Crow Butte Park
Paterson, Washington · on Lake Umatilla
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10/day
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Crow Butte Park
Crow Butte Park is a developed day-use and camping park on a peninsula/island in Lake Umatilla, the Columbia River reservoir behind John Day Dam, near Paterson, Washington. Operated by the Port of Benton, it has an official designated swimming beach, a proper swimming hole on the reservoir, along with a marina, campground, and other recreation facilities, giving this stretch of the Columbia an easy lake to swim in.
The park sits on a peninsula (formerly an island) of roughly 275 acres jutting into Lake Umatilla, with six miles of Columbia River shoreline, basalt canyon walls, and 360-degree desert-canyon views. Crow Butte itself rises to about 671 feet and can be hiked for a summit view; the area is high desert terrain and lies adjacent to the McNary National Wildlife Refuge.
Swimming at Crow Butte Park
The park has a designated sandy swimming beach on Lake Umatilla (Columbia River). Water is described as warm and shallow near the beach, making it suitable for families, but the swim area is unguarded (no lifeguard on duty).
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 165215 W. Crow Butte Road, Paterson, WA 99345, just off Washington State Highway 14 at milepost 155, about 12 miles/18 minutes west of Paterson and roughly 60 minutes from the Tri-Cities.
Parking: Day-use and marina parking requires a paid pass: $10/day or a $60/year annual pass.
The hike in
Crow Butte Loop (also referred to simply as the Crow Butte trail)
- Time on foot
- Roughly 2-3 hours for the summit loop based on trip-report accounts, longer if exploring the full ~6 miles of park trails
Difficulty: easy-to-moderate: published trail descriptions list roughly 250 to 400 ft of elevation gain over the ~6-mile network, with sandy, minimally-shaded terrain
Trailhead: Starts from the day-use parking lot area within Crow Butte Park (per a Washington Trails Association trip report, hikers parked at the park's lot before setting out); no separate/remote trailhead is described.
This is a separate optional side hike, not something required to reach the swimming beach (the beach is drive-up, directly off the day-use parking area). The trail network covers about 6 miles total within the park and climbs to the ~671-ft Crow Butte summit for 360-degree river/canyon views.
Trail descriptions note sandy terrain and recommend closed-toe shoes plus extra water and sun protection (little shade). Western rattlesnakes have been reported along this trail and in the surrounding rocky terrain.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Official park descriptions call the beach sandy with warm, shallow water near shore, which suits young kids, but there is no lifeguard on duty and the swim area sits on a Columbia River reservoir (current/boat traffic near the marina), so adult supervision is warranted. Western rattlesnakes are also reported in the surrounding dry, rocky/sandy terrain, not on the beach itself but relevant if kids wander toward the butte trail.
Parking
Paid, $10/day day-use & marina parking (or $60/year annual pass); $10/day for extra vehicles beyond a campsite's 3-vehicle limit
Day-use/marina lot is paved; the park website explicitly instructs that 'all vehicles must stay on the asphalt.' No separate free roadside parking option is described.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and showers are listed among the park's on-site facilities (crowbutte.com); exact building location relative to the beach wasn't specified beyond 'restrooms & showers' as a park-wide amenity.
Hours
Day-use hours are dawn to dusk. Overall park season runs April 1 - October 15 (camping/day-use infrastructure staffed during that window); the boat ramp itself stays open year-round regardless of season. Quiet hours 10 p.m.-6:30 a.m.; campground check-in 3 p.m., check-out noon.
On the water
Crow Butte Park has a full-service, ADA-accessible marina with day-use and overnight boat moorage and a year-round boat launch; the official site markets the park to 'boaters, water sports enthusiasts... and families,' implying general watercraft use is expected. No explicit no-wake zone, electric-only rule, or paddlecraft-only restriction was found in official materials; the park's phone/email (509-940-7326, info@crowbutte.com) is the best source to confirm current-season boating rules directly.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals plus guided tours (Hanford Reach, Bateman Island)
Prices: Historical/approximate only - a 2020 post cited $15 for a 2-hour SUP rental and one visitor review cited about $54 for a kayak + paddleboard pair (2-hour minimum); current 2026 pricing not confirmed
Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA 99352 - roughly 40-45 miles upstream from Crow Butte Park, and on a different reservoir pool (Lake Wallula/Hanford Reach) rather than Lake Umatilla itself, so it's the nearest identified rental operator in the region rather than an outfitter directly on this water · Reported as open daily except Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (per the operator's posted hours; not independently confirmed for current season)
What regulars say
Candid visitor commentary specific to Crow Butte Park is scarce; no detailed first-hand accounts have surfaced beyond brief reviews.
Backstory
The area was historically significant to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the park in the 1970s as mitigation for McNary Dam impacts; the surrounding waters became part of Lake Umatilla after completion of the John Day Dam in 1971. The Port of Benton has operated the park under a management agreement since August 2007.
Crow Butte Park: FAQ
Does Crow Butte Park charge a fee?
Day-use/marina parking $10/day (or $60/year annual pass); RV camping $45/night ($35/night for veterans); large group camping $80/night; $10/day for extra vehicles beyond the three-vehicle campsite limit; $8 administrative fee for reservation changes/cancellations.
Is Crow Butte Park kid friendly?
Official park descriptions call the beach sandy with warm, shallow water near shore, which suits young kids, but there is no lifeguard on duty and the swim area sits on a Columbia River reservoir (current/boat traffic near the marina), so adult supervision is warranted. Western rattlesnakes are also reported in the surrounding dry, rocky/sandy terrain, not on the beach itself but relevant if kids wander toward the butte trail.
Do I need to hike to reach Crow Butte Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Crow Butte Park?
Day-use/marina lot is paved; the park website explicitly instructs that 'all vehicles must stay on the asphalt.' No separate free roadside parking option is described.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Crow Butte Park?
Crow Butte Park has a full-service, ADA-accessible marina with day-use and overnight boat moorage and a year-round boat launch; the official site markets the park to 'boaters, water sports enthusiasts... and families,' implying general watercraft use is expected. No explicit no-wake zone, electric-only rule, or paddlecraft-only restriction was found in official materials; the park's phone/email (509-940-7326, info@crowbutte.com) is the best source to confirm current-season boating rules directly.
When is the best time to visit Crow Butte Park?
Park is open April 1 through October 15; warm-water swimming is best in the summer months within that window.
What are the rules at Crow Butte Park?
Park season runs April 1, October 15; day-use hours are dawn to dusk; quiet hours 10 p.m.-6:30 a.m. Pets must be leashed and cleaned up after; no fireworks or weapons; wood fires must be contained in provided firepits; glass and metal containers are prohibited in playground and beach areas; boat ramp is open year-round regardless of park season.
What water body is Crow Butte Park on?
Crow Butte Park is on Lake Umatilla, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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