
Three Seattle swimming beaches will be closed for summer 2023.
If you were planning to swim in a Seattle beach this summer, be prepared to tweak your plans. Three Seattle swimming beaches will be closed for summer 2023 due to a lifeguard shortage: Seward Park Beach, Magnuson Park Beach, and East Green Lake Beach. Although you can still swim there at your own risk, it is strongly recommended that you visit one of the six other Seattle swimming beaches with lifeguards this summer instead.
Read on for more details and for a list of Seattle swimming beaches that will be open!
Here are the Seattle swimming beaches that will be open for summer 2023:
- Madrona Beach opens on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day)
- West Green Lake Beach opens on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day)
- Madison Beach opens on Saturday, June 24
- Matthews Beach opens on Saturday, June 24
- Mt. Baker Beach opens on Saturday, June 24
- Pritchard Beach opens on Saturday, June 24
Lifeguard hours
Beaches open between May 29 and June 24 will have lifeguards from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and to 11:00 p.m. on weekends. Starting on June 24, all of the above beaches will have lifeguards from noon to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.
In addition to the above swimming beaches, many Seattleites also enjoy spending their summers at Alki Beach in West Seattle and Golden Gardens in Ballard. Although there are no lifeguards at these beaches and the water of Puget Sound remains very cold even in the summer, they are both still popular sandy beaches. You can play volleyball, have a beach fire, and sunbathe. Keep in mind that both Alki Beach and Golden Gardens have reduced hours this summer, closing at 10:30 p.m. from May 26 through September 3.
Although swimming will be allowed at the closed beaches (Seward Park Beach, Magnuson Park Beach, and East Green Lake Beach) it is not recommended to do so without lifeguards present. If you do choose to swim at an unguarded beach, it is highly recommended that you wear a life jacket.
Seattle Parks and Recreation says that they are “working hard to recruit, train, and hire more lifeguards and wading pool attendants so we can return to full operational hours.” The lifeguard job opportunities are available online.