LAKE SAMMAMISH STATE PARK
Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858 feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Indian tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features. The park includes diverse natural wetlands, a large great blue heron rookery and the salmon-bearing Issaquah Creek. The park has one of the largest freshwater beaches in the greater Seattle area.to dusk.
The Lake Sammamish area was once a gathering place for Indian tribes. They celebrated their "potlatch," or winter festival, at the south end of the lake, where they hunted, fished and berry-gathered in preparation for winter. The word "Sammamish" comes from the Indian "Samena," meaning "hunter."
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the
Discover Pass web page.
The park has no individual camping.
The park has the Hans Jensen youth group camping area. It accommodates up to 200 people and up to 40 cars. There are 36 picnic tables, 12 stoves, a covered picnic shelter and three vault toilets.
Located in King County on Lake Sammamish, the park offers nine watercraft launches located off E. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE. There are two 60-by-4-feet and four 40-by-4-feet finger docks spaced among nine 12-by-30-feet launch ramps. There is one restroom and parking for 250 car / boat-trailer combinations. There are no garbage facilities available pack it in, pack it out.
You can enjoy fishing in the freshwater lake, home to species like rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. Other fish include perch, salmon, steelhead and catfish. Fishing is allowed year-round with a valid license. Boat ramps are available for easy access into deeper waters.
We are excited for the new bathhouse to open in time for summer 2015. Then comes new sand, and we hear that a new HUGE destination playground is coming.And lots of cool events! Learn more at Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park website, or find them on Facebook.
I could never visit this park as I would always associate this place with that horrible July day 40 years ago. A bright sunshine filled day turned into one of the cloudiest ever. Janice Ott and Denise Naslund you will never be forgotten. What would your lives have turned out to be. Something only God knows. The other lucky girls form that fateful day. I hope you found peace and happiness. Those of us old enough to remember know what I am talking about. To those younger please enjoy the park but always be careful as you would any place. 
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