Seattle Parks and Recreation offers safe, lifeguarded beaches at nine beaches around the city: Green Lake, Madison Park, Madrona, Magnuson Park, Matthews Beach, Mount Baker Park Beach, Pritchard Island Beach, and Seward Park Beach. It is strongly recommended that you swim only where and when lifeguards are present.
2022 update (May 31, 2022): Seattle Parks is planning to operate safe, lifeguarded beaches this summer – and strongly recommend swimming only where lifeguards are present. Due to difficulties in hiring lifeguards, they are currently working to determine the schedule for lifeguarded beaches. Once available, they will update the summer beach schedule.
Do’s and don’ts:
- Do read Seattle park rules, open water swimming, best practices, health and safety regulations
- Do check swimming beach bacteria, algal toxin levels, and water temperature
- Dogs are not allowed in these locations: at beaches, children’s play areas, or organized athletic fields in Seattle parks (per the Seattle Municipal Code).
- Where dogs are welcome: on leash everywhere else in the park system or off-leash in designated areas.
Seattle lakes and beaches offer lots of summer swimming fun – photo by Goami via iStock by Getty Images
Seattle Parks free swim lessons
Free outdoor Swim Lessons are offered at all lifeguarded swimming beaches. Lessons are for youth ages 6-16, and take place 12:15-12:45pm, Monday-Friday. The summer is divided into four 2-week sessions. Sign up in advance for one session per youth. Drop-ins are welcome if space is available.
Lessons are weather dependent and will not take place if the beach is closed for inclement weather, wildfire smoke, or water quality issues. Lessons are also occasionally cancelled on very hot days if the beach is too busy for lifeguard staff to run lessons. In these cases, the beach will still be open for supervised swimming, and we would encourage lesson participants to practice on their own.
More info: Swimming Beaches – Parks | seattle.gov
Seattle Parks swimming lessons for a fee
Swimming lessons for a fee are also offered indoors and outdoors at Seattle Parks pools. In addition, there are aquatic exercise classes, plus public swim events, lap swims, and other activities.
More info: Pool Fees & Program Descriptions – Parks | seattle.gov
About Seattle Parks aquatic activities
About 11% of Seattle’s total land area is committed to public use, including 4,600 acres developed land, 1,600 acres undeveloped land, and 954 acres of submerged land. Park features include amphitheaters, boating and sailing centers, boat ramps, Community centers, concession facilities, historic buildings, museums, off-leash areas for dogs, outdoor tennis courts, performing and visual arts facilities, picnic shelters, plant nurseries/greenhouses, swimming pools, wading pools, and Sprayparks.
More info: Seattle Parks and Outdoor Water Recreation – Parks | seattle.gov
Seattle Parks numerous swimming pools offer lessons, classes, and other fun events in the water for all ages. Photo by Paha_L – DepositPhotos.com
Calendar of boating and water sport events
The following calendar list includes boating, water sports, and related water activities around the Puget Sound region.
