Boating in Washington

Washington has hundreds of miles of lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that are open to boating, including the Columbia River. While not necessarily boating, windsurfing enjoys great popularity in the steady upstream winds of the Columbia River Gorge, and is a great compliment to a day on a boat in the area. The Puget Sound is a very popular destination for powerboating, sailing, and smaller catamaran style excursions. Nearly all the small towns on the coast, through the San Juan Islands, and the Kitsap peninsula got their start as fishing villages, and many maintain an active marina area to service departing boats.

For a detailed overview of fishing in Washington's many lakes, please visit our Washington Fishing Guide.

Go-Washington connects you with the best boating guides and outfitters across Washington, as well as the leading boat rental companies. Use our extensive Boating Destination Search Page to research your trip, and get connected with outfitter services at our Washington Guides and Outfitters Search Page.

WESTERN WASHINGTON

Aberdeen, along the Pacific coast at Grays Harbor, is a great point to launch or charter a boat to explore the pacific coast. Willapa Bay and the Columbia River outlet at Cape Disappointment offer great sights for a one or two day cruise, or as the launching point for a open ocean fishing expedition.

Inland, Riffe Lake or Swift Reservoir, both near Mount St. Helens are popular boating destinations, and Vancouver is a great departing point to explore the Columbia River Gorge.

NORTHWEST WASHINGTON

The Puget Sound area has long been a locus for boating, with busy ports that hum with the activity of trade from Asia, cruise liners departing to Alaska, and independent fishing boats catching the finest fresh fish in the northwest. The access points to the Sound are numerous, and great calm-water boating in Lake Washington and Lake Union via sailboat, kayak, or yacht means world class floating on some of the largest natural lakes in Washington, all within the Seattle metro area.

In the Puget Sound, you need not charter a boat to explore the many waterways and inlets. The Washington ferry system, the largest such system in the United States, has extensive coverage of the area. The half hour ferry trip out of Seattle to Bainbridge Island is a popular trip for locals to watch the setting sun reflect across the Seattle skyline. For more information about this unique method of travel, visit our Seattle page.

NORTHEAST WASHINGTON

Northwest Washington is dominated by the massive Lake Roosevelt, built by the creation of the Grand Coulee Dam. This 150-mile long body of water is a hot spot for powerboaters and sailboaters alike. Lake Chelan, one of the deepest lakes in the United States, is just the largest of a system of lakes that are fed by extensive Cascade snowmelt. Surrounded by pristine forests and alpine peaks, easy beach access allows for day trips into the nearby meadows and woodlands.

SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON

The Columbia River and the lower Snake River meander through the southeast corner of Washington, and are another popular destination for water recreation. Lake Wallula, just south of the Tri-Cities, is a wide open, glassy lake perfect for water skiing and wakeboarding.