Colman Park Beach
Seattle, Washington · on Lake Washington · Colman Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Colman Park Beach
Colman Park is a 24.3-acre historic city park in Seattle's Mount Baker neighborhood, on the western shore of Lake Washington just south of the I-90 (Lacey V. Murrow Memorial) bridge. Its lakeside swimming hole sits adjacent to the city's designated Mount Baker Bathing Beach, and the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 for its Olmsted Brothers-influenced landscape design.
The park descends from a wooded hilltop with urban forest and Olmsted-designed pathways down to a grassy lakeside strip along Lake Washington, offering views of the Cascades, Mount Rainier, Seward Park, and downtown Bellevue. The beach area itself is described in the official park listing as featuring grass, large drooping willows, and picnic tables, and sits immediately adjacent to the city's Mount Baker Bathing Beach.
Swimming at Colman Park Beach
Swimming here is informal lake access rather than a developed swim facility: a grassy, willow-shaded shoreline strip on Lake Washington that reviewers describe as calmer and less crowded than more popular nearby beaches. A historical photo caption confirms people have swum from this shoreline since at least the mid-20th century. No source found describes water depth, bottom conditions, or lifeguard presence at Colman Park's own beach specifically (as distinct from the adjoining, separately-managed Mount Baker Bathing Beach).
How to get to this swimming hole
The park and its parking lot are reached via Lakeside Ave S at approximately 1732 Lakeside Ave S, along Lake Washington Blvd S in Seattle's Mount Baker neighborhood, just south of the I-90 floating bridge; one described route to the beach goes past the Colman P-Patch Community Gardens and through an underpass beneath Lake Washington Blvd.
Parking: On-site parking lot at 1732 Lakeside Ave S (per aggregator listing).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city park beach directly off the on-site parking lot at 1732 Lakeside Ave S; no trail or hike is needed to reach the water. Internal park paths exist for exploring the wooded hilltop but are not required for beach access.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Wanderlog describes the water here as calm, and the park has an on-site playground, but no source confirms a lifeguard at Colman Park's own beach (as opposed to the adjacent, separately-managed Mount Baker Bathing Beach), so adult supervision is advised.
Parking
Free
Small on-site lot at 1732 Lakeside Ave S; one visitor review quoted via Wanderlog notes it's 'not an overwhelming amount of parking but I've always found a spot.'
Restrooms
None on site
Aggregator listing (Wanderlog) explicitly notes no public restrooms at Colman Park Beach; nearby Mount Baker Bathing Beach may have facilities but that was not confirmed.
Hours
6 AM to 10 PM daily (per Wanderlog aggregator listing; not independently confirmed on a live seattle.gov page)
On the water
No official page or first-hand source found stating whether kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards may be launched from Colman Park Beach specifically. It is an open, unfenced Lake Washington shoreline (not a swim-only enclosure), which suggests informal small-craft use is plausible, but this is not confirmed by any source, so left null/empty rather than assumed.
What regulars say
Visitor reports describe Colman Park Beach as calmer and less crowded than Seattle's more popular swim beaches, with a peaceful, secluded feel; one visitor noted it gets busier during Seafair/Blue Angels events but is 'not too crowdy' otherwise, and recommended exploring the park's internal trails beyond the beach strip.
Backstory
Named for James M. Colman, a Seattle engineer known for repairing a pump at a water station during the 1889 Great Seattle Fire; the Colman Estate deeded the hilltop land for park use in 1910. Seattle's Park Board began development in 1907 with Olmsted Brothers landscape influence, and the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. A 2002 incident in which a federal judge illegally cut down 120 mature trees in the park to improve his home's view resulted in a $618,000 fine.
Colman Park Beach: FAQ
Is Colman Park Beach kid friendly?
Wanderlog describes the water here as calm, and the park has an on-site playground, but no source confirms a lifeguard at Colman Park's own beach (as opposed to the adjacent, separately-managed Mount Baker Bathing Beach), so adult supervision is advised.
Do I need to hike to reach Colman Park Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Colman Park Beach?
Small on-site lot at 1732 Lakeside Ave S; one visitor review quoted via Wanderlog notes it's 'not an overwhelming amount of parking but I've always found a spot.'
What are the rules at Colman Park Beach?
Listed park hours are 6 AM to 10 PM (per aggregator listing); no swim-specific rules, lifeguard policy, or fee information was found on official pages.
What water body is Colman Park Beach on?
Colman Park Beach is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
