Matthews Beach is the northernmost swimming beach on Seattle’s Lake Washington shoreline, and that location matters: you get calmer morning water, fewer powerboats than the central lake, and on clear days a clean sightline toward the Cascades. The catch is the parking situation — which is real and worth planning around before you show up at 11 AM on a July Saturday.
The Launch
Matthews Beach has a sandy shoreline with a gradual entry — good for SUP boards that need a soft beach rather than a ramp. The beach area is wide enough to stage gear without fighting for space, at least early in the morning before the swimmers arrive.
Address: 9300 73rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115
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Parking: This is the issue. The lot holds roughly 50-60 cars. It fills by 9:30 AM on summer weekends, often earlier in July and August. Overflow parking on 73rd Ave NE and the surrounding residential streets adds some capacity, but street spots go fast and some blocks have 2-hour restrictions.
The practical rule: arrive before 9 AM on weekends or accept a significant walk from street parking. Weekday mornings are a different story — the lot is almost always easy.
Best Times to Launch
Weekday mornings (6-9 AM): Parking is easy, the water is glassy, and the lake belongs to you and a few other paddlers who figured this out. This is when Matthews Beach is genuinely excellent.
Weekend mornings before 9 AM: Still works. You will have company on the water but not a crowd.
Weekend afternoons: Parking battle, swimmers everywhere, boat wakes from the open lake. Not ideal for SUP.
Fall through spring: The crowds evaporate. The water is cold but the lake is yours. This is when Matthews Beach regulars do their best paddling.
Water Conditions
The north end of Lake Washington is somewhat protected from the southerly fetch that builds whitecaps in the central lake. Matthews Beach sits at the top of that protected stretch — most mornings the water here is calmer than Magnuson or the Madison Park area.
Watch for afternoon south winds, which can push waves up from the open lake even in this protected corner. The boat exclusion zone around the swim area keeps wakes manageable close to shore, but once you paddle out into open water, passing motorboats and jet skis are a factor.
Routes From Matthews Beach
South to Magnuson Park: About 2 miles along the west shore. A straightforward flatwater route with residential docks and some natural shoreline. Good for an out-and-back workout.
North to Kenmore: Roughly 2.5 miles to Log Boom Park in Kenmore. Quiet shoreline, fewer boats than the main lake, and increasingly open water as you approach the north end. The Baker view gets better the further north you go.
East shore exploration: Paddle east across the lake (about 2 miles) to reach the Kirkland shoreline and Juanita Beach area. On weekday mornings this crossing is manageable; weekend afternoons bring enough boat traffic to make it less pleasant.
Facilities and Practical Details
- Restrooms: Available in the park, open during park hours (6 AM to 10 PM)
- Lifeguards: Present in summer at the designated swim area — stay clear of the swim zone when launching and landing
- Dogs: Allowed on leash outside the swim area
- Fees: No launch fee for hand-carried boards
- Board storage: No formal rack; lean boards against the fence at the parking lot edge during setup
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