Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area
Hoodsport, Washington · on Lake Cushman
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $20 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Park operates seasonally, March 29 through November 3; kayak, SUP, and canoe rentals run Memorial Day through Labor Day, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
About Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area
Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area is the public day-use and swim-beach portion of Skokomish Park (formerly Camp Cushman) on the south shore of Lake Cushman, a 4,000+ acre reservoir on the North Fork Skokomish River near Hoodsport, Washington. The park is owned and operated by the Skokomish Indian Tribe, with the boat launch maintained by Tacoma Power, and charges a per-vehicle day-use fee; for visitors after a lake to swim in near Hoodsport, the swim beach is the draw at this swimming hole.
The site sits on the lower/southern end of Lake Cushman, a dammed reservoir ringed by forested Olympic Peninsula foothills, within a 500+ acre tribally-owned park that also contains campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat-launch ramps along 41,500 feet of freshwater shoreline.
Swimming at Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area
Camper reviews describe a designated swimming area at the park with water that is clear and warm in summer, suited to casual, family-style lake swimming from shore near the day-use/beach area rather than deep-water or current-driven swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Reached via SR 119 to Lake Cushman Road, about 7 miles northwest of Hoodsport, WA; address 7211 N Lake Cushman Rd, Hoodsport, WA 98548.
Parking: On-site vehicle access is via the paid day-use entry ($20-25 per vehicle); no separate free public parking area was identified in sourced material.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up day-use area on the south shore of Lake Cushman -- visitors park at the paid day-use lot and walk directly to the beach/swim area, no trail hike required. (A separate lake-circling trail exists per one camper review but is not needed to reach this swim spot.)
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
There is a designated swim area at the day-use beach that tribal staff maintain, and camper reviews call the water clear, warm, and family-friendly with a rope swing and volleyball nearby. However, Lake Cushman is a deep reservoir (max depth ~260 ft) with no lifeguards mentioned at any source, so depth can increase quickly just off the designated shallows -- fine for kids with adult supervision, not a wade-everywhere lake.
Parking
Paid, $20 per vehicle ($25 weekends/holidays), plus an $8 non-refundable registration fee if reserved in advance
Vehicle access to the day-use/swim area is gated behind the paid entry fee; no separate free public parking lot outside the fee area was found in any source.
Restrooms
Yes
Skokomish Park's official site lists three comfort stations park-wide plus a picnic shelter at the day-use area; the adjoining campground has flush toilets and coin-operated showers per camper reviews, though it's not confirmed those showers are open to day-use-only visitors.
Water clarity
Clear
One camper describes the water at the designated swim area as 'so clear' and warm in summer. This is based on that single firsthand account plus Lake Cushman's general reputation as a clear, glacial-fed reservoir.
Hours
Park season runs March 29 - November 3 (per aggregator source); on-site kayak/SUP/canoe rentals operate Memorial Day through Labor Day, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
On the water
Skokomish Park operates the only public boat launch on Lake Cushman (three ramps, $25 launch fee) and lists water skiing among park activities, indicating motorized boats are permitted lake-wide; no horsepower or no-wake restriction specific to Lake Cushman itself was found in official sources (a nearby, separate lake -- Lake Kokanee -- does have a 7.5-hp/no-PWC rule per Tacoma Power, but that does not apply here).
Rentals nearby
Single or tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes, by the hour or full day
Welcome Center or Day Use area within Skokomish Park, on-site at the swim/day-use beach · 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day (seasonal only)
What regulars say
Campers describe the designated swim area's water as clear and warm, and call the park generally family-friendly (rope swing, volleyball courts) but note RV sites fill up and get crowded in summer while walk-in tent sites stay quieter; nightly camping runs roughly $50.
Backstory
The park was formerly known as Camp Cushman. Lake Cushman itself was enlarged by construction of Cushman Dam No. 1, which by 1925 flooded the historic Antlers Hotel (built 1889); the lake is named for Orrington Cushman, an interpreter during 1854 treaty negotiations. The Skokomish Indian Tribe, whose people have inhabited the area since time immemorial, now owns and operates the park.
Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area: FAQ
Does Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area charge a fee?
Day use: $20 per vehicle ($25 on weekends/holidays), plus an $8 non-refundable registration fee if reserved in advance; boat launch $25 per launch (per Skokomish Park's own site).
Is Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area kid friendly?
There is a designated swim area at the day-use beach that tribal staff maintain, and camper reviews call the water clear, warm, and family-friendly with a rope swing and volleyball nearby. However, Lake Cushman is a deep reservoir (max depth ~260 ft) with no lifeguards mentioned at any source, so depth can increase quickly just off the designated shallows -- fine for kids with adult supervision, not a wade-everywhere lake.
Do I need to hike to reach Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area?
Vehicle access to the day-use/swim area is gated behind the paid entry fee; no separate free public parking lot outside the fee area was found in any source.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area?
Skokomish Park operates the only public boat launch on Lake Cushman (three ramps, $25 launch fee) and lists water skiing among park activities, indicating motorized boats are permitted lake-wide; no horsepower or no-wake restriction specific to Lake Cushman itself was found in official sources (a nearby, separate lake -- Lake Kokanee -- does have a 7.5-hp/no-PWC rule per Tacoma Power, but that does not apply here).
When is the best time to visit Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area?
Park operates seasonally, March 29 through November 3; kayak, SUP, and canoe rentals run Memorial Day through Labor Day, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
What are the rules at Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area?
Owned and operated by the Skokomish Indian Tribe; day-use requires paid vehicle entry, and the tribe can close the park to visitors during public health emergencies (per Tacoma Power's facilities page).
What water body is Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area on?
Skokomish Lake Cushman Public Day-use Area is on Lake Cushman, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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