Chism Beach Park
Wooded Lake Washington beach with lifeguards in summer.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Neighborhood
- Old Bellevue
- Phone
- +1-425-452-6885
- Hours
- 6am-11pm
Why you'll love it
An editor's take
It is the closest Bellevue gets to a state-park swim day without leaving the city. Wooded picnic areas, a small but genuine swim beach, and a quiet fishing dock — all within a ten-minute drive of Downtown but shaded by second-growth forest that muffles the traffic.
Highlights
What makes it special
- 19 wooded acres on Lake Washington with a lifeguarded swim beach
- Lifeguards on duty noon–7pm daily through Labor Day
- Fishing dock, picnic shelter, volleyball court, and a small playground
- Wooded upper trail loop connecting the parking area to the beach
- Free admission, free parking (single lot off 96th Ave SE, arrive early on hot weekends)
- One of two full-service lifeguarded Bellevue swim beaches — the other is Meydenbauer
What you'll experience
The visit, in detail
From the parking lot, a paved switchback drops through the forest to the beach. The lawn between the parking overlook and the sand is the busy zone on hot weekends — families with coolers, canopy tents, and radios. The sand strip itself is narrow and grades quickly into deep water; strong swimmers and lap swimmers stay close to the dock. The lifeguarded swim area is roped off at a shallow depth suitable for children. The picnic shelter above the beach has grills; the upper wooded loop offers a cool, quieter alternative when the beach lawn is full.
Best time
When to visit
Weekday afternoons in July and AugustAny morning before 11:00 in summer
11:00-15:00 for swim; 17:00-19:00 for the picnic shelter
Lifeguards Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Off-season the beach is open but unguarded. October through March the park is a quiet forest walk with lake views.
Accessibility
Getting around
- Restrooms
- Accessible restrooms near the picnic shelter
- Parking
- Free lot with two ADA stalls off 96th Ave SE
Nearby
What's around you
Arts & Culture nearby
Browse all arts & culture in Bellevue →
Winters House
Bellevue's only city-owned property on the National Register of Historic Places.
Downtown
Eastside Heritage Center
Historical society preserving Eastside history.
Downtown
Aronica Fine Arts Gallery
Independent gallery in Old Bellevue.
Downtown
Garden d'Lights
Holiday light show at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Wilburton
Family Activities nearby
Browse all family activities in Bellevue →Enatai Beach Park
Lake Washington beach park with kayak rentals.
Old Bellevue
Bellevue Downtown Park
A 21-acre urban oasis in the heart of Bellevue with a signature waterfall, half-mile promenade, great lawn, and inclusive playground.
Downtown
Snowflake Lane
Nightly holiday parade through The Bellevue Collection.
Downtown
Kelsey Creek Farm Park
Bellevue's 150-acre historic farm park — free admission, live barnyard animals daily, two 1930s-40s dairy barns, playground, and quiet wooded trails minutes from downtown.
Wilburton
Parks & Trails nearby
Browse all parks & trails in Bellevue →
Mercer Slough Nature Park
4.7A 320-acre freshwater wetland preserve in the heart of Bellevue with seven miles of trails, boardwalks over open water, a working blueberry farm, and the Environmental Education Center run in partnership with Pacific Science Center.
Newport
Meydenbauer Bay Park
4.7Bellevue's downtown waterfront: a swim beach, a pier, and kayak rentals ten minutes below Old Bellevue.
Old Bellevue
Bellevue Botanical Garden
4.8A free 53-acre public botanical garden in Wilburton with the celebrated Perennial Border, Yao Japanese Garden, Ravine Experience suspension bridge, and the annual Garden d'Lights holiday show.
Wilburton
Wilburton Hill Park
4.6Hilltop park with sports fields, gardens, and city views.
Wilburton
Hotels nearby
Browse all hotels in Bellevue →Bellevue Club Hotel
An independent 66-room hotel attached to the Bellevue Club — a 200,000-square-foot athletic and wellness campus with indoor and outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and four dining venues, at the south edge of downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Hilton Bellevue
Full-service Hilton with Basil's Kitchen restaurant.
Downtown
Residence Inn by Marriott Bellevue Downtown
All-suite extended-stay with kitchens and breakfast.
Downtown
AC Hotel by Marriott Bellevue Downtown
European-inspired design hotel in downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Coffee Shops nearby
Browse all coffee shops in Bellevue →
Bellden Cafe
4.8A warm, community-first neighborhood cafe on Old Bellevue's Main Street — specialty coffee, thoughtful breakfast and lunch, and a room that reads more like a shared living room than a coffee stop.
Old Bellevue
Main Street Coffee
4.5Local indie roaster on Main Street with a sunny patio.
Old Bellevue
Belle Pastry
4.6French pastry case with espresso to match.
Old Bellevue
Dote Coffee Bar
4.6A Downtown Bellevue flagship where a small-batch, direct-trade coffee program meets a handmade chocolate program on the same bar — the signature "coffee meets chocolate" experience in the heart of the Bellevue Collection.
Downtown
Restaurants nearby
Browse all restaurants in Bellevue →
Bis on Main
4.7Old Bellevue's neighborhood-anchor dining room — Pacific Northwest bistro cooking, a serious wine list, and the special-occasion table on Main Street.
Old Bellevue
Monsoon Bellevue
4.5Old Bellevue's modern Vietnamese dining room — market-driven Vietnamese cooking, a serious wine and cocktail program, and one of the most distinctive restaurants on Main Street.
Old Bellevue
520 Bar & Grill
Old Bellevue bar and grill at 10146 Main Street serving classic American fare, with a patio and weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Old Bellevue
Carmine's
4.5Downtown Bellevue's Italian dining room — house-made pastas, Roman classics, a serious Italian and Washington wine list, and a table where the conversation runs long.
Old Bellevue
Shopping nearby
Browse all shopping in Bellevue →Old Bellevue Main Street
Walkable historic district with indie boutiques, salons, and cafés.
Old Bellevue
Apple Bellevue Square
Flagship Apple store inside Bellevue Square.
Downtown
Nordstrom Bellevue Square
Three-story Nordstrom anchor with cafe and personal styling.
Downtown
Pottery Barn Bellevue Square
Two-floor home furnishings showroom.
Downtown
Nightlife nearby
Browse all nightlife in Bellevue →Lake Washington Cellars
Local winery tasting room.
Downtown
Civility & Unrest
Cocktail bar inside W Bellevue with creative drinks.
Downtown
Cypress Lounge & Wine Bar
Refined wine bar inside The Westin Bellevue.
Downtown
JOEY Bellevue
Energetic restaurant-bar with social bar scene.
Downtown
Attractions nearby
Browse all attractions in Bellevue →Bellevue Square
4.5The two-level, 200-store centerpiece of The Bellevue Collection — connected by sky bridge to Lincoln Square, Bellevue Place, and downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
The Bellevue Collection
4.7Downtown Bellevue's three-building shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotel campus — Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place connected by covered skybridges into one walkable destination.
Downtown
Lincoln Square
4.5Downtown Bellevue's entertainment, dining, and lifestyle complement to Bellevue Square — cinema, chef-driven restaurants, a public plaza, and the W Bellevue, all under one covered roof.
Downtown
Bellevue Arts Museum
4.4Bellevue's cultural centerpiece — a non-collecting museum of Art, Craft, and Design in a Steven Holl–designed building across from Bellevue Square, with rotating exhibitions, family programs, and one of the strongest pieces of contemporary architecture in Downtown Bellevue.
Downtown
Things to Do nearby
Browse all things to do in Bellevue →
Meydenbauer Center
4.4Bellevue's premier convention, conference, and performing arts venue — 36,000 square feet of column-free ballroom, a 410-seat theatre, and a full block of meeting space steps from light rail.
Downtown
Lucky Strike Bellevue
4.3Upscale bowling, billiards, and craft cocktails.
Downtown
Local Businesses nearby
Browse all local businesses in Bellevue →
Ishii Motor Industries Auto Repair
Independent Bellevue auto repair shop on 116th Ave NE — a locally-owned alternative to dealership service, walking distance from downtown Bellevue.
Wilburton
Bel-Red Barbers
4.6Bellevue's longest-running barber shop — walk-ins only, seven days a week, in continuous operation on the Eastside since 1959.
Bridle Trails
Come prepared
Visitor checklist
- Swim gear and a towel
- Water and snacks (no concessions on site)
- A shade layer — the beach faces west with limited natural shade
- Cash for the fishing dock (no fee, but useful if you drive on for takeout)
Practical
Know before you go
The parking lot is the constraint, not the beach. On hot July and August weekends the lot fills between 11am and noon and the park closes to inbound traffic until spaces open. Plan to arrive before 11am on weekends or use late afternoon. There is no concession stand — bring water and snacks. Alcohol is not permitted on the beach.
Details
Hours & contact
Hours
- Daily
- 6am-11pm
Contact
- Address
- 1175 96th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
- Phone
- +1-425-452-6885
More like this
Related family activities
Bellevue Family YMCA
Family YMCA with pool, gym, and child watch.
Crossroads
Robinswood Community Park
Community park with tennis, fields, and Robinswood House.
Lake Hills
Bellevue Aquatic Center
Indoor public pool with lessons and family swim.
Downtown
Kelsey Creek Farm Park
Bellevue's 150-acre historic farm park — free admission, live barnyard animals daily, two 1930s-40s dairy barns, playground, and quiet wooded trails minutes from downtown.
Wilburton
Keep exploring
Continue your visit
Tags
Featured in
This place is featured in these collections
Contribute
Have great photos of Chism Beach Park?
Share them with BellevueExplorer. Editor-reviewed, no account required — we credit contributors when we publish.