Boating

Boat launches, docks and a moorage can be found at many facilities which may also include campgrounds, day-use areas, picnic areas, bathrooms and parking. Click on the bulleted item below or scroll through the page to view maps. The following areas have boating facilities:

• Alder Lake Boat Launch
• Rocky Point
• Stacel Point Day Use Area
• Camp Cushman
• Lake Kokanee
• Saltwater Park
• Mayfield Lake Park
• Ike Kinswa State Park
• Barrier Dam Boat Launch
• Blue Creek Boat Launch
• Kosmos Boat Launch
• Mossyrock Park Boat Launch
• Taidnapam Park
• Swofford Pond (no gasoline motors)
• Coho Campground

Alder Lake Recreation Area

Alder Lake is the 3,065 acre reservoir behind Alder Dam. It is located about 30 miles south of Tacoma between the towns of Alder and Elbe. The lake lies in Pierce, Thurston and Lewis counties. The Alder Lake Recreation Area consists of Alder Lake Park campgrounds, boat launch and Stacel Point day use area; Sunny Beach Point day-use area; and Rocky Point campground and boat launch.

Alder Lake Boat Launch

Open year-round, lake level permitting, the Alder Lake Boat Launch is the first area you come to as you enter Alder Lake Park. The boat launch includes a two-lane launch with dock, parking and restrooms. See Map below.

Alder Lake Recreation Area

Click images to view larger maps

Alder Lake No Wake Areas

Alder Lake Park Boat Launch and Stacel Point Day Use Moorage

Rocky Point Campground and Boat Launch

Lake Cushman

The 4,010-acre Lake Cushman is set amid the majestic Olympic Mountains. Kokanee, bull trout, cutthroat trout and some land-locked chinook salmon can be found in the lake's waters. Opening day of lowland lakes fishing season always draws a crowd of anglers to Lake Cushman.  View map.

A public boat launch at Camp Cushman (formerly Lake Cushman State Park) provides easy access to the lake. The park, which is owned by Tacoma Power and operated by a private concessionaire, also has overnight camping, full hookups, fire pits and picnic tables for day use.

Lake Kokanee

A few miles downstream from Lake Cushman is the 150-acre Lake Kokanee. Lake Kokanee is prime fishing territory for catching kokanee and rainbow trout. A public boat launch is at the south end of the lake near the dam.

To get to the boat launch at Lake Kokanee, turn left off of Highway 119 at about milepost 2.4 and stay to the right for about two miles.

Saltwater Park

On Hood Canal across Highway 101 from the Cushman Powerhouse No. 2 is Saltwater Park, owned and maintained by Tacoma Power. Saltwater Park, is a day-use park with a boat launch, fire pits, picnic tables and restrooms.

How to Get There

The Cushman Project is near Hoodsport on the Olympic Peninsula. It takes about and hour and a half to drive from Tacoma to the Cushman Project.

The most direct route from Interstate 5 is to exit at Olympia on to Highway 101 north toward Shelton. Hoodsport is about 15 miles north of Shelton. To reach the major recreation areas at Lake Cushman, turn left at Hoodsport on to Highway 119. This road leads past Camp Cushman and other picnic and camping areas up to the Staircase Campground of the Olympic National Park.  

Lake Cushman and Lake Kokanee

Mayfield Lake Park

Mayfield Lake Park is about 90 miles south of Tacoma, located in Lewis County on the east side of Mayfield Lake. The day-use park and boat ramp are open year-round during daylight hours. Day-use and boat launch parking $5 per vehicle, weekends and holidays, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Click to view the Mayfield Lake Map.

Ike Kinswa State Park

State park with campground, Ike Kinswa State Park is conveniently located by Mayfield Lake for your enjoyment. It has a boat ramp, campground and day-use facility.

How to Get There

From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68).  Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 17 miles. Turn left on Beach Road and drive a quarter of a mile to the park entrance.

An alternate route from Tacoma is to take Highway 7 south to the town of Morton. At Morton, turn right onto Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Beach Road, approximately 14 miles. Turn right and continue on Beach Road to the park entrance.

Cowlitz River

The Cowlitz River is renowned as one of the finest steelhead rivers in Washington State. It also is popular for coho and other salmon fishing. See Map below.

Call our toll free Fishing and Recreation Line number 1-888-502-8690 for recorded information on river flows, lake levels and usability of boat ramps on the lakes.

Tacoma Power provides two popular fishing spots along the Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam:

• Barrier Dam boat launch near the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery
• Blue Creek boat launch near the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery

Both boat launches have vault toilets and large parking areas.

Tacoma Power owns and maintains these sites. The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife helped Tacoma Power develop these popular recreation sites.

How to Get There

To get to the Barrier Dam boat launch from Interstate 5, take Highway 12 East about 12 miles. Turn right on Fuller Road. Continue until the "T" intersection and turn left on Spencer Road. Stay right at the "Y."  Turn left into the salmon hatchery parking lot, or drive straight to get to the Barrier Dam boat launch and fishing area.

To get to the Blue Creek boat launch from Interstate 5, take State Highway 12 east to the community of Ethel. Turn right (south) on to Tucker Road. Tucker Road bends to the right where it meets Classe Road at a Y. Go straight on to Classe Road. At the end of the road turn left on to Spencer Road. Watch for the signs directing you to turn right to go to the trout hatchery and to the Blue Creek boat launch.

Riffe Lake

Riffe Lake is the reservoir behind Tacoma Power's Mossyrock Dam. Two public boat launches are available at the southwest and east ends of Riffe Lake. Parking for the boat launch is $5 per vehicle, weekends and holidays only, Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Taidnampam Park

Located about 110 miles south of Tacoma in Lewis County near the town of Morton, Taidnapam Park has a two-lane boat launch with restrooms and a fish-cleaning station nearby. The boat launch is located past the entrance of the main campground. The ramp is generally usuable May 15 to September 15 depending on lake level. Parking for the boat launch is $5 per vehicle, weekends and holidays only, Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend.

How to Get There

Taidnapam Park is about 110 miles south of Tacoma in Lewis County, near the town of Morton. From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68). Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 37 miles (5 miles past Morton). Turn right on Kosmos Road, then left onto an improved gravel road (#100 Champion Haul Road).

Follow the improved gravel road approximately 4 miles to the park entrance. Turn right in to the park. An alternate route from Tacoma is to take Highway 7 south to the town of Morton. At Morton turn left on to Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Kosmos Road; turn right and continue as above. For your safety and that of others, please obey all posted speed limits, particularly on the gravel road.

Kosmos Boat Launch

Located on the east end of Riffe Lake. Open in the summer months when the reservoir is at its highest elevation.

How to Get There

Mossyrock Park is about 90 miles south of Tacoma in Lewis County, near the town of Mossyrock. From Tacoma, take Interstate 5 south to Highway 12 East (Exit 68). Drive east on Highway 12 for approximately 21 miles. Turn right on Williams Street (flashing yellow light). Continue several blocks on Williams Street to a "T" intersection in the town of Mossyrock. Turn left onto State Street. Outside of town, State Street becomes Mossyrock Road East, and then Ajlune Road. Ajlune Road leads into the park.

An alternate route from Tacoma is to take Highway 7 south to the town of Morton. At Morton, turn right onto Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Williams Street; turn left and continue as above.

Mossyrock Park Boat Launch

The Mossyrock Park boat launch is on the southwest shore near the dam at the west end of the lake. Year-round access is usually available here even when the lake is at its low wintertime elevation. See Map below.

Cowlitz Project Area Map

Click on image to view larger map.

Mossyrock Park Campground and Boat Launch

Swofford Pond

If you like fishing, hiking and watching birds and wildlife in a serene and relaxing atmosphere, Swofford Pond is the place to visit. Swofford Pond is approximately 4.5 miles east of the town of Mossyrock.  No gasoline boat motors are allowed. The shoreline of the pond is part of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area.

How to Get There

To get there from Mossyrock Park, drive west toward the town of Mossyrock for about one-half mile. Turn left at Swofford Road at the Y, and travel another 1.5 miles in a southeasterly direction. Stay to the left at the second Y. Parking is available in the county parking lot about 300 yards beyond the entrance to the boat launch.

Wynoochee Lake

Coho Campground

Campers and hikers can enjoy lakeside recreation facilities built and operated by the Forest Service. Coho Campground, one-quarter mile north of the project administration building, offers 46 sites for tents and trailers plus 10 walk-in sites for tents only. A boat ramp and picnic area are in the campground, and an RV dump station is just outside the campground. Camping fees are charged.