Cascade Lake Swim Beach
Olga, Washington · on Cascade Lake · Moran
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Cascade Lake Swim Beach
Cascade Lake Swim Beach is the designated swimming area at Moran State Park on Orcas Island, Washington, on the freshwater Cascade Lake managed by Washington State Parks. It is an official, buoy-marked swim beach at the park's main day-use area, with a separate, quieter lagoon that serves as a second swimming hole.
Cascade Lake sits within Moran State Park on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, ringed by forested hills below Mount Constitution. The main day-use area has a grassy picnic area running down to a sandy swim beach, with a wooden bridge and a separate lagoon area nearby.
Swimming at Cascade Lake Swim Beach
The main beach has a roped-off, shallow swim area with sandy entry that suits young children and families, while a nearby lagoon offers a quieter, deeper spot for swimming, though its lake bottom is rocky and can be slippery underfoot. Visitors describe the water as clear and, unlike many Washington lakes, not glacially cold, making it comfortable for casual swimming in summer.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park entrance and Cascade Lake day-use area are located at 4960 Mt. Constitution Rd., Olga, WA 98279, on Orcas Island; day-use parking areas sit near the Northend and Southend Campgrounds as well as the Lagoon.
Parking: Day-use parking is available near the Northend and Southend Campgrounds and at the Lagoon; a Washington Discover Pass is required.
The hike in
No hike is required, the swim beach is a drive-up day-use area with adjacent parking. The Cascade Lake Loop Trail (about 2.7 miles round-trip, ~200 ft gain, easy) circles the entire lake starting/ending at the day-use area, but it's an optional recreational walk, not a required approach to the swimming area.
Walk from the day-use parking lots to the beach itself is only a couple minutes.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Main swim beach is a roped-off, shallow, sandy-entry area explicitly designed for young children (per parks.wa.gov and orcasadventures.com), with free loaner life jackets available in summer and a playground right at the day-use area. The separate Lagoon area is deeper with a slippery rocky/weedy bottom and is better suited to older kids/adults with care.
Parking
Paid, Washington Discover Pass required (~$10 one-day or $45 annual)
Day-use parking lots at the Cascade Lake day-use area near the Northend and Southend Campgrounds and at the Lagoon; no separate parking fee beyond the Discover Pass.
Restrooms
Yes
"Full service bathrooms" at the Cascade Lake day-use area (per orcasadventures.com); the park overall has 5 restrooms and 10 showers across its campgrounds (Northend, Midway, Southend), per parks.wa.gov.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
A first-hand visitor account (mybackyardandbeyond.com) described the water as clear and, unlike many Washington lakes, not glacially cold; the Lagoon area has a rocky lake bottom that gets slippery and some weedy patches, which can reduce visibility close to shore in that section.
Hours
Park hours: 6:30 a.m.-dusk in summer, 8 a.m.-dusk in winter (parks.wa.gov). Rental/concession operation (Orcas Adventures/Sugar Shack) is open daily 11am-6pm, daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends only September through May.
On the water
Non-motorized watercraft are rented on-site (kayaks, canoes, SUPs, rowboats, paddleboats, hydrobikes); no information found confirming whether privately-owned motorized boats are permitted on Cascade Lake, so that is left unconfirmed rather than assumed.
Rentals nearby
Single and double kayaks, canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), and hydrobikes; complimentary/mandatory life jackets included
Prices: Most watercraft ~$26/hour, with half-day and full-day discounted rates available
At the Cascade Lake day-use area in Moran State Park, next to the lower picnic area and the Sugar Shack concession stand; first-come, first-served, no advance reservations · Open daily 11am-6pm; daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends only September through May
Cascade Lake Swim Beach: FAQ
Does Cascade Lake Swim Beach charge a fee?
A Washington Discover Pass is required for parking (about $10 for a one-day pass or $45 annual, per official park page).
Is Cascade Lake Swim Beach kid friendly?
Main swim beach is a roped-off, shallow, sandy-entry area explicitly designed for young children (per parks.wa.gov and orcasadventures.com), with free loaner life jackets available in summer and a playground right at the day-use area. The separate Lagoon area is deeper with a slippery rocky/weedy bottom and is better suited to older kids/adults with care.
Do I need to hike to reach Cascade Lake Swim Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Cascade Lake Swim Beach?
Day-use parking lots at the Cascade Lake day-use area near the Northend and Southend Campgrounds and at the Lagoon; no separate parking fee beyond the Discover Pass.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Cascade Lake Swim Beach?
Non-motorized watercraft are rented on-site (kayaks, canoes, SUPs, rowboats, paddleboats, hydrobikes); no information found confirming whether privately-owned motorized boats are permitted on Cascade Lake, so that is left unconfirmed rather than assumed.
When is the best time to visit Cascade Lake Swim Beach?
Summer and early fall are the best times to swim; a first-hand account described a June visit as warm and ideal for swimming, while a September visit was cooler and less appealing to most swimmers.
What are the rules at Cascade Lake Swim Beach?
Dogs must be kept leashed; campfires are only allowed in designated areas (a Burn Ban Level 2 was in effect restricting wood fires per the official park page); Leave No Trace practices are encouraged; park hours are 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer and 8 a.m. to dusk in winter.
What water body is Cascade Lake Swim Beach on?
Cascade Lake Swim Beach is on Cascade Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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