Lake Washington, Freshwater lake in King County, US
Lake Washington is a freshwater lake in King County between Seattle, Bellevue, and Renton in Washington state. The body of water stretches across a large area with gentle shores, wooded slopes, and two floating bridges connecting its eastern and western sides.
Native communities used the body of water as a travel route for centuries before European settlers arrived in the nineteenth century. Its water level dropped during the forties after the construction of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks complex.
The name comes from Thomas Jefferson, the first president of the United States after whom this body of water was named. Today people use its shores for family outings and summer gatherings, while many locals jog or picnic along its edges.
Several public parks along the shore offer access to the water with parking and restrooms. Swimmers should be cautious during windy weather when waves can form quickly.
On clear days you can see Mount Rainier rising beyond the Seattle skyline from the eastern shore. Divers can explore submerged trees and historic boat wrecks resting on the bottom.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
