Fishhook Park
Prescott, Washington · on Lake Sacajawea
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- May
About Fishhook Park
Fishhook Park is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground and day-use area on Lake Sacajawea, the Snake River reservoir behind Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, about 18 miles east of Burbank, Washington. The park has an official designated swim beach with a life jacket loaner board alongside camping, boating, and fishing facilities.
The park sits on the shore of Lake Sacajawea, the slackwater reservoir created by Ice Harbor Lock and Dam on the lower Snake River, in the semi-arid shrub-steppe country of southeastern Washington near the Walla Walla/Franklin county line. Recreation.gov describes a waterfront setting with mature trees providing shade over the campsites, a contrast to the open, sun-exposed terrain typical of the surrounding lower Snake River corridor.
Swimming at Fishhook Park
Swimming is one of the park's officially listed activities, with a designated day-use swim beach on the reservoir and a life jacket loaner board provided on-site. This is reservoir/river swimming rather than a swimming hole in a plunge pool or creek: open, wind-exposed water shared with boat traffic. A 2018 news account of a fatal incident (a swimmer jumped in without a life jacket and struggled in wind and waves) suggests conditions can turn hazardous quickly despite the developed, family-oriented setting.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Burbank, WA, take Highway 124 east about 18 miles, then turn north on Fishhook Park Road and continue about 4 miles to the park entrance. Address: 4562 Fishhook Park Road, Prescott, WA 99348.
Parking: Parking is permitted only in designated areas at the campground and day-use area, per Army Corps rules.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. The swim beach sits within the developed campground/day-use area off Fishhook Park Road, about 4 miles north of Highway 124; it is drive-up/walk-up with no trail required. Exact walk distance from designated parking to the shoreline was not stated in sources reviewed.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
This is an open reservoir/lake swim beach shared with boat traffic, not a shallow plunge pool. USACE provides a life jacket loaner board at the beach (implying no lifeguard staffing), and a 2018 news account documented a fatal drowning nearby after a swimmer entered open water without a life jacket during wind/waves. Shallow-entry conditions at the designated swim beach itself were not detailed in sources reviewed.
Parking
Lot
USACE rules restrict parking to designated paved areas within the campground/day-use area ('all wheels on pavement at all times'). No day-use/swim-beach parking fee was found; campsites and the group picnic shelter have separate reservation fees via Recreation.gov, but a stand-alone day-use parking cost was not stated in sources reviewed.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and free showers are provided on-site per the USACE Walla Walla District park page, along with a dump station; the exact location of restrooms relative to the swim beach specifically (day-use area vs. campground loop) was not specified in sources reviewed.
Hours
Campground gate is closed with quiet hours 10 p.m.-6 a.m. daily; check-in after 2 p.m., checkout by noon. The park operates seasonally, roughly May through September. It was closed by the Army Corps in 2024-2025 for budget/resource reasons, with a 2026 reopening reported via a search-engine snippet of a USACE press release (not independently confirmed by direct fetch of that release).
On the water
USACE and Recreation.gov both describe a paved boat ramp and 'great boating opportunities' alongside the swim beach, confirming motorized boat use. Neither source explicitly addressed kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards, nor stated any no-wake/electric-only restriction. Open reservoirs with public boat ramps like this commonly see hand-launched craft too, but that was not independently confirmed for Fishhook Park in sources reviewed.
Rentals nearby
Single sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks, tandem kayaks, 2- and 3-person canoes, paddleboards (including a giant paddleboard), pedal boats, and a 4-person swan boat; rentals include life jackets, whistles, paddles, and bottled water
Prices: $24-$45/hour (2-hour minimum); all-day (8-hour) rentals $76-$190
Meets at the Bateman Island boat launch at Wye Park; business address 2699 Columbia Center Blvd, Richland, WA. This is on the Columbia/Yakima river confluence roughly 30+ miles from Fishhook Park, not adjacent to the park itself. · Launches by appointment, latest launch 6 p.m.; earlier/sunrise launches available with 1+ day advance notice
Paddleboards, single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and tandem bikes
Prices: Paddleboard $25 (30 min) / $40 (1 hr) / $65 (2 hr); single kayak $20/$30/$45; tandem kayak $30/$50/$80; tandem bike $35/$50/$80
500 Howard Amon Dr, Richland, WA, on the Columbia River, roughly 30+ miles from Fishhook Park
Backstory
Fishhook Park takes its name from Fishhook Rapids, a former Snake River rapid near the site where Lewis and Clark's expedition camped in October 1805, per Recreation.gov. The park is one of several lower Snake River recreation sites (also including Levey Park, Lambi Creek, Willow Creek, Illia Dunes, Blyton Landing, Confluence Park, and Riparia) that the Army Corps' Walla Walla District closed around 2024-2025 to concentrate limited resources, with Fishhook Park and Levey Park reported as slated to reopen for 2026.
Fishhook Park: FAQ
Does Fishhook Park charge a fee?
Campsites and the day-use group picnic shelter are reservable through Recreation.gov (or 877-444-6777), bookable up to six months in advance; the day-use area/shelter is otherwise available first-come, first-served. Specific nightly/day-use dollar rates were not found in sources reviewed.
Is Fishhook Park kid friendly?
This is an open reservoir/lake swim beach shared with boat traffic, not a shallow plunge pool. USACE provides a life jacket loaner board at the beach (implying no lifeguard staffing), and a 2018 news account documented a fatal drowning nearby after a swimmer entered open water without a life jacket during wind/waves. Shallow-entry conditions at the designated swim beach itself were not detailed in sources reviewed.
Do I need to hike to reach Fishhook Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Fishhook Park?
USACE rules restrict parking to designated paved areas within the campground/day-use area ('all wheels on pavement at all times'). No day-use/swim-beach parking fee was found; campsites and the group picnic shelter have separate reservation fees via Recreation.gov, but a stand-alone day-use parking cost was not stated in sources reviewed.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Fishhook Park?
USACE and Recreation.gov both describe a paved boat ramp and 'great boating opportunities' alongside the swim beach, confirming motorized boat use. Neither source explicitly addressed kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards, nor stated any no-wake/electric-only restriction. Open reservoirs with public boat ramps like this commonly see hand-launched craft too, but that was not independently confirmed for Fishhook Park in sources reviewed.
When is the best time to visit Fishhook Park?
The campground and day-use area operate seasonally, May through September, closing in winter. The park was closed by the Army Corps around 2024-2025 due to budget/resource constraints and was reported (via a USACE press release surfaced in search) as expected to reopen for the 2026 season.
What are the rules at Fishhook Park?
Alcohol is prohibited. Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times (no dog runs); horses and hunting are prohibited on-site. Hammocks require a 3-inch flat strap. Wood-burning fires are banned July-September (charcoal and gas grills allowed). Motorized or battery-powered riding toys are prohibited. Campground gate is closed 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; check-in is after 2 p.m. and checkout by noon, both strictly enforced.
What water body is Fishhook Park on?
Fishhook Park is on Lake Sacajawea, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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