Boat Lake Swimming Park

Chipley, Florida · on Boat Lake

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $5
SEASON: Best in summer

About Boat Lake Swimming Park

Boat Lake Swimming Park is a 44-acre public swim park on Boat Lake in the Sunny Hills community outside Chipley, Florida, owned and operated by the Sunny Hills Civic Association. It has a white-sand beach with a firm sandy bottom and is run as a paid, gated day-use facility rather than an informal wild swimming hole.

The park sits within the Sunny Hills residential community near Chipley in Washington County, Florida, on the shore of Boat Lake. Live oak trees scattered around the grounds provide shade over a sandy beach area, and the site includes a parking lot, a civic-association pavilion, and lawn/picnic grounds adjoining the water.

Swimming at Boat Lake Swimming Park

Swimming is off a white-sand beach with a firm sandy lake bottom and crystal-clear water, described by the managing association as suitable for general public swimming; a floating dock and Mobi Mats (beach accessibility matting) have been installed to improve access, including for visitors with mobility needs. No lifeguard, water depth, or temperature information was found.

How to get to this swimming hole

Parking: Onsite parking lot exists at the park; the civic association has recently repaired the parking lot barriers, but no further detail (capacity, surface, cost) was found.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, gated day-use beach park with an onsite parking lot directly adjacent to the sand beach/swim area -- no hike or trail is involved, just a short walk across the lawn/beach from the lot.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Firm sandy lake bottom and a gently sloping white-sand beach (plus a floating dock and Mobi Mats accessibility matting) make entry easy, and the official rules require adult supervision for anyone under 16. However, no lifeguard is mentioned anywhere in official or aggregator sources, so supervision is on the parents, not staff.

Parking

Lot

Onsite parking lot at the park (civic association recently repaired the lot's barriers). No separate parking fee was found; the $5/$3 daily admission (or $40/$20 season pass) is the only charge documented, and it is unclear whether that fee is per person, per vehicle, or both.

Restrooms

Yes

Onsite restrooms and showers, plus a snack house, per the official Sunny Hills Civic Association site; the association's main site notes restrooms were recently restored/repaired.

Water clarity

Clear

The managing Sunny Hills Civic Association describes 'crystal-clear water' with a firm sandy bottom, and two independent write-ups corroborate a white-sand beach and 'crystalline water.' No independent visitor reviews were found to confirm this from a non-promotional source, so treat it as association-sourced rather than crowd-verified.

On the water

Restrictions: Official park rules state: 'No vehicles or boats operated within the beach and swimming areas.' This applies specifically to the gated swim/beach area; no source addresses whether kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards are permitted elsewhere on Boat Lake outside the swim park (the lake sits within the private Sunny Hills residential community, so much of its shoreline is not publicly accessible).

Despite the name 'Boat Lake,' this specific facility is run as a swim beach, not a boat launch. No motorized craft, and no evidence of a public boat ramp or launch point associated with the swim park itself.

Boat Lake Swimming Park: FAQ

Does Boat Lake Swimming Park charge a fee?

Paid entry when the gate is open: Daily pass $5 (adults 18+), $3 (kids 5-17), free for children 4 and under; Season pass $40 (adult), $20 (kids). Credit cards, tap, and Apple Pay accepted.

Is Boat Lake Swimming Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Boat Lake Swimming Park?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Boat Lake Swimming Park?

When is the best time to visit Boat Lake Swimming Park?

Aggregator sources describe it as a summer destination that is also usable in other seasons except during rough weather; no official season dates were found.

What are the rules at Boat Lake Swimming Park?

No alcohol, no pets, no fishing in the swimming area, no glass containers beyond the parking area, and children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. Gate is locked/park closes during inclement weather; current hours and closures are posted online by the association.

What water body is Boat Lake Swimming Park on?

Boat Lake Swimming Park is on Boat Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.