Sunny Beach Point

Eatonville, Washington · on Alder Lake

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $10
SEASON: Best in summer

About Sunny Beach Point

Sunny Beach Point is a free, 9-acre day-use swimming and sunning area within Alder Lake Park near Eatonville, Washington, on Alder Lake, a Nisqually River reservoir managed by Tacoma Power (Tacoma Public Utilities). More developed swim beach than backwoods swimming hole, it is officially designated for swimming and open seasonally (mid-May to mid-September), with picnic and restroom facilities, roughly half a mile from the main Alder Lake Park entrance on State Highway 7. For anyone after a lake to swim in near Eatonville, this is the designated spot.

The beach sits along the northern shoreline of Alder Lake amid forested hills, with views toward Mount Rainier in the distance. The lake itself is described as calm and glassy, well suited to swimming and other flatwater recreation.

Swimming at Sunny Beach Point

A designated lake swim area with a grassy shoreline for laying out towels and blankets, suited to families and casual sunbathers rather than swimmers seeking whitewater or waterfalls; water conditions depend on reservoir level, which fluctuates seasonally.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Eatonville, travel south on State Highway 7 toward Alder Lake Park (about 10 miles); Sunny Beach Point is located approximately half a mile from the main park entrance.

Parking: Free but limited; when the day-use area fills, additional visitors may be turned away. Overnight parking is not permitted in day-use areas.

The hike in

No hike is needed to reach Sunny Beach Point itself - it's a drive-up day-use lot with a short walk to the grassy beach. For visitors who want to add a walk, Alder Lake Park separately offers an easy ~2.4-mile loop trail from the park area out to Alder Dam and back (roughly 1 hour), plus a short shoreline stroll from Stacel Point Beach elsewhere in the park - neither is required to swim at Sunny Beach Point.

Exact walk distance from the Sunny Beach Point lot to the water's edge was not published in any source found; described consistently as immediate/adjacent access.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Sunny Beach Point is an officially designated, grassy-shoreline swim beach (Alder Lake Park's swim areas are described as having shallow swimming zones and on-site playgrounds), which favors families. However it sits on a fluctuating Tacoma Power reservoir: the park's own safety notices warn of cold-water shock risk (50-60F water) and unmarked hazards like floating debris, submerged rock outcrops, and stumps when lake level drops, so supervision is warranted rather than unrestricted play.

Parking

Free

Sunny Beach Point has its own free day-use parking lot about 0.5 mile from Alder Lake Park's main entrance on SR 7. Parking is limited and the lot can fill on busy summer days, turning away additional visitors. (Note: the separate main Alder Lake Park day-use/boat-launch area charges $10/vehicle on Fri-Sun and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day; that fee is not documented as applying to the Sunny Beach Point lot itself.)

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms are on-site at Sunny Beach Point. The broader Alder Lake Park day-use area also has additional restrooms, vault toilets, and a dump station.

Water clarity

Mostly clear

A travel-article description of Sunny Beach Point characterizes the water as 'flat, glassy' and elsewhere describes Alder Lake overall as having 'blue, flat water.' As a managed reservoir, Tacoma Power's own guidance cautions that clarity/level can change with river flow, so conditions may vary by season and lake level rather than being uniformly clear.

Hours

Seasonal: open May 15 through September 15, lake level permitting (winter closure roughly Dec 20-Jan 1 for the broader park). No separate daily open/close time found; park-wide quiet hours are 10pm-6am and overnight parking is not allowed in day-use areas.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsMotorboats

Restrictions: Alder Lake Park (the broader reservoir) has two boat launches, one no-wake zone, and two designated non-motorized-only areas; the rest of the lake is open to motorized watercraft, subject to lake-level restrictions. Sunny Beach Point itself is designated as a swim/sunning beach rather than a launch point - nearest boat launches are elsewhere in the park.

No horsepower limit or additional watercraft rule detail (e.g., specific no-wake boundaries) was published beyond the general zone description.

Sunny Beach Point: FAQ

Does Sunny Beach Point charge a fee?

Free day-use area (no charge specifically for Sunny Beach Point); the separate main Alder Lake day-use area charges $10 for parking on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Is Sunny Beach Point kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Sunny Beach Point?

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

Where do I park for Sunny Beach Point?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sunny Beach Point?

No horsepower limit or additional watercraft rule detail (e.g., specific no-wake boundaries) was published beyond the general zone description.

When is the best time to visit Sunny Beach Point?

Open May 15 through September 15, lake level permitting; summer is peak season.

What are the rules at Sunny Beach Point?

No glass bottles allowed in swim areas; pets are not allowed on swim beaches and must be leashed elsewhere; alcohol is prohibited in day-use areas; quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; no overnight parking in day-use or boat launch areas.

What water body is Sunny Beach Point on?

Sunny Beach Point is on Alder Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.