Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach
Everett, Washington · on Silver Lake · Thornton A. Sullivan Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach
Thornton A. Sullivan Park is a 35-acre City of Everett park on the southern shore of Silver Lake, built around a sand beach with a designated swimming area. It is a developed, drive-up city park with a paved lakeside trail, disc golf course, picnic shelters, and boat/paddlecraft access rather than a backcountry swim hole.
The park wraps the southern arc of Silver Lake in a suburban/residential part of Everett, Washington, with a 2-mile paved path circling the lake, mowed lawns, a playground, and multiple picnic shelters (Camp Patterson, Silver Hall, Silver Lake Beach, Silver Lake Dock) set among the waterfront.
Swimming at Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach
The city designates a specific swim area at the sand beach; visitor accounts describe pleasantly warm water with a gradual, sandy-bottomed entry that is shallow and suitable for children and casual swimmers rather than distance or open-water swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park and beach are located at 11405 Silver Lake Road, Everett, WA 98208, with on-site parking and the swim beach accessible directly from the parking/picnic area.
Parking: Free on-site parking in a gravel lot; described by visitors as dusty when dry and muddy after rain, with limited availability on weekends and holidays when the park is busy.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- under 1 minute walk from the parking lot to the beach; roughly 45-60 min to walk the full 2-mile lake loop
Difficulty: easy (flat, paved, ADA-accessible loop) if walking the lake path for its own sake
No hike is needed to reach the water, the sand swim beach sits directly off the parking/picnic area. A separate paved 2-mile loop path circles the entire lake (with some unpaved wooded side trails) for visitors who want a walk, but it is a recreational amenity, not an access route to the swimming area.
This is a drive-up city park beach, not a backcountry swim hole.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy-bottomed swim beach has a gradual, shallow entry that visitor reviews call good for young kids, and the city loans free life jackets on-site; however there are no lifeguards on duty (city's own "swim at own risk" framing) and one visitor review noted loaner life jackets were not actually available when they checked, so supervise closely.
Parking
Free
Free on-site gravel parking lot at 11405 Silver Lake Rd. Dusty when dry and muddy after rain; fills up on summer weekends and holidays, so arriving before ~11am on peak days is recommended by a local guide.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms located in the park (near Silver Hall/picnic shelter area); portable toilets have been used as a stand-in when the main restroom building is under renovation.
Hours
Park open 6 a.m. to dusk daily, year-round.
On the water
Restrictions: Boat motors (gas or electric) limited to 8 hp max, intended to keep the lake quiet and swim-friendly; no lifeguard on the designated swim area so paddlers should give it a wide berth.
City-run park allows launching personal kayaks/paddleboards/small motorboats from the shore/dock in addition to the on-site rental kiosk.
Rentals nearby
Self-serve kayak and stand-up paddleboard rental via kiosk/mobile app; fleet at this location is 6 single kayaks and 2 tandem kayaks, each with paddles, PFDs (various sizes), and a whistle included
Prices: Single kayak: $19.99/1hr, $29.99/2hr, $49.99/full day (+$14.99/extra hr); Tandem kayak: $39.99/1hr, $59.99/2hr, $79.99/full day (+$29.99/extra hr); full day = 8 hours or until sunset
Kiosk at the Silver Lake swim beach inside Thornton A. Sullivan Park, 11405 Silver Lake Rd, Everett, WA 98208 · Open April through October, 6 AM to sunset daily; self-serve so no staffed hours or reservations required (scan a QR code at the kiosk and rent through the company's mobile app)
What regulars say
Visitors repeatedly call the park "extremely busy" and crowded on summer weekends and suggest going in the evening or before about 11am to beat the crowds. The beach's gradual sandy-bottom entry is praised as good for young and casual swimmers. The gravel parking lot is described as dusty in dry weather and muddy after rain, with limited space at peak times, and at least one visitor cautioned to double-check that the free loaner life jackets are actually in stock before relying on them.
Backstory
The park is named after a longtime Everett parks commissioner (Thornton A. Sullivan) and has been developed in phases as the city's primary lake-access park.
Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach: FAQ
Does Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach charge a fee?
Free day-use admission and free parking; picnic shelters and Silver Hall (40-person event space) are separately reservable, though specific reservation fees were not found.
Is Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach kid friendly?
Sandy-bottomed swim beach has a gradual, shallow entry that visitor reviews call good for young kids, and the city loans free life jackets on-site; however there are no lifeguards on duty (city's own "swim at own risk" framing) and one visitor review noted loaner life jackets were not actually available when they checked, so supervise closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach?
Free on-site gravel parking lot at 11405 Silver Lake Rd. Dusty when dry and muddy after rain; fills up on summer weekends and holidays, so arriving before ~11am on peak days is recommended by a local guide.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach?
City-run park allows launching personal kayaks/paddleboards/small motorboats from the shore/dock in addition to the on-site rental kiosk.
When is the best time to visit Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach?
Summer, based on descriptions of it being especially popular/busy during warm months; park hours year-round are 6 a.m. to dusk.
What are the rules at Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach?
No lifeguards on duty (swim at own risk); city recommends swimming with a buddy and wearing Coast Guard-approved life jackets, especially for children and weak swimmers, and life jackets are available to borrow on-site; boat motors limited to 8 hp (electric or gas); fishing requires a valid Washington State license; dogs must be leashed and are not permitted on the beach or in the lake.
What water body is Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach on?
Thornton A. Sullivan Silver Lake Park and Beach is on Silver Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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