Lake Sammamish State Park
Rate this placeNearby: Tibbetts Valley Park Meerwood Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Sammamish State Park is a popular outdoor recreation area located in Issaquah, Washington.
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Summary
The park covers over 500 acres and has more than 6,000 feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. There are many good reasons to visit the park, including swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
Some specific points of interest within the park include a beach area with a bathhouse, boat launch, and picnic sites. There are also several hiking trails that wind through the park, providing panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Visitors can also explore the wetlands and forests that make up the park's ecosystem.
One interesting fact about Lake Sammamish State Park is that it was once the site of a Native American fishing village, and artifacts from this time period can still be found in the area. Additionally, the park has been the site of many historical events, including a landing by Charles Lindbergh in 1927.
The best time of year to visit Lake Sammamish State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of winter activities such as ice fishing and snowshoeing. Overall, Lake Sammamish State Park is a beautiful and diverse outdoor destination that offers something for everyone to enjoy.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Tolt-MacDonald Park Campground
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Tolt MacDonald Park
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Site 27
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Site 36
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Site 37
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Site 40
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