Matthews Beach Park

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HOURS

4 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE PARK

Matthews Beach is Seattle’s largest freshwater bathing beach.

HISTORY

The park is named for pioneer John G. Matthews, who had his homestead on the site in the 1880’s. The park is an ideal stopping place for bicyclers on the Burke-Gilman Tail- in fact, the outline of the original cove is suggested by the Burke-Gilman Trail, which was once the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the 1940’s, the area south of the main beach was the site of Pan American World Airways’ offices, and the dock for Pan American’s "Clipper Ships"- the world’s first amphibious commercial air transports over the ocean. The City purchased the first ten acres of Matthews Beach in 1951.

(Excerpted from Brandt Morgan’s Enjoying Seattle’s Parks.)

DIRECTIONS

BY BUS

> Plan a trip to Matthews Beach Park

BY CAR

Northbound:

• Take I-5 North to LAKE CITY WY NE (HWY 522).
• Head northeast for 1.6 miles,
• turn right on NE 95TH ST for 1.3 miles
• Turn right on SAND POINT WY NE for 0.1 miles.
• Bear left on NE 93RD ST.

Southbound:

• Take I-5 South to Northgate Way.
• Turn right on Lake City Way.
• Turn Left on NE 95th ,
• Turn right on Sand Point Way NE.
• Bear left on NE 93rd St.

Large paved lot with 2 handicapped spaces.