Pine trees make this place a perfect combo of shade and sun 
This park is ideal for a company or family picnic because of the covered areas. First come, first serve! 
Perfect covered picnic tables near the playset 
Playground 
The dock – you can fish off one side and jump into the water on the other side. Life guard is on duty 
Perfect for kayaking 
We were able to hang our hammock to enjoy some relaxation 
By far the kids favorite thing – jumping off the dock into the water
Pine lake park has a little for everyone… except no pets! 😦
I don’t know… Pine Lake Park and Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish might just steal the show for local ‘lake’ adventures if you don’t boat or jetski. The only downside this year is the water is so high there is little to no beach area. You can still make your day camp right up against the water but there is now WAY less space. My advice… go on a weekday after work with the kids, around 5pm is starts to thin out and the sun is still pretty strong.
“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty”
Albert Einstein
I would take Pine or Beaver lakes over Lake Sammamish any day of the week! Why? A few standout reasons.
- Shade that is close to the water. You can literally put half your ‘camp’ in the shade and half in the sun. That is the best when you need the kids (or YOU) to have a break from the sun.
- Clean dock you can jump off. This is so fun for my 10 year old daughter. You have to pass a swim test (which I appreciate!). I even have fun jumping off the dock and I am a good 40 years old! Never to old to jump off a dock I say! ha!
- Life jackets you can borrow. Lake Sammamish has this also (but only on the side where they rent kayaks) – I appreciate the care that is taken to make sure everyone is safe!
- Huge park with much more than a small lake. This park has it all! Playgrounds, basketball courts, basefall field, swings, covered pavillions everywhere, walking paths. You name it… this is your spot for a perfect family picnic.
- You can pull up directly to the water’s edge with your kayak, canoe, or raft – unload – and then go park. I appreciate not having to lug my kayak a long distance.
Con's - if I have to...
- No pets allowed - or at least not encouraged. This is a big draw back for us! Especially because we have Eddie and we are trying to make him a part of all we do outdoors.
- Bring your own kayak or floating thingy!! This lake does not have rentals. I have a kayak but the kids also bring a floaty or raft we have.
- It can get super crowded like all cool lake spots in the summer. We go sometimes at 5pm for a dinner picnic, lake fun. It's less crowded and we watch the sun set. As mentioned above the water is high this year and most 'beach' space isn't there this year.
All in all - Pine Lake is a great place. I don't plan it out to much, this is the kind of place you can just pick up the kids and just GO!. The key to that is have a wagon already ready with all your beach toys, sunscreen, and life jackets ready to go also, this extra attention to putting away our 'lake adventure set' really helps us be able to do this on a moment's notice.
If you live in the Issaquah this one is a STAPLE of the summer - especially on a weekday after work! If you don't live here - try and find your 'go to' place to cool off in the summer with some picnic action. I know many of us aren't on 'summer vacation' like the kids. But we still need it just as much. I think people think going to the lake is exhausting... it doesn't have to be! Just being in a nature for a couple hours a day can have a huge effect on your mood, your productiveness at work and on the memories you make with your kids while they are on summer vacation.
Details: Address: 2401 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075 Hours: 8am Closes 8PM
