Trying to get out of the crowds, and into some water? With this heat wave, it can be great to take a break from hiking in the sun, and spend part of your Mt. Rainier visit lounging on Alder Lake!
About 15 minutes before the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier lay one of the jewels of the Nisqually Valley. As the Nisqually River flows from the Nisqually Glacier, through the park, and through Ashford (passing just a mile from our Visitor Center), it empties it’s jade-colored water into Alder Lake at Elbe. Formed by Alder Dam, Alder Lake stretches 7 miles, past the town of Alder, winding along HWY 7.
There are three fantastic parks for your family’s enjoyment (all part of the Alder Lake Park system). If you have a paddleboard, kayak, canoe, motorboat, jetskis, or other water vessel – bring it along! Park fun includes swimming areas, boat launches, barbeques, bathrooms, playgrounds, and plenty of picnic space – but not all three parks include all facilities. Read on for the what’s what of Alder Lake summer fun!
Driving west from the Ashford Visitor’s Center on SR 706, you’ll reach Elbe after 7 miles, and join HWY 7. Drive through Elbe, and you’ll see the first park, Rocky Point Campground on your left. With the least facilities of the three parks, Rocky Point is best used for it’s boat launch, camping and fishing. There are a couple of picnic tables, but there is not a swimming area. There are 25 campsites with electric and water hookups, and a bathroom facility. You can fish for largemouth bass, rainbow and cutthroat trout from this westernmost area of the lake, and the boat launch is free of charge. It is a great option for launching the boat when the other parks are super-busy! More info can be found at http://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/parks-recreation/alder-lake-park/rocky-point-campground.htm
Sunny Beach Point is 3 miles further west along HWY 7. There is a swimming beach, a sheltered picnic area, restrooms, and 20 picnic tables with grills. Sunny Beach Point is open May 15th – September 15th, and there is always free entry. No alcohol allowed, and there is no camping. Pets are welcomed on-leash. More information can be found at http://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/parks-recreation/alder-lake-park/sunny-beach-point.htm
Alder Lake Park is .6 miles west along HWY 7 from Sunny Beach Park. Alder Lake Park is the most expansive of the parks by far, with a swimming area, boat launch, and 149 campsites. There are coin-operated showers and restrooms. The park has free entrance on weekdays, and a $5 parking fee on weekends and holidays. If the day-use parking lot is full, the gates will be closed, but that does not mean the park itself is closed! Open year-round. More info at http://www.mytpu.org/tacomapower/parks-recreation/alder-lake-park/
Bring your family, dogs, swimsuits, and a picnic blanket and soak in the beauty of Alder Lake. Summer doesn’t get much better than lake swimming, bbqing, boating and camping!
Details:
Rocky Point Campground
52910 Mountain Highway E
Eatonville, WA 98328
Sunny Beach Point:
50316 Mountain Hwy E
Eatonville, WA 98328
Alder Lake Park
50324 School Rd
Eatonville, WA 98328
For all 3 parks (all part of the Alder Lake Park system):
Park office: (360) 569-2778
Fishing and recreation line: (888) 502-8690
*Note – while State Highway 7/Mountain Highway is closed to through traffic for construction this summer, the parks are still accessible, as they are considered local traffic. Coming from the south, continue through road closure signs. From the north, follow the detour routes, until you can pass the road closure signs from the south as directed above.
Mt. Rainier Visitor Association 