Lake Tapps North Park
Rate this placeNearby: Jenks Park Lakeland Hills Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Tapps North Park is a popular destination in the state of Washington for outdoor enthusiasts and families.
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Summary
The park features a variety of recreational activities, including swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking. The park also has a playground, basketball court, and walking trails.
One of the main attractions of Lake Tapps North Park is the lake itself, which covers 2,300 acres and is a popular spot for fishing. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Visitors can fish from the shore or from a boat, which can be rented from the park.
Other points of interest at Lake Tapps North Park include the swimming area, which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the picnic areas, which are scattered throughout the park and offer stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Interesting facts about the area include that the lake was created in 1911 when a dam was built on the White River to generate hydroelectric power. The lake was named after the three towns that were flooded to create it: Tapps, Tacoma, and Seattle.
The best time of year to visit Lake Tapps North Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is open for swimming and boating. However, the park is open year-round and offers beautiful views and activities during the fall and winter months as well.
Overall, Lake Tapps North Park is a must-visit destination in Washington for anyone who loves the great outdoors and wants to experience the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
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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
Jenks Park
Lakeland Hills Park
Church Lake Park
Lake Jane Park
Auburn Game Farm Park