Matthews Beach Park
Stay out of the water
High bacteria at Madrona Park and Matthews Beach on weekly test date 6/11. For your safety, people and pets should stay out of the water. More info
Amenities
Picnic Sites Swimming Beaches Trails Hand Carry Boat Launches Play Area Views Grills Drinking fountains Restrooms Basketball CourtsAbout
Sewage Spill Alert posted Nov. 28, 2023:
The beach at Matthews Beach Park is closed now through Nov. 30 due to a sewage spill. Seattle-King County Public Health recommends that people and pets stay out of the water at this location.
Matthews Beach is Seattle's largest freshwater bathing beach. The park is named for pioneer John G. Matthews, who had his homestead on the site in the 1880's. The park is an ideal stopping place for bicyclers on the Burke-Gilman Tail- in fact, the outline of the original cove is suggested by the Burke-Gilman Trail, which was once the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the 1940's, the area south of the main beach was the site of Pan American World Airways' offices, and the dock for Pan American's "Clipper Ships"- the world's first amphibious commercial air transports over the ocean. The City purchased the first ten acres of Matthews Beach in 1951. (Excerpted from Brandt Morgan's Enjoying Seattle's Parks.) 100' of sandbar shoreline north of where Thornton Creek meets Lake Washington allows for a hand carry boat launch.
Swimming Beach
See this year's schedule on the swimming beach page
Have your picnic here!
This park has reservable picnic areas. Visit our picnic reservations page for more information on how to have your event here.