Clear Lake Military Resort
Cheney, Washington · on Clear Lake
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- May
About Clear Lake Military Resort
Clear Lake Military Resort is a 34-acre lakeside recreation area and swimming hole on Clear Lake near Cheney, Washington, operated by the 92nd Force Support Squadron (92 FSS) of Fairchild Air Force Base. It is a designated swim, boating, and camping resort restricted to DoD ID card holders (active duty, retired military, National Guard, Reserves, DoD civilians) and their families.
The resort sits on Clear Lake in rural Spokane County roughly 20 minutes from Fairchild AFB and about 3 miles from Cheney, WA. The 34-acre property combines lakefront frontage with campground, cabin, and yurt accommodations set among trees, with picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports courts spread around the grounds.
Swimming at Clear Lake Military Resort
The lake has a designated swimming area as part of the resort's official amenities, alongside boat rentals (jet skis, pontoons), kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Clear Lake is stocked with trout, bass, catfish, and crappie, indicating a calm, warm-water freshwater lake suited to families and casual swimmers rather than a rugged or remote swim spot.
How to get to this swimming hole
From I-90 at exit 264, head roughly one mile north on Clear Lake Road to 14824 S Clear Lake Rd, Cheney, WA 99004.
Parking: Free on-site parking lot at the resort (per aggregator listing); official site does not itemize parking separately.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up lakefront resort, not a hike-in swimming hole. Guests park on-site and walk directly to the beach/fishing pier; guest reviews aggregated on pinecliffresort.net describe lakeside cabins as being 'walking distance to the fishing pier and beach,' consistent with a short, flat walk of a few minutes at most.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Clear Lake Military Resort is an official DoD-family recreation resort built around a designated swim area, with playgrounds, a fishing pier, and calm reservoir-style lake water. Aggregator-collected guest reviews describe it as 'a great area for kids to play, or swim.' No source found on entry depth/slope, current, or lifeguard staffing, so treat as generally family-friendly but supervise as you would any unguarded lake beach.
Parking
Free
Free on-site parking lot at the resort entrance (per pinecliffresort.net and mycampingspot.com aggregator listings). The official fairchildfun.com page does not break out parking as a separate line item, likely because entry is already restricted to DoD ID holders with a reservation/day-use process.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms and showers are available on-site (per aggregator/hipcamp-sourced facility listings); exact building location relative to the swim beach was not itemized in any source found.
Hours
Seasonal operation only. 2026 official schedule: opened April 25 (6 AM-6 PM that day), then 8 AM-6 PM Thursday-Monday (closed Tue/Wed) through May 21, switching to daily 8 AM-8 PM from May 22 through September 7. A separate aggregator (pinecliffresort.net) lists a simpler 8 AM-6 PM Thu-Mon / closed Tue-Wed pattern, so confirm current-week hours directly with the resort (509-299-5129) before visiting.
On the water
Restrictions: A Washington State boater education card (or completion of the resort/Outdoor Recreation's online boating safety video) is required to rent or operate powered watercraft. A valid Washington fishing license is required to fish. No electric-only or no-wake restriction was found in any source reviewed.
Watercraft use here is structured around the resort's own on-site rental fleet rather than a public/independent launch; access to the lake overall is restricted to DoD ID cardholders and their guests.
Rentals nearby
On-site boat dock rentals: kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, pontoon boats, and jet skis (paddleboards also referenced by one aggregator). This is the resort's own rental operation, not an independent outfitter.
Prices: Not published on the official page (rate sheet is behind a 'View Prices' link that did not resolve to visible pricing in this research pass). The resort runs 'Half-Price Days' on weekdays from June 1-Aug 30 (plus a Labor Day special Aug 31-Sept 7), offering 50% off all boat and water-equipment rentals; fuel is not included in the discount.
On the lake's boat dock/fishing pier at the resort, 14824 S Clear Lake Rd, Cheney, WA 99004. · Matches park operating hours (see hours field); rental counter/dock operating hours specifically were not itemized separately in sources found.
What regulars say
Guest reviews describe the resort as 'a great area for kids to play, or swim' and note lakeside cabins are 'walking distance to the fishing pier and beach.' One reviewer called the fishing 'nice...on the docks' with benches to sit on, and staff were repeatedly praised as friendly ('a gem to find'). The only recurring complaint was maintenance-related, not water-related: dead trees needing removal and unevenly leveled tent sites in the camping area. No visitor comments on water clarity, crowding at the swim beach specifically, or entry conditions were found.
Clear Lake Military Resort: FAQ
Does Clear Lake Military Resort charge a fee?
General entry pricing was not published on the official page found; the resort runs 'Half-Price Days' (June 1-Aug 30 weekdays, plus a Labor Day special Aug 31-Sept 7) offering 50% off boat and watercraft rentals (fuel not included).
Is Clear Lake Military Resort kid friendly?
Clear Lake Military Resort is an official DoD-family recreation resort built around a designated swim area, with playgrounds, a fishing pier, and calm reservoir-style lake water. Aggregator-collected guest reviews describe it as 'a great area for kids to play, or swim.' No source found on entry depth/slope, current, or lifeguard staffing, so treat as generally family-friendly but supervise as you would any unguarded lake beach.
Do I need to hike to reach Clear Lake Military Resort?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Clear Lake Military Resort?
Free on-site parking lot at the resort entrance (per pinecliffresort.net and mycampingspot.com aggregator listings). The official fairchildfun.com page does not break out parking as a separate line item, likely because entry is already restricted to DoD ID holders with a reservation/day-use process.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clear Lake Military Resort?
Watercraft use here is structured around the resort's own on-site rental fleet rather than a public/independent launch; access to the lake overall is restricted to DoD ID cardholders and their guests.
When is the best time to visit Clear Lake Military Resort?
Facility operates seasonally, opening April 25 (6 AM-6 PM), running 8 AM-6 PM Thu-Mon through May 21, then daily 8 AM-8 PM from May 22 through Sept 7; the snack bar opens April 25 and runs 10 AM-5 PM seasonally.
What are the rules at Clear Lake Military Resort?
Access limited to DoD ID card holders: active duty, retired military, National Guard, Reserve members, DoD civilian employees, and their families/guests. A Washington boaters license (or completion of an online boating safety video) is required to rent boats; a valid Washington State fishing license is required to fish.
What water body is Clear Lake Military Resort on?
Clear Lake Military Resort is on Clear Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
More swimming holes near Cheney
Nine Mile Recreation Area
Nine Mile Falls, Washingtonreservoir
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Carlin Bay Public Beach
Harrison, Idaholake
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Honeysuckle Beach - Recreation Area and Launch
Hayden, Idaholake
⛺🚤
Priest River Recreation Area
Priest River, Idahoriver
⛺
Riley Creek Recreation Area
Laclede, Idahoriver
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Bumblebee Campground
Kingston, Idahocreek
⛺🛶🛟