Daroga State Park
Orondo, Washington · Daroga
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Daroga State Park
Daroga State Park is a 127-acre Washington State Parks day-use and camping area on the Columbia River near Orondo, occupying former orchard land flooded by the creation of Lake Entiat behind Rocky Reach Dam. For anyone looking for places to swim on Lake Entiat, the park has a designated swimming area along a narrow curved beach, including a calm lagoon swimming hole described as ideal for beginner swimmers.
The park sits on 1.5 miles of Columbia River shoreline (impounded here as Lake Entiat) in the dry, rolling scabland hills of central Washington, roughly 8 miles north of Orondo and about 30 miles south of Wenatchee off Highway 97. Official materials describe it as a 'lush green oasis' of irrigated lawns and orchard-era greenery set against the surrounding arid terrain.
Swimming at Daroga State Park
The park's official swimming area is centered on a calm, sheltered lagoon that Washington State Parks describes as ideal for beginner swimmers and paddlers, paired with a grassy slope leading down to a narrow, curved sand beach on the river. This is a swim area on a dammed, slow-moving stretch of the Columbia River rather than a fast-flowing natural river channel.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located at 1 S Daroga Park Lane, Orondo, WA, off Highway 97 between Wenatchee and Winthrop (about 8 miles north of Orondo, roughly 30 miles south of Wenatchee).
Parking: Standard visitor parking plus accessible parking is available on site; a camper review noted the day-use lot is spacious enough that it has been used for RV overflow/evacuation parking.
The hike in
Daroga State Park interior trail network (optional walk, not needed for swimming)
- To the water
- 0 mi one-way - the swim lagoon/beach sits directly off the day-use lawn and parking area, within a short walk of parking
- Time on foot
- under 5 minutes on foot from the lot to the lagoon/beach; roughly 1-1.5 hours if walking the full optional trail loop
Difficulty: easy - paved, flat, about 50 ft of total elevation gain per WTA; suitable for families and strollers
Trailhead: Day-use parking lot at 1 N Daroga Park Lane, Orondo, off Highway 97
No hike is required to reach the water. The park separately offers about 2.5 miles of paved, flat interior trails (roughly a 3-mile round trip when connected to a nearby local park) with Columbia River views, but these are a recreational option, not a route to the swim area.
Dogs on leash are permitted on the trails per WTA.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Official Washington State Parks description centers the swim area on a calm, sheltered lagoon explicitly marketed as ideal for beginner swimmers/paddlers, with a grassy slope down to a narrow curved sand beach rather than open, fast river current. Campendium camper reviews independently describe 'lots of things for kids to do' and note plenty of other kids around on busy weekends. No lifeguards are mentioned at the swim area, so adult supervision is still advised.
Parking
Paid, $10 day pass (Discover Pass or Chelan PUD Public Power Benefit pass) covers day-use entry; a separate $10/night fee applies to overnight unattended vehicles
Standard day-use lot plus accessible parking near the beach/lagoon; a Campendium reviewer noted the day-use lot is spacious enough it has doubled as RV overflow/evacuation parking, and that the park felt 'full to capacity, without ever feeling crowded' over a Labor Day weekend.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and showers are on site in the day-use/camping area; camper reviews (Campendium) describe them as clean with free hot showers.
Hours
Open seasonally (closed roughly Oct 1 - Apr 1, per the official park page; WTA lists the operating window as Apr 1 - Sep 30); daily hours 6:30 a.m. to dusk during the open season.
On the water
Two boat ramps serve motorized launches ($7 launch fee) and three docks serve kayaks/paddleboards; moorage is $23 for a buoy or $1 per vessel foot at a dock, per the official park page. Wikipedia lists waterskiing among the park's activities, indicating motorized/wake boating is permitted on this stretch of Lake Entiat; no electric-only or no-wake restriction specific to Daroga was found in official materials.
What regulars say
Campers report the park can feel 'full to capacity, without it ever feeling crowded' over a Labor Day weekend, describe the restrooms and showers as clean with free hot showers, and note plenty of kids around for playmates. The same visitors flag nearby high-voltage power lines causing background noise at some campsites and note some walk-in tent sites require hauling gear by cart across a causeway/bridge onto a small island. No further first-hand commentary specific to Daroga's swim lagoon (clarity, crowding, tips) could be located beyond what's noted above.
Backstory
The park's name 'Daroga' was coined from the first letters/names of the Auvil brothers (David, Robert, Grady) whose orchard once occupied the site. The orchard land was flooded by the construction of Rocky Reach Dam, which created Lake Entiat on the Columbia River. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has managed the site since 1990 under a lease with Chelan County Public Utility District, which owns the land.
Daroga State Park: FAQ
Does Daroga State Park charge a fee?
A Discover Pass-style day pass costs $10 (or $45 annual); boat moorage runs $23 for a buoy or $1 per vessel foot at docks, and watercraft launch fees are $7, per the official park page.
Is Daroga State Park kid friendly?
Official Washington State Parks description centers the swim area on a calm, sheltered lagoon explicitly marketed as ideal for beginner swimmers/paddlers, with a grassy slope down to a narrow curved sand beach rather than open, fast river current. Campendium camper reviews independently describe 'lots of things for kids to do' and note plenty of other kids around on busy weekends. No lifeguards are mentioned at the swim area, so adult supervision is still advised.
Do I need to hike to reach Daroga State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Daroga State Park?
Standard day-use lot plus accessible parking near the beach/lagoon; a Campendium reviewer noted the day-use lot is spacious enough it has doubled as RV overflow/evacuation parking, and that the park felt 'full to capacity, without ever feeling crowded' over a Labor Day weekend.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Daroga State Park?
Two boat ramps serve motorized launches ($7 launch fee) and three docks serve kayaks/paddleboards; moorage is $23 for a buoy or $1 per vessel foot at a dock, per the official park page. Wikipedia lists waterskiing among the park's activities, indicating motorized/wake boating is permitted on this stretch of Lake Entiat; no electric-only or no-wake restriction specific to Daroga was found in official materials.
When is the best time to visit Daroga State Park?
May through September, corresponding with the park's summer operating season (closed Oct 1 - Apr 1).
What are the rules at Daroga State Park?
As of the park's current posted status, a Level 3 burn ban prohibits charcoal or wood fires, allowing only gas or propane stoves; the park is closed seasonally from October 1 through April 1 and keeps summer hours of 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
