Clarke Beach Park
Mercer Island, Washington · on Lake Washington · Clarke Beach Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Clarke Beach Park
Clarke Beach Park is a 9-acre city-owned waterfront park on the southeast shore of Mercer Island, Washington, on Lake Washington. This officially designated swimming hole has an enclosed swimming area, swimming and fishing piers, and a short forested loop trail, but no lifeguards on duty.
The park sits on Mercer Island's East Mercer Way at SE 77th Place, a mix of grassy lawn along the shoreline and a short forested area with a 0.3-mile loop trail offering wildlife viewing and fall foliage. The site was previously home to the Girl Scouts' Camp Tarywood before the City of Mercer Island acquired it in 1969-1970 using Washington State marine recreation funds and developed it as a park in 1971.
Swimming at Clarke Beach Park
Swimming is in Lake Washington from an enclosed, official swim area with grass lawns and steps leading into the water rather than a sandy entry, plus swimming and fishing piers and dock access. It's described locally as quieter and less developed than Mercer Island's other public beaches (e.g., Luther Burbank Park), making it popular with those wanting a calmer spot and with water-sports users via the dock, though the lack of a gradual sandy entry makes it less ideal for small children. No lifeguards are on duty; swimming is at one's own risk.
How to get to this swimming hole
From I-90, take exit 7 or 7B onto Island Crest Way, then follow SE 68th St and E Mercer Way to the park at East Mercer Way and SE 77th Place on the south end of Mercer Island.
Parking: On-site parking is available at the park.
The hike in
Clarke Beach Park Loop (short forested nature trail)
- To the water
- 0 mi (swim area is at the parking lot)
- Time on foot
- 10-15 minutes for the full loop; swim area is reachable in under a minute from parking
Difficulty: easy - flat, short loop, ~90 ft elevation gain per WTA
Trailhead: Starts at the Clarke Beach Park parking lot on East Mercer Way at SE 77th Place; the swim beach/dock is immediately adjacent to the lot, no hike needed to reach the water.
The park's only trail is a 0.3-mile round-trip forested loop that runs alongside/behind the swim beach for wildlife viewing and fall foliage; it is a bonus walk, not a route to the water.
Confirms and slightly refines prior dossier: hike is optional/recreational, not required for swimming access.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
No sandy beach entry: shoreline access is via steps and a grass lawn into the water rather than a gradual sandy shelf, and there are no lifeguards on duty (swim at own risk). A local beach guide (mymercerisland.com) notes it's less set up for small kids than Mercer Island's other beaches (e.g., Luther Burbank), though the WTA trail listing does tag the park 'Good for kids' for the walk/loop trail itself.
Parking
Free
Free parking lot on the left/east side of East Mercer Way at the park entrance (per WTA); no fee or permit found for the park lot itself. (Note: a separate city facility, the Mercer Island Boat Launch at 3600 East Mercer Way, charges $17/day for boat-trailer parking, but that is a different site from Clarke Beach Park.)
Restrooms
Yes
Seasonal restrooms open in summer only; per WTA, the toilet is about 0.1 mile east of the main beach area along the park path (not directly at the parking lot).
On the water
The park has a dock alongside the swimming/fishing piers that a local source (mymercerisland.com) describes as suited to water-sports use, implying small hand-launched craft are workable from the dock/shoreline; no official city rule was found either permitting or restricting kayaks/canoes/paddleboards at Clarke Beach specifically, and no mention of motorboats or jet skis. Mercer Island's official, fee-based motorized Boat Launch (for trailered boats) is a separate facility at 3600 East Mercer Way, not part of Clarke Beach Park.
Backstory
The park site was formerly Camp Tarywood, a Girl Scouts camp, before the City of Mercer Island purchased the land in 1969-1970 with Washington State marine recreation funds and developed it into a public park by 1971.
Clarke Beach Park: FAQ
Does Clarke Beach Park charge a fee?
No admission fees found; it is a free public city park.
Is Clarke Beach Park kid friendly?
No sandy beach entry: shoreline access is via steps and a grass lawn into the water rather than a gradual sandy shelf, and there are no lifeguards on duty (swim at own risk). A local beach guide (mymercerisland.com) notes it's less set up for small kids than Mercer Island's other beaches (e.g., Luther Burbank), though the WTA trail listing does tag the park 'Good for kids' for the walk/loop trail itself.
Do I need to hike to reach Clarke Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Clarke Beach Park?
Free parking lot on the left/east side of East Mercer Way at the park entrance (per WTA); no fee or permit found for the park lot itself. (Note: a separate city facility, the Mercer Island Boat Launch at 3600 East Mercer Way, charges $17/day for boat-trailer parking, but that is a different site from Clarke Beach Park.)
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clarke Beach Park?
The park has a dock alongside the swimming/fishing piers that a local source (mymercerisland.com) describes as suited to water-sports use, implying small hand-launched craft are workable from the dock/shoreline; no official city rule was found either permitting or restricting kayaks/canoes/paddleboards at Clarke Beach specifically, and no mention of motorboats or jet skis. Mercer Island's official, fee-based motorized Boat Launch (for trailered boats) is a separate facility at 3600 East Mercer Way, not part of Clarke Beach Park.
When is the best time to visit Clarke Beach Park?
Summer, when restrooms are open and the enclosed swim area is in seasonal use; dog restrictions during this period reflect the peak swim season (May 1-Sept 30).
What are the rules at Clarke Beach Park?
No lifeguards on duty (swim at own risk); dogs are prohibited in designated swim areas from May 1 through September 30 and must be leashed at other times.
What water body is Clarke Beach Park on?
Clarke Beach Park is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
