Rocky Point Recreation Area
Provides access to Nisqually River – Alder Lake. Located in Alder, WA. Public access.
Colonial Creek Campground
🌊 Diablo Lake
📍 Whatcom County, WA
View Details →Find a Boat Ramp
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Boat Ramps in Washington
Discover 888 public boat launches, ramps, and marina access points throughout Washington. Find the perfect launch site for your next boating adventure.
888
Total Boat Ramps
Grant County
65 ramps - Most in County
64
Counties Covered
Boating in Washington - Puget Sound to the Columbia
Washington state's boating ranges from the protected saltwater inland sea of Puget Sound to the Columbia River along the southern border, the massive eastern Washington reservoirs, and the Cascade mountain lakes, and no single description covers the experience across all of those environments.
Puget Sound is the dominant boating environment for the western part of the state. It's a complex waterway with ferry traffic, commercial shipping, fishing vessels, and recreational boats all sharing the same water in a maze of channels, bays, and inlets. The tidal current in Puget Sound is significant and runs hard in the narrows between larger bodies of water. Deception Pass, Tacoma Narrows, and Admiralty Inlet all have current that demands respect and timing. The scenery throughout the Sound is exceptional.
The San Juan Islands northwest of Anacortes are a world-class cruising destination, with the combination of wildlife (orca pods are regularly seen), scenery, and protected anchorages that makes the area genuinely special. Accessing the San Juans requires crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca or navigating the northern Sound, both of which are conditions-dependent crossings.
Eastern Washington's Columbia River reservoirs, Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam being the most extensive, provide flat water boating in a landscape that contrasts dramatically with the western side of the state. Lake Chelan is 50 miles long, deep, and set in a dramatic canyon with access from Chelan at the lower end and only water and air access to the remote upper portion.
Washington's registration and boater education requirements are actively enforced, and Puget Sound has strict no-discharge regulations for sewage that apply to all vessels.
Complete Guide to Boating in Washington
Discover the best boat ramps, popular water bodies, boating regulations, and essential information for Washington.
Read the Full Guide →Featured Boat Ramps in Washington
Hunters Campground
🌊 Columbia River
📍 Davenport, WA
View Details →Panorama Point Campground
🌊 Baker Lake
📍 Whatcom County, WA
View Details →PIONEER PARK
🌊 Pend Oreille River
📍 NEWPORT, WA
View Details →Ozette Ranger Station
🌊 Ozette Lake
📍 Ozette, WA
View Details →Fort Canby State Park
🌊 Columbia River - Baker Bay
📍 Pacific County, WA
View Details →Browse by County
Grant County
65 rampsOkanogan County
50 rampsKing County
43 rampsSnohomish County
39 rampsPierce County
35 rampsSkagit County
35 rampsMason County
35 rampsStevens County
31 rampsClallam County
27 rampsGrays Harbor County
27 rampsKitsap County
27 rampsChelan County
26 rampsPend Oreille County
25 rampsWhatcom County
25 rampsCowlitz County
23 rampsSpokane County
19 rampsIsland County
19 rampsJefferson County
19 rampsThurston County
19 rampsBenton County
16 rampsLewis County
16 rampsKittitas County
16 rampsKlickitat County
15 rampsPacific County
14 rampsSan Juan County
14 rampsStevens
14 rampsYakima County
13 rampsFranklin County
12 rampsLincoln County
12 rampsYakima
12 rampsWhatcom
12 rampsAsotin County
11 rampsWalla Walla County
9 rampsClark County
9 rampsFerry County
8 rampsDouglas County
8 rampsSkamania County
8 rampsWhitman County
7 rampsChelan
7 rampsLincoln
7 rampsPend Oreille
6 rampsWahkiakum County
5 rampsGrays Harbor
5 rampsFerry
5 rampsGarfield County
4 rampsAdams County
3 rampsColumbia County
3 rampsWalla Walla
3 rampsSnohomish
3 rampsSkagit
3 rampsKittitas
2 rampsLewis
2 rampsSkamania
2 rampsOkanogan
2 rampsSan Juan
2 rampsBonner County
1 rampBoundary
1 rampUnion
1 rampBenton
1 rampFranklin
1 rampCowlitz
1 rampJefferson
1 rampAsotin
1 rampClallam
1 rampAbout Boating in Washington
Washington offers excellent boating opportunities with 888 boat ramps across the state. Whether you're looking to launch on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters, our directory helps you find the perfect access point for your watercraft.
Finding the Right Boat Ramp
When selecting a boat ramp in Washington, consider these factors:
- Number of launch lanes to avoid congestion during peak times
- Parking availability for vehicles and boat trailers
- Launch fees - many public ramps are free to use
- Ramp surface condition (concrete, asphalt, or gravel)
- Hours of operation and seasonal accessibility
- Nearby amenities like restrooms, fish cleaning stations, and bait shops
Explore All Ramps Below
Browse our complete directory of boat ramps in Washington below. Use the filters to narrow your search by county or specific features you need.
Roche Harbor Resort
Provides access to Roche Harbor. Located in Roche Harbor, WA. Semi-Private access.
Potholes State Park
Provides access to Lower Crab Creek – Potholes Reservoir. Located in Grant County. Public access.
Possession Beach Waterfront Park
Provides access to Possession Sound. Located in Possession, WA. Public access.
Port Townsend Boat Haven
Provides access to Admiralty Inlet. Located in Port Townsend, WA. Public access.
Port of Silverdale
Provides access to Puget Sound – Dyes Inlet. Located in Silverdale, WA. Public access.
Port of Peninsula/Nahcotta Boat Basin
Provides access to Willapa Bay. Located in Ocean Park, WA. Public access.
Port of Kennewick
Provides access to Columbia River – Lake Wallula. Located in Kennewick, WA. Public access.
Port of Chinook
Provides access to Columbia River – Baker Bay. Located in Chinook, WA. Public access.
Port of Camas – Washougal
Provides access to Columbia River. Located in Washougal, WA. Public access.
Port of Allyn Waterfront Park
Provides access to North Bay (Case Inlet). Located in Allyn, WA. Public access.
Porcupine Bay Campground
Provides access to Spokane River – Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Located in Lincoln County. Public access.
Pondoray Shores
Provides access to Pend Oreille River. Located in Pend Oreille County. Public access.
Riverside Park Picnic Area
Provides access to Wenatchee River. Located in Cashmere, WA. Public access.
Riparia
Provides access to Snake River – Lake Herbert G. West. Located in Whitman County. Public access.
Rainbow Cove Resort
Provides access to Clear Lake. Located in Medical Lake, WA. Semi-Private access.