fishing or picnicking.