Don Morse Memorial Park
Chelan, Washington · on Lake Chelan · Lakeshore Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Don Morse Memorial Park
Don Morse Memorial Park is a 20-acre city park in Chelan, Washington, on the shore of Lake Chelan, with 2,000 feet of lakefront beach that the City of Chelan describes as a swimming and water-sports area. It is a developed day-use park with courts, playgrounds, a skatepark, picnic shelters, and marina access, and it charges for parking.
The park sits directly on the south shore of Lake Chelan at the west edge of downtown Chelan, a developed lakefront setting rather than a backcountry one, with the town, a marina, and adjacent recreation businesses (putting course, go-cart track) immediately around it.
Swimming at Don Morse Memorial Park
The City of Chelan describes the park's 2,000-foot beach as providing space for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports, with a marked swimming/diving area that motorized boats are required to stay at least 25 yards away from. This is a developed, family-oriented lake beach rather than a secluded natural swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located at 485 W Manson Hwy, Chelan, WA 98816, at the west end of downtown Chelan along the Lake Chelan shoreline.
Parking: Paid public parking on-site: up to 2 hours $10, 2-6 hours $15, 6-12 hours $20, 24 hours $35, payable at kiosks or via mobile text-to-pay. Annual resident permits are available: City of Chelan Resident Permit $25, Chelan Valley Resident Permit $45 (limit 2 per household), giving year-round access to Don Morse Park, Lakeshore Marina, and Lakeside Park; permits sold at the Chelan Parks Office (Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm) or online.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Don Morse Park is a drive-up city park with an on-site parking lot directly adjacent to its 2,000-foot lakefront beach; no hike or trail is involved to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Large sandy beach with a marked/protected swimming area (per lakechelan.com and city rules requiring motorboats to stay 25 yards from it), which is favorable for kids, but no lifeguard presence is documented anywhere and the beach sits on a large, deep, boat-trafficked lake with an adjacent marina, so adult supervision is warranted.
Parking
Paid, $10 (up to 2 hrs) / $15 (2-6 hrs) / $20 (6-12 hrs) / $35 (24 hrs)
Paid public on-site parking, payable at kiosks or via mobile text-to-pay; annual resident permits ($25 City of Chelan / $45 Chelan Valley) cover Don Morse Park, Lakeshore Marina, and Lakeside Park (source: cityofchelan.gov/381/Parking-Information).
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are available on-site per the Lake Chelan visitor site (lakechelan.com), which also notes seasonal concessions at the park; the official City of Chelan park page does not specify the restroom's exact location within the park.
Water clarity
Clear
Lake Chelan is the third-deepest lake in the U.S. (max depth 1,486 ft, per Wikipedia) and Chelan County PUD, the local public utility, describes the lake's 'clear waters' as a defining community resource on its water-quality page. No site-specific visibility measurement (e.g., Secchi depth) for the Don Morse swim beach itself was found.
Hours
Park hours are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily (cityofchelan.gov/378/Park-Rules-Regulations).
On the water
Restrictions: City park rules require motorboats and sailboats to stay at least 25 yards from clearly marked swimming/diving areas, and boats must operate at slow/no-wake speed within 100 feet of swim floats or marked swim areas (cityofchelan.gov/378/Park-Rules-Regulations).
Non-motorized craft (kayaks, SUPs) can be launched from the park's beach; motorized boats/jet skis are typically launched or rented via the adjacent Lakeshore Marina and private outfitters rather than off the swim beach itself.
Rentals nearby
Single and double kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a large multi-person 'Sup-Squatch' board
Chelan, WA, serving the Don Morse Park / downtown Chelan waterfront (exact address not listed on site; phone 509-433-0463) · Open daily 10am-5pm (seasonal; call for off-hours service)
Power boats (Regal LX2, Starcraft 211 SVX, with/without tower), SunChaser pontoons, and jet skis
Prices: Regal LX2: $215/hr, $575 half-day, $715 full-day. Starcraft 211 SVX: $155/hr, $415 half-day, $565 full-day. Pontoon: $180/hr, $475 half-day, $620 full-day. Prices exclude sales tax and fuel; weekday specials available.
Chelan, WA, on Lake Chelan near downtown · Reservation-based (morning half-day rentals must start by 9:30am Mon-Fri); phone (509) 682-1515
Public boat launch ($10/vessel) and 100 moorage slips (with/without power); no private watercraft rentals, but this is the primary boat-launch point serving the Don Morse Park waterfront
Prices: Boat launch $10/vessel; seasonal launch permit $20; nightly slip rates $29.44-$43.24 depending on length/power (2026 rates)
409 W Manson Hwy, Chelan, WA 98816 - immediately adjacent to Don Morse Park (485 W Manson Hwy) · Sept-May: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. June-Aug: daily 8am-4:30pm.
Don Morse Memorial Park: FAQ
Does Don Morse Memorial Park charge a fee?
Parking is paid (see parking field); no separate park entrance fee is described.
Is Don Morse Memorial Park kid friendly?
Large sandy beach with a marked/protected swimming area (per lakechelan.com and city rules requiring motorboats to stay 25 yards from it), which is favorable for kids, but no lifeguard presence is documented anywhere and the beach sits on a large, deep, boat-trafficked lake with an adjacent marina, so adult supervision is warranted.
Do I need to hike to reach Don Morse Memorial Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Don Morse Memorial Park?
Paid public on-site parking, payable at kiosks or via mobile text-to-pay; annual resident permits ($25 City of Chelan / $45 Chelan Valley) cover Don Morse Park, Lakeshore Marina, and Lakeside Park (source: cityofchelan.gov/381/Parking-Information).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Don Morse Memorial Park?
Non-motorized craft (kayaks, SUPs) can be launched from the park's beach; motorized boats/jet skis are typically launched or rented via the adjacent Lakeshore Marina and private outfitters rather than off the swim beach itself.
What are the rules at Don Morse Memorial Park?
Park hours are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Dogs are not allowed in the park from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and must be leashed the rest of the year. No alcohol is permitted (with limited exceptions elsewhere in the city park system). Motorboats and sailboats must stay at least 25 yards from marked swimming and diving areas. Fires are only allowed in permanent park-provided grills.
What water body is Don Morse Memorial Park on?
Don Morse Memorial Park is on Lake Chelan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
