Fox Island
Provides access to Hale Passage. Located in Pierce County. Public access.
McGinnis Lake
🌊 McGinnis Lake
📍 Okanogan 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
Hastie Lake
🌊 Strait of Juan de Fuca
📍 Island County, WA
View Details →Alta Lake State Park
🌊 Alta Lake
📍 Okanogan County, WA
View Details →Starr
🌊 Columbia River - Lake Pateros
📍 Starr, WA
View Details →Rt. 129 Bridge
🌊 Grande Ronde River
📍 Asotin County, WA
View Details →Palmer Lake Recreation Site
🌊 Palmer Lake
📍 Nighthawk, 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.
Fort Ward State Park
Provides access to Rich Passage. Located in Bainbridge Island, WA. Public access.
Fort Spokane
Provides access to Spokane River – Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Located in Fort Spokane, WA. Public access.
Fort Canby State Park
Provides access to Columbia River – Baker Bay. Located in Pacific County. Public access.
Flowing Lake County Park
Provides access to Flowing Lake. Located in Snohomish County. Public access.
Fishhook Park
Provides access to Snake River – Lake Sacajawea. Located in Walla Walla County. Public access.
Fishermans Cove Resort
Provides access to Curlew Lake. Located in Ferry County. Semi-Private access.
Fort Worden State Park
Provides access to Port Townsend. Located in Port Townsend, WA. Public access.
Evergreen Park – Bremerton
Provides access to Port Washington Narrows. Located in Bremerton, WA. Public access.
Evans Campground
Provides access to Columbia River – Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. Located in Powell, WA. Public access.
Elochoman Slough Marina
Provides access to Elochoman Slough. Located in Cathlamet, WA. Semi-Private access.
Elmer City
Provides access to Columbia River – Rufus Woods Lake. Located in Okanogan County. Public access.
Ediz Hook
Provides access to Strait of Juan de Fuca – Port Angeles Harbor. Located in Port Angeles, WA. Public access.
Edgewater Campground
Provides access to Pend Oreille River. Located in Pend Oreille County. Public access.
East Sullivan Lake Campground
Provides access to Sullivan Lake. Located in Pend Oreille County. Public access.
Dungeness
Provides access to Strait of Juan de Fuca – Dungeness Bay. Located in Old Town, WA. Public access.
Deception Pass State Park (Bowman Bay)
Provides access to Bowman Bay. Located in Anacortes, WA. Public access.