Sandy Point Beach
Near Barber, Idaho · Lucky Peak State Park
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Sandy Point Beach
Sandy Point Beach is the swimming unit of Lucky Peak State Park, located at the base of Lucky Peak Dam on the Boise River about 8 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho. It is an official, developed 34-acre sandy beach area on the reservoir/river below the dam, a popular swimming hole prized for its clear, cool water and easy access, and one of the best places to swim near Boise.
The site sits directly below Lucky Peak Dam where Lucky Peak Lake/Boise River water is released, described by Idaho State Parks as offering 'lots of cool grass and shady trees' along a large sandy shoreline, about a 10-minute drive or 30-minute bike ride (via the Boise River Greenbelt) from downtown Boise.
Swimming at Sandy Point Beach
Idaho State Parks and Visit Idaho both describe Sandy Point as a large sandy swimming area with calm, clear, cool water suited to wading and casual swimming; only inflatable (not hardshell) watercraft are allowed in the designated swim area, and fishing is prohibited there, indicating the area is managed primarily as a swim beach rather than a fishing or boat-launch site.
How to get to this swimming hole
Sandy Point unit of Lucky Peak State Park is about 8 miles southeast of Boise at the base of Lucky Peak Dam; described by Idaho Parks and Recreation and Visit Idaho as roughly a 10-minute drive from downtown Boise or a 30-minute ride via the Boise River Greenbelt.
Parking: On-site parking at the Sandy Point unit, including trailer/oversized vehicle parking; entrance kiosk is cash-only when staff are not present.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up beach: park in the Sandy Point lot and walk under a minute across the sand to the water; no trail or hike is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Large sandy, gently-sloping beach with calm, dam-regulated water managed specifically as a swim area (fishing and hardshell watercraft prohibited to keep the swim zone clear); grass and shade trees for families to set up. No lifeguard presence is documented on official pages, so supervise kids independently.
Parking
Paid
On-site parking lot at the Sandy Point unit, including trailer/oversized-vehicle parking (a feature Discovery unit lacks); a day-use fee is charged at the entrance kiosk, which is cash-only when unstaffed. Exact fee amount is not published on the pages checked.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets / indoor restrooms listed among Sandy Point unit facilities by Idaho State Parks, plus outdoor showers per prior enrichment research.
Hours
8am-8pm daily; all vehicles must be out of the lot by closing (Idaho State Parks, official page). Local reports reference these same 8am-8pm hours for Sandy Point, contrasted with Discovery Park and Spring Shores, which are described as sunrise-to-sunset.
On the water
Restrictions: Only inflatable watercraft (paddleboards, inflatable kayaks, tubes) are permitted in the designated swim area at Sandy Point; hardshell kayaks, canoes, and motorboats are prohibited there. Idaho State Parks directs hardshell/motorized boaters to Discovery Park, the boat-launch unit of Lucky Peak State Park, instead.
An on-site seasonal concessionaire (Paddleboard Idaho) rents inflatable SUPs, kayaks, and tubes directly at the beach on summer weekends.
Rentals nearby
Stand-up paddleboards, single and tandem inflatable kayaks, tubes, and a 6-person party SUP; all rentals include fitted life jackets, paddles, leashes, and whistles
Prices: $25 first hour / $50 all day for a paddleboard or single kayak; $30/$90 for a tandem kayak; $10/hr or $40/day for a tube; $60/day for the 6-man party SUP; group rates available for 10+ items
On-site directly at Sandy Point Beach, Lucky Peak State Park (also operates at Discovery Park within the same park, and separately at Eagle Island State Park) · Seasonal (roughly May-September); at Sandy Point, Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, 12:00pm-7:30pm; first-come-first-served for orders under 10 items, reservations required for larger groups
What regulars say
Paddlers report that the section of river between the main reservoir dam and the irrigation diversion dam near the Discovery unit offers calm flatwater, suggesting the calmest paddling is just off Sandy Point rather than in the swim zone itself. Visitors also confirm the posted 8am to 8pm hours at Sandy Point, in contrast to the sunrise-to-sunset access at Discovery Park and Spring Shores.
Sandy Point Beach: FAQ
Does Sandy Point Beach charge a fee?
A day-use entrance fee is charged at the Sandy Point kiosk (cash-only if unstaffed); exact fee amount was not stated on the pages reviewed.
Is Sandy Point Beach kid friendly?
Large sandy, gently-sloping beach with calm, dam-regulated water managed specifically as a swim area (fishing and hardshell watercraft prohibited to keep the swim zone clear); grass and shade trees for families to set up. No lifeguard presence is documented on official pages, so supervise kids independently.
Do I need to hike to reach Sandy Point Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sandy Point Beach?
On-site parking lot at the Sandy Point unit, including trailer/oversized-vehicle parking (a feature Discovery unit lacks); a day-use fee is charged at the entrance kiosk, which is cash-only when unstaffed. Exact fee amount is not published on the pages checked.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sandy Point Beach?
An on-site seasonal concessionaire (Paddleboard Idaho) rents inflatable SUPs, kayaks, and tubes directly at the beach on summer weekends.
When is the best time to visit Sandy Point Beach?
Summer (paddleboard rentals and Junior Ranger programming run May-September); pet restriction dates (May 1-Oct 1) also mark the main swim season.
What are the rules at Sandy Point Beach?
No hardshell watercraft in the swimming area (inflatables only); no glass bottles; no fishing at Sandy Point; no tree-hanging hammocks or slacklines anywhere in the park; no pets May 1 through October 1; unit open 8am-8pm daily and all vehicles must be out by closing.
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