Lake Wilderness Park

Maple Valley, Washington · on Wilderness Lake · Lake Wilderness Park & Conference Center

Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Yes, see below
SEASON: Best in summer

About Lake Wilderness Park

Lake Wilderness Park is a 117-acre City of Maple Valley park in King County, Washington, built around Lake Wilderness. The swimming hole here is an official, seasonally lifeguarded swim beach, one of the few staffed public places to swim in the area.

The park sits on the shore of Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley and includes forested walking trails, a large grassy lawn area, an adjoining arboretum, and a golf course, with the swim beach as the central lakefront feature.

Swimming at Lake Wilderness Park

Swimming takes place off a designated sandy swim beach on Lake Wilderness, staffed with lifeguards during summer. The lake also supports non-motorized boating (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats available for rent), so the swim area is roped off from boat traffic. The setting is calm, developed-park style swimming suited to families and casual swimmers rather than open-water or adventure swimming.

The hike in

No hike is required to reach the swim beach; it is a drive-up park facility. The park does connect to the Green-to-Cedar Rivers Trail / Cedar River Trail (a separate paved regional trail of roughly 18 miles, per first-hand visitor accounts), and has its own internal walking trails and an adjoining roughly 30-acre arboretum forest trail network, but these are optional add-on walks, not required access routes to the water.

Visitors recommend grabbing a trail map before entering the adjoining forest preserve trails, noting they can feel surprisingly isolated despite proximity to the park.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Sandy, roped-off swim beach separated from the non-motorized boat area, with lifeguards on duty daily 12-7pm during the official summer season (June 23-Aug 23, 2026), which makes it well suited to families in-season. Caution warranted because lifeguards are seasonal only, the city has posted a leech advisory for the lake, and the beach is subject to periodic closures for high bacteria/algal-toxin readings monitored by King County.

Hours

Park open year-round, 7:00 AM to dusk (per City of Maple Valley). Lifeguarded swim season for 2026 is daily June 23-August 23, 12:00 PM-7:00 PM.

Swim smart

The city has issued a public notice about leeches in the lake; a 2000 Seattle Times report described swimmers finding leeches attached to their feet and legs. The lake is also subject to periodic temporary closures for high bacteria/algal toxin levels, monitored via King County and Washington toxic algae tracking, and the city has scheduled aquatic vegetation treatments that trigger a 24-hour no-swimming advisory afterward.

Rules: Park open year-round 7:00 AM to dusk. Dogs must be leashed except in designated off-leash areas. Alcohol prohibited except by permit. Smoking and marijuana use prohibited. Overnight camping prohibited except by permit. Fishing allowed with a valid license. Internal-combustion boat engines are prohibited on the lake.

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

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsPedal boatRaft/floaty

Restrictions: Internal-combustion boat engines are prohibited lake-wide; the boat launch and rental program are non-motorized/electric-only. The swim beach area is roped off from the boating area.

Watercraft use here is primarily via the park's own on-site rental concession rather than visitors launching personal motorized craft; non-motorized/electric personal watercraft brought by visitors would fall under the same combustion-engine ban.

Rentals nearby

Lake Wilderness Park Boat Rentals (City of Maple Valley Parks & Recreation concession)

Single raft floaty, single kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and 2-4 person boats (kayaks, pedal boats, and canoes)

Prices: Single Raft Floaty $10 per 2 hours; SUP & Single Kayaks $20/hour; 2-4 Person Boats (kayaks, pedal boats, canoes) $25/hour (per official 2026 Boat Rental Rates flyer)

On the swim beach at Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley, WA · Operates during the lifeguarded summer beach season, daily June 23-August 23, 2026, 12:00 PM-7:00 PM (rental hours specifically not separately itemized beyond this window)

What regulars say

First-hand visitor accounts offer several notes: the park is 'incredibly dog friendly,' the adjoining forest-preserve and arboretum trails can feel surprisingly isolated despite being close to the developed park (get a map before heading in), and summer is recommended for paddleboarding, kayaking, and disc golf.

Backstory

Leech problems at the lake have been documented since at least 2000, when warning signs were posted after swimmers reported leeches attaching to their feet and legs.

Lake Wilderness Park: FAQ

Does Lake Wilderness Park charge a fee?

Beach access itself is not described as having an entry fee; boat/canoe/paddleboard/pedal boat rentals and concession-stand food and drink are paid separately (rates published in downloadable PDFs on the city site, not itemized here).

Is Lake Wilderness Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wilderness Park?

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

Where do I park for Lake Wilderness Park?

No source found that explicitly describes a parking lot, its location, capacity, or cost for Lake Wilderness Park. The official city park page and beach program page do not mention parking despite describing hours, rentals, and rules in some detail.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wilderness Park?

When is the best time to visit Lake Wilderness Park?

Summer, when lifeguards are on duty (2026 lifeguard season: daily June 23 - August 23, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM).

What are the rules at Lake Wilderness Park?

Park open year-round 7:00 AM to dusk. Dogs must be leashed except in designated off-leash areas. Alcohol prohibited except by permit. Smoking and marijuana use prohibited. Overnight camping prohibited except by permit. Fishing allowed with a valid license. Internal-combustion boat engines are prohibited on the lake.

What water body is Lake Wilderness Park on?

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

Conditions right now

Checking the forecast…

Live data from the National Weather Service and USGS. Conditions at the water can differ, use your judgment.

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Managed by

Lake Wilderness Park & Conference Center

Official site · City of Maple Valley Parks & Recreation

At a glance

Land access: Open to the public
Facilities: concession stand; boat, canoe, paddleboard, and pedal boat rentals; picnic shelters (3 covered, rentable); uncovered picnic sites (5, rentable); children's playground; tennis courts; pickleball courts; softball field (Patrick's Field); boat launch (non-motorized/electric only); walking trails; adjacent golf course; adjacent arboretum; event lodge (Lake Wilderness Lodge)
Highlights: One of the few lakes in the area with an official lifeguarded public swim beach; Non-motorized/electric-only boating alongside the swim area; Connects to the regional Green-to-Cedar Rivers Trail / Cedar River Trail system; Adjacent arboretum and 18-hole golf course make it a multi-use recreation destination beyond swimming
Nearby towns: Wilderness (0.3mi); Wilderness Village (1.1mi); Maple Valley (1.5mi); Noble (1.5mi)
Coordinates: 47.3787, -122.0383