Lake Sylvia State Park

Montesano, Washington · on Sylvia Lake · Lake Sylvia

Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $45/year
SEASON: Varies by conditions

About Lake Sylvia State Park

Lake Sylvia State Park is a 233-acre Washington State Parks property just north of Montesano, centered on Lake Sylvia, a small reservoir lake formed behind a 1918 dam and ringed by temperate rainforest. The park's day-use area includes an official swim beach, a rainforest-ringed swimming hole with picnic shelters, an ADA playground, and campground facilities close by; fishing and non-motorized boating are also permitted on the lake.

Lake Sylvia sits within 233 acres of dense temperate rainforest at the northern edge of Montesano in Grays Harbor County; Sylvia Creek drains the lake, and a municipal watershed occupies its eastern end. The lake itself is a small reservoir created by a dam originally built around 1909 to power a generator for the city of Montesano, with the surrounding forested park land deeded to Washington State Parks in 1936 after decades of logging and hydro use.

Swimming at Lake Sylvia State Park

The park maintains an official designated swim beach in its day-use area, described by State Parks as offering water recreation for visitors; no source found details specific water depth, temperature, or bottom conditions at the beach.

How to get to this swimming hole

The park address is 1812 N. Lake Sylvia Road, Montesano, WA 98563, just north of downtown Montesano; no further turn-by-turn directions were found in sourced material.

The hike in

The swim beach is adjacent to the day-use parking lot, so no trail is needed to swim. The park separately offers about 5 miles of hiking/biking trail forming a loop around the lake (0.5 mi of it ADA-accessible), including a roughly 1-mile Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail spur along Sylvia Creek with a dam crossing; the main loop passes a covered bridge and follows the lake's flatter east shore to a fishing dock and picnic area. These are optional add-on hikes, not a path to the swim beach itself.

Effectively a zero-walk, drive-up swim spot; the lake-loop trail is a bonus activity for visitors who want to hike, described by WTA as moderate on its first half (muddy, rolling terrain) and flatter/wetter on the second half.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Swim beach sits in the day-use area with drive-up access (no hike, no scramble), which favors families, but the official park page does not state that lifeguards are on duty (Washington State Parks generally does not lifeguard swim beaches) and gives no beach-entry/depth/bottom description. The lake's dam also had documented Level 1-3 structural emergencies in 2025 with temporary closures, so current conditions/postings should be checked before a visit.

Parking

Paid, $10/day or $45/year (Washington Discover Pass required)

Day-use lot is at the park entrance across from the park office, before a gate that blocks further vehicle access into the interior of the park (per WTA trail description); the swim beach is reached directly from this lot with no hike.

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms and showers are listed among day-use/campground facilities on the official park page; the page does not pin down whether a restroom sits directly at the swim beach versus elsewhere in the day-use area.

Hours

8:00 a.m. to dusk, year-round

Swim smart

The park's dam (built c.1909-1918, with reinforcement added 1988-1995) has had documented structural stress: a November 2024 Washington Dept. of Ecology inspection rated it 'Emergency Level 1', prompting State Parks to lower the lake roughly 5 feet in June 2025. Heavy rainfall in December 2025 pushed the situation to a Level 3 emergency, triggering a temporary park closure and alerts to nearby residents before the lake level dropped and the rating was reduced to Level 2. The park had reopened and was hosting public events by May 2026, but visitors should check current State Parks alerts given this recent history of dam-related closures.

Rules: As of August 2025 the boat launch is closed to trailered watercraft (hand-carried craft such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are still permitted); kayak/paddleboard rentals through the park store have been discontinued. A recreational fishing/shellfish license is required per WDFW rules. As of July 2026 a burn ban is in effect: only gas/propane self-contained stoves and portable fire pits are allowed, with no charcoal or wood fires. Park hours are 8:00 a.m. to dusk year-round.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboards

Restrictions: As of August 2025 the boat launch is closed to trailered and motorized watercraft; only hand-carried craft (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards) may still be launched.

The park's own kayak/paddleboard rental program has been discontinued, per the official park page.

Backstory

The site was homesteaded in the late 1860s by Michael F. Luark, who built Grays Harbor County's first water-powered sawmill there in 1871. A dam built around 1909 generated power for Montesano; the city purchased the surrounding watershed in 1931 for $12,000, and the property was deeded to Washington State Parks in 1936. The Legacy Pavilion, an open-sided structure with a stone fireplace, was completed in 2020.

Lake Sylvia State Park: FAQ

Does Lake Sylvia State Park charge a fee?

A Washington Discover Pass is required ($45/year or $10/day); a trailer dump station fee of $5 per use also applies.

Is Lake Sylvia State Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Sylvia State Park?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Lake Sylvia State Park?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Sylvia State Park?

The park's own kayak/paddleboard rental program has been discontinued, per the official park page.

What are the rules at Lake Sylvia State Park?

As of August 2025 the boat launch is closed to trailered watercraft (hand-carried craft such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are still permitted); kayak/paddleboard rentals through the park store have been discontinued. A recreational fishing/shellfish license is required per WDFW rules. As of July 2026 a burn ban is in effect: only gas/propane self-contained stoves and portable fire pits are allowed, with no charcoal or wood fires. Park hours are 8:00 a.m. to dusk year-round.

What water body is Lake Sylvia State Park on?

Lake Sylvia State Park is on Sylvia Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.