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Lake Sammamish

Sammamish · Bellevue · Issaquah · Redmond, Washington — King County.

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4,852Surface acres
3Public access sites
10.7 miShoreline trails

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 148900372).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Sammamish is in Washington

The red circle marks Lake Sammamish.

Fast facts

About Lake Sammamish

  • County: King
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Sammamish, Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 2189 mi from Pensacola and 2270 mi from Panama City, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Washington: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Washington

Official WDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 3 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Rainbow trout, Coho salmon and Kokanee
  • Swimming. 3 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Walking. 10.7 mi of trail near the shore (trails)
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed and Brazilian waterweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official stocking data (Washington WDFW)

Stocked by the state: Coho salmon, Kokanee, Rainbow trout (2018–2024, 7 years; 10,299 fish in all, fry included)

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, WDFW Fish Plants data on data.wa.gov (releases into Lake Sammamish, King County, since 2015). See WDFW trout stocking reports. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Lake Sammamish shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Trailer Inns of Bellevue (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Sunset Beach (Beach)4Tibbetts Beach (Beach)5Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) (Beach)61 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeachShoreline trail Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Issaquah
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Redmond
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Bellevue
  4. 4Sunset Beach
    Beach
  5. 5Tibbetts Beach
    Beach
  6. 6Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 148900372), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: WDFW water access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Shoreline trails

10.7 miTrail within 100 m of shore
About 50%Of the shoreline
NoLoops the whole lake
North and south shoresWhere

OpenStreetMap shows about 10.7 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake Sammamish shoreline, mostly along the north and south shores. They follow about 50% of the shore, so you can walk most of the way around but not a full loop.

Trails along the shore

Getting to the trails

No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Boat ramp, 150 ft from a shoreline trail (WDFW water access site data).

The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.

Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.

Campgrounds near Lake Sammamish

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Sammamish, 2 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

1 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Washington

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.6055, -122.0946). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Sammamish. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Sammamish

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    3 public access sites listed, 3 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampIssaquah—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—FeeBoating47.5646, -122.0552
    Boat rampRedmond—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating47.6537, -122.0921
    Boat rampBellevue—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating47.5779, -122.1116

    WDFW water access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 3 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Sammamish not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Sunset BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Tibbetts BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Sammamish

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Sammamish

    How big is Lake Sammamish?

    Lake Sammamish covers about 4,852 acres in Sammamish, Bellevue, Issaquah and Redmond, Washington (King County).

    What fish are in Lake Sammamish?

    WDFW fish stocking records lists Rainbow trout, Coho salmon and Kokanee.

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Sammamish?

    Yes. 3 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake Sammamish?

    OpenStreetMap shows 3 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Sammamish?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 2 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Sammamish?

    Lake Sammamish touches Sammamish, Bellevue, Issaquah and Redmond in King County, Washington.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Sammamish? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Washington lakes & ponds · All waters in Sammamish