Willow Point Park
Manson
Swim
Willow Point Park is a 2-acre day-use park on the north shore of Lake Chelan, about 2 miles northwest of downtown Manson in Chelan County, Washington. The Manson Park and Recreation District owns and runs it, and its posted park policy describes several hundred feet of waterfront, a designated swim area, mature shade trees, a playground, picnic tables, barbecues and restrooms. The park takes its name from Willow Point, the small point of land where the swim area sits.
The street address is 165 Willow Point Road, Manson, WA 98831. From Manson, follow the north shore roads west toward Lakeshore Drive and turn onto Willow Point Road, a quiet residential street lined with lake homes. Parking is a small lot, and the district's rules allow parking in the marked stalls only, with violators towed and no overnight parking. On hot summer weekends the lot can fill early, and the surrounding street is private homes, so plan to arrive in the morning or come back later in the day. Visitor reports say the beach sits below the parking area and is reached by stairs, which is worth knowing if anyone in your group has trouble with steps.
The designated swim area is a small marked section of shoreline on the lake side of the park, just below the playground. Visitors describe a sandy beach that slopes into Lake Chelan, a glacially carved lake more than 1,400 feet deep at its deepest. Away from the shallow margin the water gets deep and cold, and even in July and August the lake stays brisk compared with smaller Washington lakes. There is no lifeguard on duty at any time; the park rules say plainly that you swim at your own risk and that children must be with a responsible adult. Free swim lessons run by the district happen at Manson Bay Park, not here.
Entry is free. The district's fee schedule lists charges for the marina, Wapato Lake Campground, the Old Mill boat launch and a few rentals, and nothing for Willow Point Park. Hours are dawn to dusk year-round. Dogs and other pets are not allowed, and neither are alcohol, drugs, fireworks or weapons. If you want a dog-friendly beach, the district points to the Old Swim Hole and Singleton Park instead.
Lake Chelan is a reservoir as well as a natural lake. Chelan County PUD runs the Lake Chelan Dam and normally keeps the water between 1,084 and 1,100 feet above sea level, drawing it down through fall and winter and refilling it with spring snowmelt. In summer the lake is near full and the swim area looks its best; in the off-season the water pulls back and exposes a wide stretch of beach, which the district suggests for winter beachcombing. Summer brings heavy boat and personal watercraft traffic on this part of the lake, so swimmers should stay inside the designated area.
Away from the water there is a lawn with shade trees, a playground for small children, picnic tables and barbecues, and restrooms. Views run across the lake to the hills of the south shore and the mountains up-lake. Downtown Manson, with groceries, restaurants and Manson Bay Park, is about a five-minute drive away.
More Information
Directions
From Manson
- Head northwest on Totem Pole Rd toward Boetzke Ave (400 ft)
- Slight left onto Boetzke Ave (0.6 mi)
- Turn right onto Manson Blvd (0.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Lakeshore Dr (1.0 mi)
- Continue straight onto Willow Point RdDestination will be on the left(0.1 mi)
Other Swimming Holes Nearby
Lake Chelan State Park
Chelan
1.4 miles SWashington State Parks swim beach on the south shore of Lake Chelan, about 9 miles west of Chelan, with a roped swim area below the day-use lot. Discover Pass required ($10 day, $45 annual).
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Chelan Falls Park
Chelan Falls, Washington
11.5 miles SEFree Chelan County PUD park on the Columbia River with a roped swim area, two-lane boat launch, docks, showers and ball fields, four miles below the town of Chelan.
Hike, Kayak, Swim
Daroga State Park
Orondo
12.6 miles SA mile and a half of Columbia River shoreline six miles north of Orondo, with a marked swim beach, a warm shallow lagoon behind the spit, and primitive campsites you can only reach on foot or by boat. Discover Pass required, open April through September.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Alta Lake State Park
Pateros
14.9 miles NEWashington state park beach on the north shore of Alta Lake, two miles southwest of Pateros, with a day-use swim area below tall rock cliffs. Discover Pass required; open April through October.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Columbia Cove Park
Brewster
23.1 miles NEA free City of Brewster river park on Lake Pateros (the Columbia River above Wells Dam) with a small swim beach in a cove beside the boat launch, picnic shelters and a lawn.
Kayak, Swim
Lake Wenatchee State Park South Beach
Leavenworth
25.7 miles WThe designated swim beach at Lake Wenatchee State Park, a sandy stretch of cold, clear glacier-fed lake in the eastern Cascades about 20 road miles from Leavenworth. Discover Pass required ($10 per day).
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Waterfront Park
Leavenworth
30.2 miles SWFree city park on the Wenatchee River a few blocks from downtown Leavenworth, with small gravel and sand beaches, Blackbird Island trails and Barn Beach, where tubers end their float. Cold, fast water until late summer.
Hike, Swim
Walla Walla Point Park
Wenatchee
31.5 miles SA Chelan County PUD park on the Columbia River in north Wenatchee with a designated swim cove and gravel beach at its north end. Free, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round, no lifeguards listed.
Hike, Swim
Douglas Creek
Palisades, Washington
33.2 miles SESwim near Palisades, Washington
Swim
Rock Island
Leavenworth, Washington
39.2 miles SWSwim near Leavenworth, Washington
Swim
Pearrygin Lake State Park
Winthrop
41.0 miles NA marked sand swim beach on the warm southeast shore of Pearrygin Lake, a mile and a half from Winthrop, with a shaded day use lawn and a bathhouse with hot showers. Washington State Parks posts no lifeguards, and day use takes a Discover Pass.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Chinook Park
Quincy
47.7 miles SFree Grant PUD day-use park on the mainland shore at Crescent Bar, with six small beaches on the Columbia River's Wanapum Reservoir, a paved trail and picnic shelters, about 9 miles by road west of Quincy.
Hike, Kayak, Swim
Jade Lake
Skykomish, Washington
48.3 miles WA 26-mile overnight backpacking route through the Snoqualmie region past wildflower meadows, Marmot Lake, and a steep talus scramble to a remote alpine lake for swimming.
Backpack, Camp, Swim
Steamboat Rock State Park Swim Beach
Electric City, Washington
49.6 miles ESandy roped swim beach on Banks Lake below the 800-foot basalt butte of Steamboat Rock State Park, 14 miles south of Grand Coulee Dam in the Washington desert.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, SwimNearby Campsites
Lake Chelan State Park
Chelan
1.4 miles SWashington State Parks swim beach on the south shore of Lake Chelan, about 9 miles west of Chelan, with a roped swim area below the day-use lot. Discover Pass required ($10 day, $45 annual).
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Daroga State Park
Orondo
12.6 miles SA mile and a half of Columbia River shoreline six miles north of Orondo, with a marked swim beach, a warm shallow lagoon behind the spit, and primitive campsites you can only reach on foot or by boat. Discover Pass required, open April through September.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Alta Lake State Park
Pateros
14.9 miles NEWashington state park beach on the north shore of Alta Lake, two miles southwest of Pateros, with a day-use swim area below tall rock cliffs. Discover Pass required; open April through October.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Lake Wenatchee State Park South Beach
Leavenworth
25.7 miles WThe designated swim beach at Lake Wenatchee State Park, a sandy stretch of cold, clear glacier-fed lake in the eastern Cascades about 20 road miles from Leavenworth. Discover Pass required ($10 per day).
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Pearrygin Lake State Park
Winthrop
41.0 miles NA marked sand swim beach on the warm southeast shore of Pearrygin Lake, a mile and a half from Winthrop, with a shaded day use lawn and a bathhouse with hot showers. Washington State Parks posts no lifeguards, and day use takes a Discover Pass.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Jade Lake
Skykomish, Washington
48.3 miles WA 26-mile overnight backpacking route through the Snoqualmie region past wildflower meadows, Marmot Lake, and a steep talus scramble to a remote alpine lake for swimming.
Backpack, Camp, Swim
Steamboat Rock State Park Swim Beach
Electric City, Washington
49.6 miles ESandy roped swim beach on Banks Lake below the 800-foot basalt butte of Steamboat Rock State Park, 14 miles south of Grand Coulee Dam in the Washington desert.
Camp, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim