Matthews Beach Park
Seattle, Washington · on Lake Washington · Matthews Beach Park
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Matthews Beach Park
Matthews Beach Park is a 22-acre Seattle Parks and Recreation lakefront park on the west shore of Lake Washington in the Matthews Beach neighborhood, widely described as one of Seattle's largest freshwater bathing beaches. Its swimming hole is lifeguarded in summer, with an offshore diving platform, and is monitored for bacteria as part of the regional public health beach-testing program.
The park sits on Lake Washington at Ponitac Bay, bordered on the west by the Burke-Gilman Trail; Thornton Creek empties into the lake at the park's southern end. It is a flat, developed urban lakefront park with sandy swimming beach, lawns, and trail access rather than a backcountry or wilderness setting.
Swimming at Matthews Beach Park
Open-water lake swimming off a sandy beach on Lake Washington. In summer months the beach is staffed by lifeguards and an offshore diving platform/raft is anchored for swimmers, making it suited to casual and family swimming rather than a remote or rugged swim.
The hike in
Matthews Beach Park is a flat, drive-up urban lakefront park - parking lot sits immediately adjacent to the beach and lawn, effectively a short walk (under 5 minutes) with no trail hike needed to reach the water.
The Burke-Gilman Trail (paved multi-use path) runs along the park's western edge and is a through-route for cyclists/walkers, not a required approach trail to the swimming beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Sandy, shallow-entry lake beach with lifeguards on duty in summer and a designated children's play area/playground adjacent to the swimming beach; an offshore diving platform/raft exists for older kids/teens wanting deeper water. No steep cliffs or currents at the swim beach itself.
Parking
Lot
On-site public parking lot at the park (accessed off NE 93rd St near Sand Point Way NE / 49th Ave NE); no fee or payment-method information could be confirmed in any source checked, so cost status is left unknown rather than assumed free.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms, changing rooms, and showers on-site at the beach; per one visitor-guide snippet these facilities are open seasonally (summer).
On the water
Restrictions: Launch is a hand-carry-only sandbar/beach launch (one of ~20 official Seattle hand-carry boat launches), located south of the swimming area at the mouth of Thornton Creek - there is no trailer boat ramp at this park, so it favors small paddle craft over trailered motorboats.
One aggregator page (Open Water Data) additionally lists sailing/rowing/powerboating as supported activities on Lake Washington generally, but this appears to be templated lake-wide boilerplate rather than Matthews-Beach-specific fact, so it was not relied on for the allowed list above.
Rentals nearby
Sailboats (multiple classes) and stand-up paddleboards, including oversized 'Mega SUP' group boards; paddle-craft rentals referenced in program materials
Prices: Paddling sessions (2 hr): $45 single / $110 for a 5-session pack; Sailing/windsurfing sessions (2.5 hr): $55 single / $195 for 5; season passes from $245 (adult paddling) to $330 (adult unlimited) and $500 (family unlimited)
Magnuson Park, 7861 62nd Ave NE, Seattle - on Lake Washington roughly 1.5 miles south of Matthews Beach Park · Rental/open-boating hours (through Labor Day): Fri-Mon 1pm-sunset, Sat-Sun also 11am-sunset; office hours Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
What regulars say
Visitors describe it as commonly visited as a stop along the Burke-Gilman Trail rather than a standalone destination, note it as one of Seattle's largest freshwater bathing beaches, and mention dogs must be leashed (most other Seattle beaches ban dogs outright, making this a relatively dog-friendly exception). The hand-carry boat launch sits south of the swim area at the Thornton Creek mouth, separating paddle-craft traffic from the swimming zone.
Backstory
Named for pioneer John G. Matthews, who homesteaded the site in the 1880s. In the 1940s the site was used by Pan American World Airways as offices and a dock for its transpacific 'Clipper Ship' flying boats. The park land was acquired (initial acreage) in 1951 and incorporated into the Seattle Parks and Recreation system that year.
Matthews Beach Park: FAQ
Is Matthews Beach Park kid friendly?
Sandy, shallow-entry lake beach with lifeguards on duty in summer and a designated children's play area/playground adjacent to the swimming beach; an offshore diving platform/raft exists for older kids/teens wanting deeper water. No steep cliffs or currents at the swim beach itself.
Do I need to hike to reach Matthews Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Matthews Beach Park?
On-site public parking lot at the park (accessed off NE 93rd St near Sand Point Way NE / 49th Ave NE); no fee or payment-method information could be confirmed in any source checked, so cost status is left unknown rather than assumed free.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Matthews Beach Park?
One aggregator page (Open Water Data) additionally lists sailing/rowing/powerboating as supported activities on Lake Washington generally, but this appears to be templated lake-wide boilerplate rather than Matthews-Beach-specific fact, so it was not relied on for the allowed list above.
When is the best time to visit Matthews Beach Park?
Summer (peak swim season, when the beach is lifeguarded and the diving platform is deployed).
What are the rules at Matthews Beach Park?
Water quality is tested weekly for bacteria (and algae toxins) during the swim season (roughly mid-May through mid-September) as part of the King County/Public Health beach monitoring program; the beach can be temporarily closed to swimming when bacteria levels exceed safety thresholds.
What water body is Matthews Beach Park on?
Matthews Beach Park is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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