Cruising Lakes Washington and Union
ejli...@comcast.net
I'd offered Paul (who is taking delivery of a new F22) some suggestions about Lake Washington boating activities. This prompted our Northwest Multihull Association membership chair, Andrew, to ask me for a list of things to do on Lk Wa. His request was serendipitous in that I live on the lake and I also grew up on it. I’ve been messing around in boats on those shores for all my 65 years. So some of these ideas may be off the wall. As I wrote I decided why not offer it to all the NWMA members. Trouble is it kept getting longer. I finally got burned out so there may be some mistakes or typos but I am done…….. for now.
So here is the lengthy ramble of my thoughts on cruising Lakes Washington and Union. There are some personal experiences to add color and for my own reminiscing indulgence. The effort became a bit of a memory lane for me. Its in 2 parts. The first is a list of bullet points with some that correspond to the numbers on the attached map. Some of these points may not make sense unless you read the following narrative. The second part is a long narrative that I wrote first, as I slipped into memory lane. Generally it follows counter clockwise around Lake Washington, watch your mast clearance under the I-90 floating bridge!!!. At the end are some summarized lists and web sites that might be handy. I’ve organized this by the categories Andrew brought up. If you are in Renton be advised you only have 29’ clearance if you return on the west side of Mercer Island under the I-90 Floating Bridge. If you are planning a few days: Summer winds are usually north, light or nonexistent in the morning then they can come up slowly at 10 or 12 pm but occasionally they can start right out at 10 or 15 knots early on. They rarely get above 12 or so. Best wind is north of 520. It can be pretty light south of that. Howver the east channel in south Bellevue can compress stronger winds under the I-90 bridge. Cloudy south winds can be more steady, or not, and sometimes strong.
Keep in mind that Seattle public docks have a 2 hour moorage limit and boat ramps have a 15 minute limit though some landings require not leaving the dock and of course there are many non motorized landings. Also some docks are not protected from boat or wind waves and some are higher piers with challenging tie off issues (52 and maybe 51).
This is a great interactive map of small Seattle street end parks if you want to explore by kayak, bike or car: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Boating/ShorelineAccessList.pdf You can probably drag a kayak or paddle board to many of these, although this is only legal in designated areas as show in this site; http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Boating/ShorelineAccessList.pdf. This site has 2 significant categories: The largest is for “hand carried non motorized boats”. The other allows motorized boats. This is a list for all Seattle Parks and legally you can’t even launch a paddle board except in these designated areas, (yeah, like thats gonna happen). It would be interesting to visit some of these small streetend parklets and one way would be by putting a couple kayaks (“hand carried boat”) on your nets. I think some of the places outside of Lake Union you could get away with anchoring for a few minutes and toss the kayaks in to paddle around before the neighborhood posse catches on to you. Unfortunately the Harbor Code says there is no anchoring within the Seattle City Limits except for Andrews Bay in South Lake Washington. This Harbor Code was written in the 40’s and 50’s when squatting was rampant all around the city waterways and of course there were no holding tanks. There is a desire amongst some city employees to update it to be more lenient but there are budgets and inertia to contend with.
Here is the short list of bullet points:
Ship Canal, Locks thru the Montlake cut. Starting at Shilshole
- Bridge Clearances: All ship canal bridges are ~40-46’ except Fremont and I-90 floating bridge which are ~29’
- Ballard Locks is a fun place. You could tie up at Shilshole’s gas dock and walk the ~1 mile there.
1 Ballard pier at the foot of 24th St.
- Fishermans Terminal. Restaurant, Fireboat
2 14th St Boat Ramp & mini dock
3 11th Ave Street end, very rough but convenient to Fred Meyer if you forget something
- Careful of the low Fremont Bridge
5 Cruise down the west shore of Lk Union to S. Lk Union Park. Dicy whether you can tie up on the western beach float
- Chandlers Cove. Lots of restaurants. You’ll have to look but I think they have tie ups for patrons
6 Heading north from Chandlers cove there is the old City Light Steam plant. This operated in the 1980s, Zymogentics now
7 Tie up at Lynn St. Hirise condos. Groceries, Julia’s Cafe!
8 Roanoke Reef point of interest House boats of course. My place is 2 doors north
- Across the way is Gas Works park. A small boat might get away for a few minutes with anchoring on the eastern shallows
9 Sunnyside boat ramp next to our club meeting place. mini dock tie up but what for?
10 Pocock Rowing center, mini park, Huge Nordstrom boat houses
11 Ivars Salmon House yum with a nice dock
- Portage Bay, UW, Carl Buchan’s house boat, Seattle Yacht Club, Jensens wood boat shop
- Into the Montlake Cut
12 Mooring Buoys on the SE end of the cut Might be gone with all the construction. Arboretum or Foster Island walk/kayak
13 Belvoir mini park in an out of the way place on NE Union Bay. Montlake dump wetlands walk
- Go north at the end of the canal past Laurelhurst beach & high dive and Bill’s birthplace and Windemere of Real Estate fame
14 Denny mansion big, white, high up on the hill. Now a Moonie (Unification Church) spot
- Magnuson Park Boat ramp and short term dock Jet skis or a nice stretch you legs spot
- Continue north around the point to Sail Sand Point
15 Matthews Beach and my place for a pit stop or playground stop for kids NE 97th St you cant miss my F31 unless I’m out cruising
16 Save the Beach point of interest NE 130th St
17 Huge glacier erratic boulder. Time for a geology glaciology lesson
18 Lyon Creek Park and north end of the lake possible anchor and tie up for a walk or ice cream
- Log Boom Park and Kenmore has 2 possible tie ups. Food and walks are near
19 Sammamish Slough and abandoned jungle canals. It deserves its own day on a kayak. Hydro races of yore down its length
Now go south along the east shore, give Arrowhead Point a wide berth, its shallow out 100’+ or so.
20 Big St Edwards Park a must stop if you like hiking in the woods and a bit of history
21 OO Denny Park and a great walk across the street with some history and the former largest Douglas Fir in King County
- Just after Denny Park you will cruise over a sunken ghost forest but you won’t see it.
22 Around the point eastward towards Juanita Bay you will cruise past member Jim’s cool Crowther 42 cat if he’s not out cruising
23 Juanita Bay Anchor and go ashore in the shallows to the north. food, playground park, wet land walk to the east, then south
24 Stay clear of the piling on the SE exit of the bay marking shallow water ~100 feet off shore
25 Kiwanis undeveloped park you could probably anchor and kayak ashore but not much point
26 KIrkland tie up for a fee or you could anchor. Shops, ice cream, food, park, sometimes a musician, nice Sausalito-like vibe
27 Beach House Cafe south of town ~1/4 mile next to a park. A dock for patrons
28 Carillon Point development. moorage, shops and food maybe. Posh. Site of old Lk Washington Ship Yards.
29 Yarrow Bay and 3 Points area of Bellevue cool to poke into the shallow wild lands of Yarrow Bay, with surprises, this is where the old money is. Stan Sayers house, (you know Stan Sayers hydro plane pits SE Seattle)
30 Continue south around the points to Bills house
31 Medina park no landing
32 Windows and Dinosaur houses must see for kids See narrative
33 Meydenbauer Bay Public Dock if not obscured by construction, shopping old and new Bellevue, parks and playground.
34 Exit Meydenbauer Bay and head south past Chism Beach
35 Go across the channel (west) to Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island. Free moorage and interesting buildings and park.
36 Go back across the channel to see Beaux Arts Beach, my childhood home. And home to Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
37 Go south under the I-90 Bridge to the Mercer Slough. Anchor and explore with the kids.
- Newport Shores Canals are just west of the slough. Might be fun to motor thru and gawk at houses
- The further you go south if you have more than 29’ mast height the more you will be stuck and have to come back the same way as the I-90 floating bridge stupidly has only 29’ clearance. Maybe its a plot by power boaters to keep Andrews Bay all to themselves
- I am less familiar with anything beyond this but I have been by them all at least once
38 Newport Beach Park. On the east shore. Probably could anchor here
39 continue down the east shore to Pauls Seahawk playground. Probably no public access
40 Across the channel on Mercer Island is Clarke Beach. There is public moorage.
41 Coulon Park at the SE end of the lake. Looks like a good amount of dockage and nice park and near Renton for food maybe
42 Go west from Coulon to the end of the Boeing runway just to see whats there and watch some planes. Probably no access
43 Now head north up the west side of the lake to Atlantic City boat ramp. Short term but busy dock, food, park
44. Continue north around Pritchard Island to check out the park on the north side. Probably no access or anchoring, in Seattle again
45. Kline Gallard Hospice not sure why I put this in here but they seem to be nice grounds. Maybe I’m thinking for later……
46. Martha Washington Park. Hand carry boat access only
47 Head east across the channel to see Pauls house. Google shows a squarish white vessel in front 6451 W. Mercer Way
48. Seward Park (the best, a must stop) and your only fursure anchorage in Andrews Bay to the north but I hear it is busy
49 Go north to Lakewood Marina. Supposedly public tie ups for 30 minutes
50 Stan Sayers Pits (see 29) boat ramp, moorage and nice promenade and big Genesee Park
51 Go North under the bridge clearance 29’ I think!!!!!! to Leschi with moorage per website but not sure how dicy it is
52 Go North some more to gander at Posh Seattle Tennis Club
53 Near the 520 bridge is Madison Park Pier. Again legal moorage but might be dicy and or bouncy. shops, food, park
Ok so read the following narrative for a few more details. You are on your own despite what I say.
Ship Canal, Locks thru the Montlake cut. Starting at Shilshole
Bridge Clearances: My F31 does not fit under any bridges on the way to Lk Wa. The Railroad bridge is about ~42’ at its highest depending on tide. It sometimes stays down for extended times waiting for another train, you have to be patient for that. The others are all low to mid 40 feet. Watch out for the Freemont Bridge its about 30’. The I-90 floating bridge is only 29’.
Shilshole gas dock for has temp moorage for a fee To the north. Golden Gardens park with nice long beach strolls or trails up the hill in the woods, Little Coney hamburgers etc…. To the south West Marine and few more eateries and for a half day walk in the woods Discovery Park is accessed via the locks a ~1/2 mile away.
Ballard locks: Its a walk from Shilshole ~1 mile. Probably less from the Ballard dock #1 Nice botanical gardens, fish ladder and museum. We’ve spent several hours here with the kids before. Years ago I’ve seen boats anchor amongst the buoys in the bay just west of the railroad bridge. You could have dinghied to the park and marginal beach (muddy and steep at low tides) on the south side by the fish ladder. Not legal now I think
In the locks: Have 4 - 50’ lines one for each corner tied off and ready to go. They will direct you. Try for the small locks to the south they are 2-4 times faster. Sometimes commercial traffic gets to cut in line. My F31 has about 18” on either side so pay attention going in. You may not notice that the width gradually tapers thinner as you enter but you do have about 25.5’ width at the narrowest.
Exit the locks:
Ballard Pier #1 : Just inside the locks to the north at the foot of 24th Ave. Higher dock level. Probably 2 hr limit. I have seen boats tied here but there are a homeless hanging around. I’m not sure I’d leave a boat unattended. Too bad.
Fishermans Terminal: I don’t know if they have temp tie ups. Check out the fire boat, the big one is downtown by the ferry dock though. A little further walk to Discovery park ~ 1+ mile. A restaurant, Chinooks last time I checked.
14th St Boat ramp #2. On the north side, just east of the Ballard bridge, 15 minute tie ups but you’d better hang around because the dock is small and needed for launching boats but you can drop off a crew to chase supplies at Fred Meyer or Trader Joes a couple hundred yards away. Excellent Stoneway Hardware a little further up on 15th Ave.
11th Ave Street-end #3: Undeveloped. Has a few pilings and is pretty rough to land a dink or nose into but I have clambered onto the pier of The Canal Boat Yard to the east to grab something at Fred Meyer just 100 yards away. You might be able to hold onto the pier or just do circles til your crew returns from the store.
Fremont bridge further east is much lower than the others, 29’.
As you go out under the Aurora bridge, (built 1932) on the north side there is a nice parklet and hand carried boat dock but it is noisy under there. Afterwards are a smattering of house boats, ship yards and marinas on either side.
Lake Union: In years past I’ve seen boats anchored for a few hours on the NE side of Gas Works Park but now a days you are at the mercy of do gooder watch dogs in towering condos with earnest binoculars permanently strapped to their necks and or the Harbor Patrol.
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Along the west shore of Lk Union going south. A few house boats, street end parks, marinas and a couple restaurants along Westlake Ave. There is only one place for short term public tie ups. It is on the AGC building #4 just north of S. Lk Union Park. I think its small and easy to miss.
South Lake Union Park #5. This a wonderful place. The site listed above says 2 hour tie up on “floats to be located along the shoreline, 2 hr limit” I haven’t seen but one small float and it is in shallow water but a multihull could use it. Nice park to explore and its the new digs of the very good Museum of History and Industry. Also has the Wooden Boat Center and many historical boats, including the 1909 Duwamish, the most powerful fireboat in the world until 2003. As a rookie fireman I was assigned to check the bilges (and wonder at the machinery) every Sunday as it was in reserve status by that time. It pumps 22,800 gallons per minute. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duwamish_(fireboat). It is in need of money to keep it afloat. I saw it operating in ~2010 by Magnuson Park. Amazing display of flying water.
Moving to the SE corner of the lake is Chandlers cove with numerous boat accessible restaurants: Daniels Broiler & Dukes come to mind. There are a couple green spots to let the kids run around but really South Lake Union or Gasworks parks are the best for this.
Next on the east shore is the old Lake Union Steam plant of Seattle City Light #6. There was a time in the 1970s or 80s where this was pressed into service to generate electricity once again. It is now part of Zymogenetics where, during their renovation, they reduced the smoke stacks to about half the original size due to neighbor complaints. There is a city dock where the cooling water outflowed but legally only hand carried boats can tie up. Most of these little parklets you used to be able to, and I’m sure you still can, quickly nose in and drop off or pick up crew unless its a busy summer weekend or some self important busybody is milling around hoping to uphold the law, (I hope I’m not too cynical for the reader, I’m just an old curmudgeon and longing for Emmet Watson’s “Lesser Seattle” a jab at the common nomenclature of the day “Greater Seattle”). Just north of that is an old marina that use to have a couple cool, old interesting boats, look out for them.
As you continue North along the East shore you will see the massive dry docks of old school Lake Union Dry Dock. This is what all of lake Union looked like in the early 20th century. When I lived on a house boat in 1971 there were many more such industrial businesses on this quickly gentrifying lake. Just north of Lake Union Dry Dock is what I think is an undeveloped shoreline with a floating boat shed or two for a rowing club where you could land a dingy but its dodgy. Just north of that is the US Coast Guard piers. There was a large building on the SE pier that had massive fire in around 2000 and was never rebuilt. Just north of that, before the house boats, is Terry Pettus Street end park. Terry was a strong proponent of house boats when they were seriously threatened by urban renewal in the 1970s.
Moving north are a bunch of cute quirky old school house boats amongst newer ones. Beyond that just before the large high rise condo built over the water is Lynn Street end park. If you can land a “hand carried boat” you could walk 4 blocks up Lynn Street, turn left on Eastlake, walk past the former biker bar Eastlake Zoo and next door to eat at the 14 Carrot Cafe. This used to be, in the 1970s and 80s, Julia’s 14 Carrot Cafe. Owned by none other than our own Julia Miller, (married to David who built their F33). There is a small public dock #7 attached to the hirise condo that you can tie up to to get groceries just across the street at the famous Pete’s Market or also to walk up to see Julia’s old cafe. The condo hirise was built before there was a permanent moratorium put on-over-water structures in the 1970s by the State Shorelines Act. There are a few more of these that I know of including just south of Alki Point and at the foot of Madison Street visible from the 520 bridge. Interestingly I know of two houses that were built over the water on piers in the 2000’s on NE Lake Washington on Riviera Place NE.
North of the hirise are more house boats and small marinas and the location of the old Hungry Turtle restaurant over looking the lake just south of the leafy Roanoke Street end park. It is now a caterer and cooking school. Too bad as it was a nice restaurant.
Just north of Roanoke street is the notorious Roanoke Reef #8, speaking of over water structures. It is a newer house boat moorage but for a couple decades it was a big ugly half built, seemingly abandoned concrete pier. This project was begun in the late 1960s or early 70’s just as or just after the moratorium was instituted. It was also going to be a huge hirise condo but a lawsuit was begun to stop it because of the Shorelines act and view blocking issues of the neighbors. As I remember it, the classic bull headed, its my property and I can do anything I want, type developer went ahead and built the pier without final permits and was eventually stopped by court action. Of course it languished in the courts and bankruptcy and was an eyesore and statement of the hubris of developers of the era and the final triumph of the rule of law. Eventually it was all settled and developed into nice house boat moorage in the ~1980s. Just north of Roanoke Reef is 2727 Fairview Ave E, a moorage of boats on the outside with old house boats more inshore and on the shore end partially built over the water is a large reddish 2 story wood building. This is the old Seattle yacht club building that was barged to this site and placed on the piers. Don’t ask me how they did that but it was done prior to 1970. I know the owner of that property because…….
Just next door at 2731 Fairview I own a houseboat! My dad bought it in 1971 for $6000. My sister and I inherited it and I just bought out her share. It is not as glamorous as it might seem as I don’t own the land/water. It is a humble tumble down 1930s thing moored up against the bulkhead with the unattractive parking lot 5’ from the kitchen window. But it is a cool place to live which I did all thru the 1970’s even if the old landlord is not a pleasant person. However, all is good when sitting on the waterside deck with a peakaboo view out to the lake.
I’ll impart a little Floating Home history to you. My moorage is one of the few left that is not self owned or “condoed”. I pay for moorage just like any pleasure boat at a marina but I am at the whim of the landlord. Thus its assessed value is not much, I’m not sure I could even sell it for that as the landlord will never give a lease and with no security who would by it? It would be like buying a mobile home with no assurance the trailer court won’t be sold the next week to a condo developer. My CPA brother in law thinks it could even have negative value as disposal cost would be astronomical. A floating home is not real estate and is considered personal property like a mobile home. In fact unlike a car or real estate there is no title to floating homes. The only security I, and the few other landlord dependent house boat owners have is the City’s Floating Home Ordinance. Remember Terry Pettus I mentioned earlier? In the 60’s and 70’s house boats were being evicted by landlords with no place to go. Several lost everything and had to pay to dismantle their house boats. Terry and others organized and managed to pass the ordinance to protect this rare form of housing. The owner can evict me only under strict guidelines where she herself wants to occupy my spot. This is not likely as she has a much nicer 2 story house boat at the end of the dock which you will see as you pass by. It is the largest house boat on the lake and was build by her father in ~1970. Since the 1970’s house boats can no longer be built this large.
OK, continuing on past my place at the foot of Hamlin St. is another mini park where you can nose into. You can see my house boat from there to the south, its the rust colored one with blue trim.
Just north of that is the newest house boat moorage in many many years. It was the old home of the Wards Cove fishing fleet. The slips were asking ~$700K in around 2010. You’ll know where it is as there is a millionaires row of 50 to 80’ gin palace powerboats med moored next door.
Just north of that, tucked in close to shore, is Fairview Park where you can tie up a hand carried boat. Nice medium sized park.
Continuing North theres rowing clubs, marinas house boats. Across the way is Gas Works park and the ship yards and marinas towards the Aurora bridge. In the early 70’s one could climb all over those gas works towers. Ask me how I know. A small boat might get away for a few minutes with anchoring on the eastern shallows
As you come to the north end of the lake there is the Sunnyside boat ramp #9 next to our club meeting place the Puget Sound Yacht Club. You can tie up there for 15 minutes but again its a busy ramp and you risk getting someone’s nose out of joint. Not much to see anyway unless you visit Gas Works at a full sprint.
On the East side agian are two large covered and enclosed boat houses close under the I-5 ship canal bridge. This once was a thriving boat yard with a large marine ways for haulout, (still visible on the north side). It was bought by the Nordstrom brothers to house their huge motor yachts, much to the consternation of the boat yard lessee. Directly under the Ship Canal Bridge is a nice parklet and dock next to the well regarded Pocock Rowing Center #10, but no landing unless you are hand carried. Its road-noisy any way. Pocock was world famous for making the best rowing shells. You should read Boys in the Boat about the stunning 1936 UW team and Olympic gold medal and Pococks role.
Of course a visit to Lk Union would not be complete without acknowledging Ivars Salmon House restaurant #11 on the very north end. Quite a bit of moorage space to stop for a nice meal or a quick lunch at their take out. Ivars was a beloved personality to old Seattlites for his civic magnanimity.
Continuing thru the ship canal under the University Bridge is Portage Bay. House boats to the SW, marinas and the UW on the NE. I remember when the spot where all the UW Hospital buildings now are was a nine hole golf course. My older sister took golf there as a PE elective. If you stand in the right place by the Montlake bridge and look east toward the climbing rock you can still see where two fairways were/are.
Along the SE shore of Portage bay as you get near the south end is a house boat where our local gold medal sailor Carl Buchan lives. The guy that taught me to sailboat race lived on his dock. He regrets having once turned down Carls spontaneous offer for a day sail on his hot new boat Madrona. Deeper south in the bay is a cool shallow sweep of undeveloped parkland that is interesting for a quick kayak tour if you dare anchor there for a few minutes. Unfortunately its under the 520 viaduct. Next door is the splendid Seattle Yacht Club, maybe they would let you tie up on their dock tucked around the very southeastern part by the Optis/Laser dock. I had a buddy that was knocked into the water by the police boats water canon during a horrendous marina fire. He’s a member to the fire department “swim team”.
Across the bay next to the UW is big old green Jensen Boat Company where wood boats have been built and much loved for decades. Peek in there to see some goodies. No landing unfortunately. Next door, to the north, is a kayak rental shop and public landing where you can land a hand carried boat.
Now we are at the Montlake Cut. Where in 1995, after a tremendous snow storm and subsequent thaw and rainstorm, I witnessed a 5 or 6 knot current swirling muddy brown run off water thru the canal. Never thought I’d see that.
On the east side of the Montlake cut is Union Bay and home to the UW Waterfront Activity Center where anyone can rent a canoe and paddle around the waterways of the Arboretum. In the early 70’s I sometimes commuted to the UW via motor boat, nobody cared when I tied it up at the north end of the long WAC dock. Maybe you can sweet talk the manager into a quick stop at the end of the dock.
Just as you exit the cut on the south side you will see 3 or 4 white mooring buoys #12. They might be gone with all the construction. These are public, first come first serve and I think you can overnight on them but better call Harbor Patrol and ask 206 684-4071. As far as I know these buoys are unique in Seattle. Tie up to one and go rent a canoe or take your row boat in to the
Arboretum or walk around Foster Island Trail, both very cool, flowers, and woods. You could spend a whole day gunkholing in these canals all the way out to the end of the channel by Madison Park. Unfortunately t is very restricted now until they are done with the 520 bridge construction. Or just chill and watch the boat parade go by. Or take a longer kayak along the northern reaches of the bay to #13 below.
Union Bay in the summer is filled with canoes and rental sail boats but is the best place to water ski in the early morning. It is also the home of the greatest crew team in the USA the UW, go Huskies. I would imagine you could quietly anchor here for a few hours amidst all the activity and kayak over to the small dock at smallish Belvior Park #13 at the NE aspect of the bay. Hand carry boats only. If you land here (or the UW WAC) you should take a walk to the Montlake Dump. Most do not know that most of the north end of this bayshore was a dump up until the 1960s. I remember going there with my dad. It use to, and may still, have flare poles to burn off the methane gas seeping from below. Now it is a great series of trails thru the reclaimed wetland and is a good place for a stroll.
So now we are into Lake Washington proper. We’ll turn left (north) first as that is what I know best and usually has the best winds in the summer. We’ll go counter clockwise around the lake.
My favorite way to sail the north end of the lake is to beat earnestly up wind (summer wind is usually a northerly) and then lazily sail dead down wind along a shore looking at the homes and woods.
Going north along the west shore is Laurelhurst where Bill Gates grew up and its beach club with high dive and fleet of Flatties (Geary 18’s) I heard they will hold the Flattie NA’s this summer. There is a street end parklet just to the north of the club.
Further along a mile or so is the private Windermere beach/park. This is where Windemere Real Estate started. Just to the south of it, in the bite of Wolf Bay, is the undeveloped wild water front of the Villa Academy, once a Catholic institution and now a private school. Maybe a surreptitious anchor and landing is possible. In the past I have walked down to that waterfront from the school without incident. At the time there were interesting little devotional articles and contemplative benches.
Going further north is a pleasant cruise past the large Windermere estates, many are quite untended and seemingly wild. I love drifting along this wooded shore. About 10 houses before you get to Magnuson Park is a large old white mansion #14 high up on the bluff above, (you might have to go out a ways to see it if you are close to shore). This was a Denny family estate and was passed down to an heir who became a Moonie. It has been a Unification Church site for many years now. About 2005 I responded to a fire here in the large detached “carriage house”. It burned to the ground. The mansion is still majestic from the lake.
Next up is the huge Magnuson Park which needs no introduction. There is a new dock by the boat ramp that you can tie up to for 15 minutes but I bet you can get away for longer on a quiet weekday, especially in the winter. I’ve left my boat there for nearly an hour doing a trailer shuttle. The park is well worth a stroll if you need to stretch your legs. Continue sailing north along the park which once was Sand Point Naval Air Station. It was an airport where the blue angles used to land in the 1950’s and 60’s. There are some vintage aircraft out in the water that didn’t quite make it. Kite hill there is all the fill from the 1980’s Mercer Island I-90 rebuild. Further along, north, past the swim beach around the corner by the dog park/beach is where we get our weather and avalanche reports, the Western HQ of NOAA. Before 9-11-2001 you could wander around the campus and sound garden towers within but now only on special occasions and some weekends. Call the parks dept for dates, bring ID.
Past NOAA in the bite of Pontiac Bay is Sail Sand Point. This and much of the air station was the original Carkeek Park. Carkeek was an early real estate developer and he gave the land to the city for a park. Some time later the navy wanted it for their air station so a land swap was crafted for the current Carkeek location on Puget Sound, (also a must see fun park). SSP needs no introduction. I’m sure you could beach a smallish multihull for a few minutes on the fake 1.5” round river stone beach to look around. I say fake because this was naturally 4 or 5 feet deep 30 years ago before SSP filled it in with the stones and was where navy sea planes would stage for haul out. I also saw the 50th anniversary running of the world record holder Slo Mo hydroplane take a few wondrous, roaring, laps around the lake from here. They used an incongruously huge huge crane to lift her in and out. Brought back fond childhood memories of hanging out watching the hydros racing.
A mile north of SSP is Matthews Beach #15 and the largest creek in Seattle (Thornton). This was once a whistle stop for the mosquito ferry fleet before the lake bridges. You can still see the rotted pilings from the old dock. I have seen boats anchor overnight in the summer near these piles so have at it knowing you could be bumped by a neighbor complaining to Harbor Patrol. The wild area south of the creek by the pilings was once a small community marina. I know where to look to find the old bulkhead and cleats along the heavily silted in shoreline. Before it was a park my old neighbor remembers old man Matthews hitching up his horses and wagon for a day’s labor in his orchard in what is now the Meadowbrook neighborhood. 10 houses north of Matthews beach is my house. If my folded Corsair F31 trimaran is not there you can still identify it by the boat house with a metal playground slide on the side. Club members are welcome to tie up for a spell. I have 2 docks, the one with the slide and the bigger one just to the north with a boat lift on the south side. If the F31 is moored at the dock then tie to my buoy out in front and give me a call on my land line 206 525-8472.
Further north along the lake are a mix of homes old and new. At the foot of NE 130th street #16 is what was once a small public street end beach for 82 years until the crafty lawyers on each side of it pulled a legal fast one on the City and neighbors. They were able to simply lay claim to the property with a small ad in the Daily Journal of Commerce about 4 years ago. Legal wrangling has been going on ever since. Google Save the Beach in Seattle for a face book explanation.
Continue north past houses for several miles to an interesting home build just behind a huge glacial erratic boulder #17. It makes a little island and sunning spot with ramp access from the second floor deck. It is easy to miss but is quite cool. Its about 15012 Beach Dr NE or 47.737N 122.286W. I also love a lazy downwind run along this shore and this rock is a favorite.
Further north is Lake Forrest Park Community club with swimming beach, boat ramp and day docks, its private but I’ve walked around in it before. Just to the north is wooded Lyon Creek park #18 with a dock. I googled LFP Parks and they did not say you can’t tie up to it but I would just anchor off the beach (you’re not in Seattle any more) and kayak in. Its quite shallow any way due to the creek alluvial. You can walk across the street for ice cream but sadly Baskin Robbins is closed and you only have the grocery store now. It is a nice stroll north on the BG trail but keep to your right to not get run over by a biker.
As you arc around the top of the lake you come to Log Boom park. You can probably anchor here and kayak ashore, there is a nice bathroom and a summer kayak rental concession. There is a long dock and the website says there is day moorage but I think they are talking about the part of the Northlake Marina dock that is dedicated to public use just to the east of the park. You’ll have to figure it out for yourself. You should be able to moor at one of these. There are restaurants with in walking distance in Kenmore
As you continue past Northlake Marina with a public pump out station you go by Kenmore Air Harbor. I have friend who is childhood buddies with the owner. The owner is the largest supplier of Beaver/Otter rotary engine planes in the world. He travels all over the globe to track down old barn find planes and parts to bring back to Kenmore to restore and sell or use.
Just beyond that is the Sammamish River or Slough #19. It deserves its own day on a kayak, down steam of course. There is a boat ramp just up a few hundred yards. Stay in the marked channel as its dredged and very shallow otherwise. They used to race small hydroplanes down it from Redmond to Kenmore in the 1960’s, pretty cool. In the 1995 flood I mentioned back at the Montlake Cut I took a dinghy up it all the way up it and into Lk Sammamish where the water level was 4’ over the docks! There were numerous half sunk boats that had lifted off their lifts or mooring pilings and blown down to the shallow north end the lake. I’d never seen anything like that storm. I skied up Sand Point Way to work for a couple days afterward. Very cool to do that in the early morning darkness under the street lights and totally silent and deserted streets.
Now we head south down the east side of the lake.
Just to the south of the slough is a cool wooded area that has a couple abandoned canals from a failed development, (just north of the large condo building). I’ve had a good time kayaking in there, totally overgrown and jungle like. Again you could probably anchor in the shallows boards up, to kayak, but not in front of the condos. Its soft alluvial mud so you won’t hurt your prop unless there is the odd sunken log. In the late summer it is clogged with milfoil.
Going south of the condos are more homes and pretty Arrowhead Point. Its shallow off the point so go out a ways. A few more houses and you come to St Edwards State Park #20. I think this is the jewel of the lake. It is huge with miles of walking trails and wilder untracked woods where I’ve seen kids pitch tents overnite for an adventure. I’ve seen people anchor over nite here many times and I’m sure it is even legal. Its shallow by the creek at the small open area in the middle of the park. Well worth the walk along the north shore then up into the woods on the north edge of the park and into the interesting neighborhoods or loop back into the upper part of the park and its old seminary buildings and public swimming pool. I had a friend who went to school here but he decided not to be a priest. This park and beyond was once owned by a woman named McDonald. She gave the seminary the land and sold off the rest over the years. There is a neighborhood named McDonald Highlands to the north of the park. I love running downwind along here in the late afternoon golden light laying out in the cockpit or nets starring up into the tree tops of the old growth firs and imagining I am in the wilds of Alaska. You’ll likely see eagles here.
Continuing south a few miles you come to O. O. Denny Park #21. The second best jewell of the lake. This was once the estate of a Denny who later gave it to the City of Seattle. The city ran it as a kids weekly camp for many years. I have friends that went to camp there. You can still see the original camp flag pole near the north end. Its shallow near the mouth of the creek on the south end. The city gave it to King County several decades ago. I’ve seen folks anchor off here but there are big ugly signs that say stay 100 yards off shore. Paddle in and walk to the back of the middle of the park to the parking lot. In the north east part of the grassy area to the north of the parking lot is a trail that leads back into the woods. (the grassy area once had an old house that the park rented to a care taker up until ~ 1990 when it was torn down.) In a hundred or so yards is an easy to miss spur going off to the left. 15 years ago this valley floor was covered in gray river gravel and sand from a significant flood. The ground growth has completely covered it over but you can see traces of the flood plain. You can take this spur a half mile up into the woodsy neighborhoods. But I recommend going straight on the main trail. in 1/4 of a mile or so you come to a large stump and a brass plaque. It commemorates this tree, “Silvia” as the largest Douglas Fir in King County until if fell over in a wind storm around 1995. There are a couple other large firs around too. A few hundred yards further and up a little rise and across a usually board walked muddy patch is level area with old info signs about the homestead that was here until about 1990. You can continue straight ahead and follow the creek up past the abandoned small cement pump house, but I recommend going down a few yards beyond the level part and bear right, (south) to cross the creek on an old bridge. You then climb up the old road a few hundred yards to the top of the ravine where you will find a trail heading back (to the right), west towards the lake. It runs along the top edge of the ravine back to the parking lot. Nice views into the ravine and its large old growth trees. This is a nice ~2 mile loop that the kids would enjoy. Theres more variations if you want to explore the pretty neighborhoods. Alternatively you can finagle you way north a mile or so along green belts with mountain bike trails to St Edwards park or continue across Juanita Drive to Big Finn Hill Park and its acres.
Jump back in the boat and cruise down the shoreline, you are now going over a ghost forest. Due to a 7.5 earthquake in 900 AD there was a huge landslide, (like the Oso one I suppose) that deposited a large swath of forests onto the lake bottom. I’m told that it is an interesting spot to scuba dive. There are two other such areas on southern Mercer Island. Google gives a fascinating account.
Now round the point and go southeasterly past club member Jim Millers Crowther 42 catamaran #22 on its large boat lift. Hook back up into Juanita Bay to the park at the north end. You can anchor to the west of the beach dock #23 in sandy shallow water and wade to the park or take a longer ~1/2 mile walk to the large east and south part of the bay and park. The south part used to be a golf course in the 1960’s. The board walk on the east part was actually the old trestle road to Juanita until the 1970’s. Old Lightning Fleet 414 used to anchor floating docks near the south end of the trestle for their boats which raced out in the main lake. Sadly the old laissez-farre days of yore are gone. Remnants of the floats could still be seen in 1995.
Sailing around to the bay’s eastern portion (flukey and light winds in this bay) you run into “do not enter” buoys (and massive late summer lily pads) to preserve the wetland for nervous birds and critters. These buoys were put in around 2000. Before then we used to take the kids in there to look for turtles and muck around the shore of Nelson Point.
As you exit the bay going south towards Kirkland there is a piling #24 with a shallow water warning on it. Heed this, its about 4’ deep extending 50 or so feet north and south of the piling. I have sailed inshore of this piling but with board up, a nervous hand on the tiller and eyes down into the water. South a few hundred feet of the piling you are ok but it is still a little shallow until you get to undeveloped and wild Kiwanis Park #25. Then you are ok. You could probably anchor and kayak ashore here but its a bit of a walk into Kirkland.
A little further along is Waverly Park that probably won’t work to land here. Watch out for the long dock if you are following along close to shore.
Another 1/2 mile south is Kirkland #26 and plenty of no-longer-free-moorage. I have seen a large boat day anchored just to the south of the marina and there is a place to sneak a kayak ashore at the foot of the south dock by the condos. Ice cream and nice vibe stop with a few pricy shops. Its the Sausalito of the PNW after all. They have a Friday nite beer can race which an F28 usually shows up for as well as Jim Miller.
South of Kirkland are a few beach parks. Just before the second park, (Houghton Beach) is the popular Beach House restaurant #27 with its long dock for mooring. For a long time this was known as the Fog Horn.
A few hundred yards south is the massive Carillon Point #28 complex and marina. I think there is public moorage and restaurant here but I prefer Kirkland. This was the site of the Lake Washington Ship yards until the 1960’s. They built many Liberty ships here and a few ferry boats. I remember seeing a large ferry out testing its systems in the East Channel by I-90 when I was a kid. Just south of Carillon is funky old Yarrow bay marina where I have one of my earliest boat memories; that of painting the bottom of my dads leaky Snipe and then falling in the water. They might let you moor there if you ask at the gas dock.
South of Carillon is the 3 points (and bays) area of Bellevue #29. Interesting things and wet lands to see if you poke into each of these. You could probably anchor overnight in the first, Yarrow Bay, and explore the wetlands. One of the bays had a fleet of beautiful wood 6 or 5.5 meter boats which the locals must race occasionally. The most easterly, Yarrow Point, has a park just SW of the tip of the point, no landing though. It was an old mosquito fleet stop as well. The tip of the middle point Hunts has a beautiful spread that was once the home of Stan Sayers of hydroplane fame. Up til it was redeveloped 10 years ago there was a cool boat house inset into a cove on the east side where he kept his hydroplane. Its now a sand beach. Too bad, you could never build that boat house again in this day and age.
Ok continue around the last point (Evergreen) and under the 75’ floating bridge span to Bills house #30. We all have to gawk at the biggest house in the state of the richest man in the world. He's done a nice job though. This is known as the Medina Gold Coast or Riviera. There is a touring book about notable houses around the lake. I have one and its interesting to read as you take friends for a sail-about. Further south 1/2 mile or so at the coast turns east is Medina Park #31 and City Hall. Probably no landing but interesting to note. Continue east a few hundred yards more past Dabney point and fabulous estates into the bite of the little bay and look for the dinosaur house #32 and windows house. Windows house is easy to find as its white, boxy and akimbo with dozens of square little windows. This guy was head of the MS Windows. Just north a few doors of him at the turn of the bay is a home with huge 2 story windows. If the glare is not too much and you get close enough you can see a 20’ tall dinosaur inside. Kids will love this.
Continue east around Groat Point into Meydenbauer Bay #33. It used to be called Whalers Bay because a large whaling fleet was based there 100 years ago. There used to be public dock space on the SE side, just north of the marina/yacht club. There is a huge park redevelopment going on now and I don’t know if its still available. Its a ~1/4mile walk to old Bellevue and food and shops, north of that is a big park. This will be a cool area once its done, maybe this summer. This was a good place to waterski when I was a kid, maybe they still allow it. As you exit the bay along the steep south shore it was all undeveloped when I was young. It was known as Kegger Point.
Continuing south a 1/2 mile or so along the east shore there is Chism Beach #34 in a bite. Maybe you can anchor off and kayak ashore but it must be deep due to the steep topography. The south end of the beach once had a shed and a fleet of Coronado 15s for the Bellevue Community College Sailing Club. I think they’re gone now. Just south of Chism a couple hundred yards in the bite is a street end where you could maybe land as well. Then a few more hundred yards south is a former convent now turned some kind of hospice. Its several hundred feet of woodsy greenery to sail by.
Now we’re gonna ping across the channel to Luther Burbank Park #35 on the NE tip of Mercer Island. This was an old delinquent boys school when I was a kid and my mom would continuously warn me never to land there as I would surely die. The fire department conducted practice burns in the huge 4 story wood dorms and once an arsonist burnt an entire one to the ground at night. That was spectacular! Now it is a wonderful park with plenty of free mooring space by the old brick steam plant with a chimney. This is well worth a stop (maybe #3 for my favorite) and they have a park office with lots of information. Kids play ground and maybe a 1/3 mile walk to shops, food and town center. Luther was a botanist I think.
Pinging back to the east side you might see small Chesterfield Beach then you come upon the large boat docks and beach of Beaux Arts #36. This is a separate Township from Bellevue and is where I grew up and learned to sail from my dad on that old leaky Snipe. Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart live(d) here. Many hours I spent messing around in boats along those shores. Moms ashes will be spread here.
Go under the I-90 bridge and past Enatai Beach (another mosquito fleet whistle stop) where you might be able to land under the bridge on either side. Go another 1/4 mile SE into the bite to the wet lands of Mercer Slough #37. I’m pretty sure you can get away with anchoring here and you can take a kayak up a mile or so into the heart of Bellevue. At least you could when I was a kid. It often would be very overgrown. There used to be a boat ramp a hundred yards up the slough too. This would be a fun place for a kid to explore and maybe overnight but see if the Freeway noise is too much. You can feel like you are out in the wilds up the slough. If you go far enough you might get lucky and find a ripe blueberry bush left over from the old Overtake Blueberry Farm. There are also trails further up for a nice walk around.
Just south and adjacent to the slough mouth is Newport Marina with gas and boat ramp, and Newport Shores canal system. Might be interesting to poke around in there. I did it once in the early 1960’s when they were dredging the canals and I went further up Coal Creek to watch the salmon spawn.
Now I am getting into less familiar territory so I will just give you a few details I know and also use google a bit to flesh out the south lake. There are no doubt a few street end parklets and access that exist but you will have to find them on your own.
I do remember Newcastle Beach park #38 just south of Newport Shores on the east shore, and I suppose you could anchor out or maybe even nose into the soft mud wild shore lands to access this newer large park.
Now go south aways to Paul Allen’s Seahawk #39 practice complex in the old Pan Abode lumber mill. Probably no public access but you never know. There is an interesting story of a salvage logger a few years ago. IIRC For quite some time he’d been quietly salvaging logs that had sunk to the lake bottom from the mill. No doubt these were valuable old growth trees. Not sure about this case but old court decisions about ghost forests mentioned earlier were deem state property and salvage of them was stopped.
Across from Paul’s play ground on Mercer Island is Clarke Beach #40. There is public moorage here. Its a nice park it looks like a 1/2 mile walk up 92nd st to 120 acre Pioneer Park. Further down near the tip of the island is the Mercer Island Beach Club. Marilyn and I nearly bought a lot above here years ago. Its a nice place but private. Another ghost forest is underneath you here. Directly across the channel is Kennydale beach, I doubt you can land here. Maybe anchor and kayak. But I’d wait for…….
Coulon Park #41. Google shows some finger piers here and I know there is a boat ramp so probably a good place to stretch you legs on the long shoreline promenade. Maybe there’s an ice cream waiting for you there.
At the end of the lake of course is Renton and the Boeing company’s 737 plant. The Cedar River empties into the lake at the end of the runway #42 and there is a promenade along the length of it as well as a rowing center. The Cedar River used to flow into the Duwamish River until 1914 when the lake was drained 20 feet for the new locks and ship canal. The Cedar was diverted to provide high volume fresh water flow into and through the lake and out the ship canal. In fact the original natural lake outlet used to drain from here out to the Duwamish by the now defunct Black River. Maybe you can anchor or land a kayak here but maybe its not worth it as Coulon and Seward parks are much nicer. Boeing developed their jet powered hydrofoil at this site. I remember them testing it by my house roaring up the lake at ~60 mph. It was a gangly looking thing with a trussed gantry holding the uncowled engine 15’ above the deck and struts and supports stiltting down into the water to support the hydrofoils. I was so inspired that I built my own hydrofoil on my 6’ dinghy powered by an 18 hp Evinrude. I was really scared on the first test drive because of the big engine and unknown flight characteristics. What could possibly go wrong? No engineering for this 12 year old just seat of the pants eyeball built but it worked, much to the delight of my boat and airplane crazy dad. That is a fond and rarely thought of memory.
Ok lets head north on the west side of Mercer Island. Nothing here that I know of on either the Seattle or Mercer Island side, maybe a street end parklet or two but probably not worth bothering about.
Next stop would be Atlantic City boat ramp and park #43. Now we are in Seattle again and you can’t legally anchor, but a 15 minute moorage is allowed, if the boat launchers aren’t too numerous. Safeway is a few blocks away. Its a nice enough park and it would be a nice walk to Pritchard Island and beach but 15 minutes is not enough time for that and Seward Park is just ahead.
Just a couple hundred yards north of Atlantic City Park on the south tip of Pritchard Island is the home of a friend of Diane and Mark. He has a West Wight Potter and joined us at our NWMA Blake Island Rendezvous about 2015. I went to a party at his house a few years ago. Nice guy, forget his name of course but you could ask Diane and I’m sure he’d welcome a visit from a fellow sailor. Just call….. Interestingly when I was at his party I spied a large catamaran 1/4 mile to the south moored at a private home. So Marilyn and I kayaked over there and the wife happened to be there and we spent 45 minutes chatting with her and hearing the story. IIRC the guy was a Boeing engineer and spent 6 years, weekends and after work building this beautiful Aussie design 38 footer and it was just completed. They were selling their house and heading down the coast to LA and were going to do the Baja Haha. I later saw a Latitude 38 write-up on them. I have their name and boat type buried in my journal.
Pritchard Island #44 and beach is an interesting spot and worth sailing by. Further up the west side of the lake is the Kline Galland Hospice #45. Maybe make a tack in there for a look at the expansive grounds. Just a bit further north is Martha Washington Park #46 with some hand carry boat access, but again, no anchoring. This was once a girls school but a fire in 1989 destroyed most of the huge structure. It occurred during the first week of my fireman drill school and we were sent down there to pick up the thousands of feet of muddy wet hose, to learn what fireman really did…..
Now head east across the channel to Pauls house #47, (yeah, I looked it up, 6451 West Mercer Way.). Google shows an odd squarish 50’ white vessel in front and its just about straight east of the south end of Seward Park. After a gawk head NW up around Bailey Peninsula to….
Seward Park, #48. Ok this should be high on my list but it is more crowded than St Edwards or OO Denny parks. Happily it is big and interesting and Andrews Bay on the NW side is the only place in Seattle that you can anchor overnight with a landing for your hand carry boat. Great walks thru the old growth forest. There’s a fish hatchery to find and a pottery/art workshop. Google showed ~40 boats anchored there! I had no idea it was so popular maybe your multihull can cosy up to the shore in 2’ of water. There’s no tide but there are area restrictions marked by buoys.
Further north on the west side is the Lakewood marina #49 (Ohlers Island) owned by the city til ~2000 and now private. They say there is a landing and dock on the south side that says you can tie up for 30 minutes but I can’t see it from Google. You’ll have to figure it out. There’s probably not much to do anyway except walk along the nice shore side promenade. Andrews Bay and Stan Sayers Pits are so close and nicer.
Stan Sayers Pits #50 is just around the corner. With 2 hour moorage on the finger piers on the north side. Huge Genesee Park to explore and the promenade along the shore.
Across the way on Mercer Island there are nice homes to look at and a couple street end parks so not much to do there so we’ll continue on the Seattle side. Just before the floating bridge is the home of Constantino Oberto’s son, no longer sure which one it is but they had life size bronze statues in the yard of the their children playing. The grandson played on my sons soccer team and we had a nice party there. They’d bring the gawdy painted up green red and white Oberto Motor home to games and passed out all the jerky etc you could want.
Under the bridge and a little ways up is the Leshi Marina #51. You can tie up to the main central pier for 2 hours. Its high so I’m not sure how easy this is, see #52. Nice restaurants and a good place to walk with a leafy park in the uplands. Playground and swimming beach a short walk north. The tallest building once had a warehouse on it with 2’ thick sawdust filled walls to store ice over the summer. Yep, it used to be cold enough to reliably cut ice out of the lake for all summer. There’s another old ice house; the Ballard Industrial Hardware building. That ,now rebuilt, 4 story brick structure was the scariest fire I’ve ever been in.
As you go north a ~mile there’re a couple nice parks; Denny Blaine, Howell and Viretta of Howard Schultz fame. However they are not even designated hand carry boat landings. Not much to see anyway, outside of the leafy neighborhoods. Like nearly all these parks its easy to access via car but you can actually see the mansions from the water.
Further north another mile is the posh Seattle Tennis Club #52 with swimming beach and small private boat dock.
Another 3/4 mile and you get to Madison Park #53 and its pier, (another mosquito fleet whistle stop). 2 hr tie up but like some of these old taller piers there is no float and it might be tough to clammer up onto. If there is no wind you might bang around in the boat wakes without batter boards.
Whew! we are done. Go get it.
Here are some lists of suggestions YRMV:
For Hikes: 20, 21, 48, maybe 40
For Strolls:, 26, 33, 41 or anchor for 23, 48. 35, 37, 18
Overnight: 48 for sure, probably 20, maybe 15, 37, 41, 29, 23, 26, 33, 28 see anchoring sources below
Day stops and activity Read the narrative for more ideas and details
48; fish hatchery, pottery studio
42 Renton Airport, Boeing Plant???
38 Seahawk practice gym???
33 Old Bellevue and shopping!!! eats
26 Kirkland shopping and park eats
28 Carillon Point shopping eats
41 Renton park, near town 5 Wood boats, museum, historic ships
1 Locks 1 mile walk from Shilshole
19 & 37 Kayak the sloughs
Eats with a dock (read the narratives!) 4,6 ,11,18, 26, 27, 28, 33, 35. Probably 40 & with an easy anchor 23. 51 & 52 have iffy docking
Best for kids (read the narratives) Fireboat at Fishermans Terminal 5, 12, 14, 20, 21, 23, 32, 35, 37, 40, 48,
Some of these areas have live summer music. Kirkland 26 and Seward Park 48 come to mind. Coulon 40 may as well. You could tie in a cruise with a concert. Occasionally I’ll get serenaded by drummers across the lake from OO Denny Park 21.
Seattle Harbor Patrol: 206 684- 4071 They also do Medina and Hunts Point I think. Very friendly and helpful to me.
Helpful web sites:
Someones lake highlights: http://3boatguy.com/lake_washington.asp
General Seattle Parks info: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/boating-and-sailing
Specific Seattle Boat Access List: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Boating/ShorelineAccessList.pdf
Street end parks: http://seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=57fc67a4e679415ba3772df17ab6d48c&extent=-122.5985,47.4953,-122.0915,47.7177
Monday, July 7, 1997 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
Just Ask Johnston
Boats Have The Right To Anchor In The Lake
By Steve Johnston Seattle Times Columnist
Hey Johnston: I have a waterfront home on Yarrow Bay and notice numerous sailboats are putting in mooring buoys and tying up on a permanent basis. Can these boats drop anchor anywhere on Lake Washington? Also, none of these boats has anchor lights, and it gets to be a navigational hazard to weave through boats and mooring lines to get to my dock.
Answer: Lake Washington is a federal waterway, and boats have the right to anchor in it. Roger Heath of the King County Police marine patrol said there are boats anchored for months all over the lake, and there isn't much shoreline property owners like yourself can do about it.
Heath said there are some shoreline owners who have property rights up to 300 feet off the shoreline. But these rights have been passed down from the turn of the century, and we think you would know if you had them.
The Yarrow Bay shoreline is policed by the Clyde Hill Police Department, and if you think someone is trespassing by tying up to your dock, give them a call at 425-454-7187.
The city of Yarrow Point also has marker buoys that indicate where the city limits start; boaters aren't supposed to anchor inside that boundary.
Not only is Lake Washington a federal waterway, but so are Lake Sammamish and the Sammamish River. Federal law applies to lakes and rivers, Heath said.
One other site says: “OTHER ANCHORAGE AREAS but check with local governments
* Coulon Park in Renton 40
* Cozy Cove 29
* Juanita Bay 23
* Kirkland Marina 26
* Meydenbauer Bay 33
* Yarrow Bay 28