Boat NW Helps You Find a Place to Get on the Water
If you are looking for a place to enjoy the water, Northwest Portal can help!
Northwest Portal has identified over 3,450 public recreation areas, facilities, and access points on the state’s rivers, lakes, and oceans. You can use either Outdoors NW (available as both a web map and a free app for Apple and Android) or our water sports web map, Boat NW, to find all of the information you need to find your next destination whether you want to launch a boat, kayak, fish, or stroll along the beach.
Rialto Beach near La Push on the Olympic Peninsula
Many organizations offer water access
When you think about where to go to get wet, don't just check the WDFW site. That agency has the most water access of any single organization, with 730 boat launches, fishing access points, and other recreation facilities with water access. However, cities and counties each have more opportunities in total, adding up to over 870 opportunities. Other major state and federal recreation managers and recreation facilities managed by utilities and port districts are other great options. Port districts often have boat launches and other water access as part of their facilities, and utilities with dams generally have to agree to provide recreation opportunities as part of the relicensing process. There are over 200 recreation areas, access points, and facilities in the state owned and operated by utilities or ports. Tribal communities have some opportunities for non-members. And land trusts, non-profits, and many other organizations also allow you to get on the water.
Every county in the state has some public water access, but King County is the clear leader—we have identified 397 places. If we are missing your favorite place to get wet, let us know on our contact page.
Organizations providing water access. Other/Unknown includes tribes, non-profits, and parks/access points for whom we still need to identify the owner.
The San Juan County Land bank has a small dock in the Hummel Lake Preserve.
Kittitas County, Grand County PUD, and Washington State Parks all have boat launches on the Columbia River near Kittitas County. Photo credit: Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce.
Beach near Twin Harbors Beach State Park just south of Westport.