Sacajawea Historical State Park
Pasco, Washington · on Lake Wallula · Sacajawea
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Sacajawea Historical State Park
Sacajawea Historical State Park is a 267-acre Washington State Parks day-use site in Pasco, at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers (within the Lake Wallula pool behind McNary Dam). The park's official page lists swimming among its water activities at a sandy beach, a state-park swimming hole alongside boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding, plus a Lewis and Clark history museum, making it one of Pasco's established places to swim.
The park sits on a flat, open point of land at the meeting of two major Columbia Basin rivers in the arid Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington. It includes lawns, picnic shelters, a paved section of the Sacagawea Heritage Trail bike path, and the Sacajawea Interpretive Center museum, in addition to the riverside beach and boat launch.
Swimming at Sacajawea Historical State Park
The official park page lists swimming as a permitted activity at a sandy beach along the river confluence, used alongside boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Sources found do not give specific details on water depth, current strength, or clarity at the swim area.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park address is 2503 Sacajawea Park Road, Pasco, WA 99301, at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers on the edge of Pasco; no further step-by-step driving directions were found in sourced material.
Parking: On-site parking is available, including accessible/ADA parking; no capacity or crowding details were found.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up day-use park: the parking lot sits adjacent to the lawns, picnic shelters, and sandy beach, so reaching the water is a short (under 5-minute) walk with no trail required. The paved Sacagawea Heritage Trail begins at the park, but that's a river-side biking/walking path connecting Tri-Cities communities, not a route you need to hike to reach the swim spot.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy day-use beach with gentle lawn/picnic surroundings, but the swim area sits right at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers (backed up into the Lake Wallula/McNary Dam pool); no lifeguards, roped-off shallow zone, or posted depth markers were found in any source, so currents/drop-offs near the confluence are an unknown for small kids.
Parking
Paid, $10 one-day Discover Pass (or $45 annual pass)
On-site parking lot includes accessible/ADA parking; a Discover Pass is required to park anywhere in the day-use area (per official WA State Parks page). No separate parking fee beyond the Discover Pass; boaters using the ramp pay an additional $7/day launch fee.
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible restrooms are listed among the park's on-site facilities (official WA State Parks amenity list); exact distance from the restrooms to the beach itself was not specified in sources found.
Hours
8 a.m. to dusk (spring-fall); park is closed entirely November 1 through March 31
On the water
Official park page and Visit Tri-Cities tourism site both list boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding as permitted, with an on-site boat ramp ($7/day watercraft launch fee, separate from the Discover Pass). The park is a stop on the Northwest Discovery Water Trail with a first-come, first-served primitive campsite reserved for paddlers. No no-wake, electric-only, or carry-in-only restriction was found in sourced material.
Rentals nearby
Listed by Visit Tri-Cities' kayaking page as one of three Richland-area outfitters offering kayak rental and lessons; however, the business's own website homepage describes it primarily as a bicycle shop (sales, service, and bike rentals) and does not mention kayaks or watercraft, so the kayak-rental offering could not be independently confirmed.
701 George Washington Way, Richland, WA (Tri-Cities area, across the river from Sacajawea State Park) · Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm, Sun closed
OATIS Outdoor Adventure Rentals
Named by Visit Tri-Cities' kayaking page as a Richland-based outfitter offering kayak rental and lessons; a dedicated business website could not be located to confirm current offerings, prices, or hours.
Richland, WA (exact address not found)
Kayak Bateman
Named by Visit Tri-Cities' kayaking page as a Richland-area outfitter offering kayak rental and lessons (name suggests a connection to Bateman Island on the Columbia in Richland); a dedicated business website could not be located to confirm current offerings, prices, or hours.
Richland, WA (near Bateman Island; exact address not found)
Backstory
The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped at this site on October 16, 1805. An initial one-acre donation in 1927 led to the site becoming a Washington state park in 1931. WPA (Works Progress Administration) crews built the park museum and three other buildings in 1938; the site now houses the Sacajawea Interpretive Center.
Sacajawea Historical State Park: FAQ
Does Sacajawea Historical State Park charge a fee?
Discover Pass required for parking: $10 one-day or $45 annual pass. A $7 daily watercraft launch fee applies for boaters using the boat ramp.
Is Sacajawea Historical State Park kid friendly?
Sandy day-use beach with gentle lawn/picnic surroundings, but the swim area sits right at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers (backed up into the Lake Wallula/McNary Dam pool); no lifeguards, roped-off shallow zone, or posted depth markers were found in any source, so currents/drop-offs near the confluence are an unknown for small kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Sacajawea Historical State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sacajawea Historical State Park?
On-site parking lot includes accessible/ADA parking; a Discover Pass is required to park anywhere in the day-use area (per official WA State Parks page). No separate parking fee beyond the Discover Pass; boaters using the ramp pay an additional $7/day launch fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sacajawea Historical State Park?
Official park page and Visit Tri-Cities tourism site both list boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding as permitted, with an on-site boat ramp ($7/day watercraft launch fee, separate from the Discover Pass). The park is a stop on the Northwest Discovery Water Trail with a first-come, first-served primitive campsite reserved for paddlers. No no-wake, electric-only, or carry-in-only restriction was found in sourced material.
When is the best time to visit Sacajawea Historical State Park?
Park is open summer hours 8 a.m. to dusk and is closed entirely November 1 through March 31, so swimming/beach use is a spring-through-fall (April-October) activity.
What are the rules at Sacajawea Historical State Park?
Dogs allowed on leash; alcohol strictly prohibited in all areas; horses not allowed; fires only in designated areas (subject to seasonal burn bans); park advises avoiding contact with wildlife due to avian flu concerns.
What water body is Sacajawea Historical State Park on?
Sacajawea Historical State Park is on Lake Wallula, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
