Lake Sammamish
Lake Urban lake east of Seattle, suburban recreation hub
East of Seattle, Sammamish offers urban‑adjacent waterfront parks, rowing and kayaking, plus trails that loop the lake; locals use beach parks and marinas year‑round.
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Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake in King County, Washington, east of Seattle and bordered by the cities of Redmond, Issaquah and Sammamish. It is an elongated lake used extensively for recreation by the greater Seattle area.
Users frequent the lake for rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and shoreline parks; several public boat launches and the state park support day-use recreation. The lake’s configuration and proximity to urban areas make it one of the region’s primary suburban lake destinations.
The lake occupies a glacially influenced basin and has long been used for local recreation; shoreline development increased with suburban growth in the 20th century, accompanied by management of water quality and public parks. It remains an important recreational and ecological feature for King County.
Geographically it lies in western Washington State within east King County, about 20 kilometers east of downtown Seattle, set between suburban communities and low-lying lake shorelands.
- Park access: Lake Sammamish State Park sits on the lake's western shore and offers boat launches, swimming and picnic facilities.
- Nearby cities: The lake is bordered by the cities of Redmond, Issaquah and the city of Sammamish, making it very accessible from east King County and Seattle suburbs.
How to Get to Lake Sammamish #
Lake Sammamish lies east of central Seattle in King County between the cities of Bellevue and Issaquah. By car from downtown Seattle you can reach the lake via I‑90 east (then local northbound roads) or SR‑520 east to Bellevue and local streets to the lake - the lake is roughly 15-25 km (about a 20-30 minute drive, depending on traffic) from downtown Seattle. Major lakefront roads include East Lake Sammamish Parkway and West Lake Sammamish Parkway; Marymoor Park (at the lake’s northwest end) provides large parking and trail access to the waterfront.
Tips for Visiting Lake Sammamish #
- Approach the lake from Lake Sammamish State Park or the East Lake Sammamish Trail depending on your activity - the state park is the main public beach and boat launch area while the East Lake Sammamish Trail provides continuous, car-free access along much of the east shore.
- Visit on weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid heavy weekend and holiday traffic from the Seattle/Tacoma area; parking at the state park and trailheads fills quickly on warm weekends.
- Use Marymoor Park and the north-end access points when coming from Redmond - they provide good cycling and picnic options and connect to the wider regional trail network without needing to cross the main lake roads.
Best Time to Visit Lake Sammamish #
Visit Lake Sammamish in summer (June-August) when weather is warmest and outdoor recreation is at its best.
Weather & Climate near Lake Sammamish #
Lake Sammamish's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 1°C to 25°C. Abundant rainfall (1098 mm/year), wettest in December.
January
January is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (144 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm).
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July
July is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm).
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (160 mm).
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December
December is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (165 mm).
