Lake Cushman is a 9.6-mile reservoir in the Olympic foothills, 5 miles up State Route 119 from Hoodsport on Hood Canal and about 96 miles from Seattle with no ferry. The public gets on the lake at Skokomish Park, $20 a car for the day ($25 on weekends and holidays); the numbered community parks around the shore are for Lake Cushman members and their guests. Below: where to swim and launch, which hikes are open after the 2025 Bear Gulch Fire, where to eat oysters, and what changes with the season.
Day planner
Plan your Lake Cushman day
My family has a home on the Lake Cushman golf course, and this is the list I give friends and guests: where the public can actually get on the water, what is open since the fire, and where to eat in Hoodsport. Pick a plan above and it lays the day out in driving order.
Same place, other names: Cushman Lake, Lake Cushman WA, the Hoodsport lake. Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman was Lake Cushman State Park, then Camp Cushman.
Access
Can you get on Lake Cushman? Public access vs. the community parks
Yes. Lake Cushman is not a private lake, but most of its shore is a private community, so it helps to know which door is yours.
| Place | Who can use it | What it costs | What’s there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman | Everyone | $20 a car ($25 weekends and holidays); boat launch $25 | 3 ramps, day-use beach, picnic shelter, 60+ campsites, rentals in summer |
| Lake Cushman lookout (SR 119) | Everyone | Free | Roadside view only |
| Community parks D1, D2, D3, D9, D14 | LCMC members and their guests | Member decal or guest permit | Beaches, docks, launches, gazebos; launches open or close with the lake level |
| Lake Cushman Golf Course | Everyone | Green fee | Public 9 holes with 2 sets of tees |
On the water
Swimming, boating and why the shoreline moves
Lake Cushman is a Tacoma Power reservoir behind a dam finished in the 1920s. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the lake is held between 735 and 738 feet; the rest of the year it is drawn down below 720 feet. That is why the summer beach can be a walk to the water in October, and why some boat launches close in the off season.
Swim where you see swim areas, at Skokomish Park or a community park if you are a guest. Watch for stumps and sunken logs, which the state fishing page flags as hazards, and expect cold water outside July and August.
Lake Cushman water level, feet above sea level
Rule from WDFW’s Lake Cushman page; the line is a schematic, and Tacoma Power sets the exact level each year.
- BoatingLaunch at Skokomish Park; launches are unusable when the lake is drawn down. Community launches post their open or closed status on the LCMC parks page.
- PaddlingKayaks, single and tandem, paddleboards and canoes rent at Skokomish Park, 11 to 7, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- FishingOpen year round for kokanee (typically April to October) and resident cutthroat. Two-pole fishing is not allowed.
Hikes
Hikes near Lake Cushman: Staircase, Mount Ellinor and short walks
The Bear Gulch Fire started July 6, 2025 near the Mount Rose trailhead and burned more than 20,000 acres before it was contained in November. The Staircase developed area and FS-24 reopened July 8, 2026; trails deeper in the park stay closed while crews repair bridges and privies. 3 hikes cover most people:
3 hikes, side by side
Saltwater
Hood Canal: beaches, shellfish and the November salmon run
Hoodsport sits on Hood Canal just north of the Great Bend, where the canal turns east. 2 public places put you on the saltwater: the Port of Hoodsport’s Ingvald J. Gronvold Park in town, and Potlatch State Park 3 miles south.
Clams and oysters are the draw, but check first. In 2026 the state closed all of Hood Canal to recreational shellfish harvest from June 12 to September 3 after it found lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poison near Hoodsport. Look up the beach on the Washington Shellfish Safety Map the morning you go, and carry a shellfish license.
In fall, chum salmon crowd the water off the Hoodsport Hatchery. Mid-November is usually the peak, and you can watch from the beach in front of it.
Food
Where to eat and drink in Hoodsport
Hoodsport is small, and everything below is on or just off Highway 101. Hours shift by season, so check before you go.
- Fjord Oyster BankLocal bivalves, geoduck, prawns and seasonal salmon and crab, on a menu built by seafood chef Xinh Dwelley. In the old Columbia Bank building over the hatchery.
- Burger StandBurgers, fish and chips, shakes and hand-dipped ice cream. My order: the bulgogi burger.
- El Puerto de AngelesMexican food with a pier over Hood Canal. The best view in town.
- Hoodsport CoffeeEspresso, sandwiches and Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.
- Model T Pub & EateryPressure-fried chicken, burgers and rotating taps.
- Tides Family RestaurantBreakfast all day and hand-battered cod.
- Potlatch Brewing Co.Small-batch beer in a beer garden just off 101; open Thursday to Sunday.
- Tasting roomsHoodsport Winery, Stottle Winery and Hardware Distillery, all on or near 101.
- Hama Hama Oyster Saloon20 minutes north in Lilliwaup. Friday to Sunday, 11 to 4; book on Tock Mondays at 9 AM.
- Hood Canal GroceryFor whatever you forgot to pack.
Seasons
Lake Cushman by season
Summer is the lake; fall is the salmon; winter and spring are for the drive, the river at Staircase and a long lunch. The chart shows when each thing is at its best.
When each thing is at its best
- Lake held full (735–738 ft)Memorial Day to Labor Day; drawn below 720 ft the rest of the year
- Skokomish Park rentals11 to 7, Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Mount Ellinor without snowSnow turns it into a mountaineering route
- Kokanee fishingTypically April to October
- Chum salmon at the hatcheryPeak usually mid-November
- Staircase Rapids LoopYear round when the road is open; check conditions
Getting there
Getting there and the passes you need
From Seattle it is about 96 miles and an hour and 40 minutes with no ferry: I-5 to Olympia, US-101 north through Shelton to Hoodsport, then left on SR 119 for the lake.
The no-ferry drive
- SeattleStart→ I-5
- OlympiaI-5 south→ US-101
- SheltonUS-101 north→ US-101
- Hoodsportabout 96 mi, 1 h 40→ SR 119
- Lake CushmanSR 119, about 5 mi→ FS-24
- StaircaseFS-24, 16 mi from 101
| Where | Pass | Cost or note |
|---|---|---|
| Skokomish Park | Day-use fee at the gate | $20 a car, $25 weekends and holidays; launch $25 |
| Potlatch State Park | Discover Pass | $10 a day, $45 a year |
| Staircase (Olympic National Park) | Park entrance pass | $30 a car for 7 days; $55 park annual; $80 America the Beautiful |
| Mount Ellinor upper trailhead | Northwest Forest Pass | Not needed at the lower trailhead |
| Community parks | Member decal or guest permit | From your host or LCMC |
| Shellfish | Washington shellfish license | Plus a same-day check of the safety map |
Staying or owning
Staying or owning at Lake Cushman
Most of the homes around the lake sit inside the Lake Cushman community, with the golf course, private parks and pass rules that come with it. If you are renting a house here, the parks are yours through the host’s guest pass, not the owner’s decal.
- PassesLCMC parks require a member decal or a guest permit for entry; order passes through the LCMC office or portal.
- Fire rulesMason County sets burn restrictions by season, and the community bans fireworks. Check before any campfire or grill.
- Hillside lotsMany lots sit on slopes above the lake. Before you buy, read my geotechnical inspection guide.
- SepticMany homes here are on septic, not sewer; my septic guide covers inspections and care.
Want to stay on the course? Our home, Pink Flamingolf on the Fairway, sits on the Lake Cushman golf course a short drive from every park on this list. Book it on Airbnb.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Lake Cushman
Is Lake Cushman open to the public?
Yes, through Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman, 7211 N Lake Cushman Rd, which has 3 boat ramps, a day-use beach and camping for a $20 day-use fee ($25 weekends and holidays). The numbered community parks are for members and guests (Skokomish Park).
Is Lake Cushman a private lake?
No. It is a Tacoma Power reservoir with public access at Skokomish Park. Much of the shoreline is the private Lake Cushman community, whose parks need a decal or guest permit.
Can you swim in Lake Cushman?
Yes, in swim areas such as Skokomish Park’s day-use beach and the community parks for guests. The water is cold outside midsummer, and stumps and sunken logs are a hazard in places.
Is Lake Cushman worth visiting?
If you want clear water under real mountains without a ferry, yes. Pair it with oysters on Hood Canal and the river walk at Staircase and it fills a weekend easily.
Why is Lake Cushman so low?
It is a reservoir. The state holds it at 735 to 738 feet from Memorial Day to Labor Day and draws it below 720 feet the rest of the year (WDFW).
Is Staircase open?
The developed area, campground, ranger station and Rapids Loop reopened July 8, 2026 after the Bear Gulch Fire. Trails beyond it remain closed for repairs. Check road and trail conditions the day you go.
Do you need a pass for Mount Ellinor?
Not from the lower trailhead. The upper trailhead needs a Northwest Forest Pass. The upper route is 3.2 miles round trip; the lower is 6.2.
Can you dig clams or pick oysters near Hoodsport?
Sometimes. Potlatch State Park allows it in season with a license, but the state closed all of Hood Canal from June 12 to Sept. 3, 2026. Check the Shellfish Safety Map first.
Where can I eat oysters near Hoodsport?
Fjord Oyster Bank in town, or Hama Hama Oyster Saloon in Lilliwaup, about 20 minutes north. Book Hama Hama on Tock on Monday for the weekend.
How far is Lake Cushman from Seattle?
About 96 miles to Hoodsport and an hour and 40 minutes without traffic or a ferry, then about 5 more miles up SR 119 to the lake.
Are dogs allowed?
On leash at the LCMC parks and on the Mount Ellinor trail. Dogs are not allowed on Olympic National Park trails such as the Staircase Rapids Loop.
What is Hoodsport known for?
Oysters and Hood Canal seafood, the fall chum salmon run at the hatchery, and being the doorstep to Lake Cushman and the Staircase corner of Olympic National Park.
The bottom line
Lake Cushman is an easy no-ferry weekend: Skokomish Park for the public beach and boat ramps, Staircase for the river, Mount Ellinor in late summer, and Hoodsport for oysters. Come between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you want the lake full; come in November for the salmon and an empty trail. Either way, check the road, the shellfish map and the restaurant hours the morning you go.
Sources
- Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman (updated March 2026), Skokomish Tourism
- Parks Info and Forms, Lake Cushman Maintenance Company
- Lake Cushman, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Lake Cushman, Wikipedia
- Cushman Hydroelectric Project (P-460), Hydropower Reform Coalition
- Staircase developed area to reopen July 8 after year-long closure (July 2, 2026), Olympic National Park
- Current road conditions, Olympic National Park
- Staircase Trailhead, National Park Service
- Fees and passes, Olympic National Park
- Places: Staircase Rapids nature trail (May 21, 2026), Shelton-Mason County Journal
- Mount Ellinor, Washington Trails Association
- Hoodsport Trail, Washington Trails Association
- Hoodsport celebrates open park after year-long project, Shelton-Mason County Journal
- Potlatch State Park, Washington State Parks
- Ingvald J. Gronvold Park, Explore Hood Canal
- Hood Canal Paralytic Shellfish Poison at lethal levels (July 2, 2026), Washington State Department of Health
- Several Hood Canal beaches reopen for harvesting (Sept. 6, 2026), KIRO 7
- Shellfish Safety Map, Washington State Department of Health
- Chum run in full swing along Hood Canal, Peninsula Daily News
- Oyster Saloon, Hama Hama Oyster Company
- Fjord Oyster Bank, Explore Hood Canal
- Golf in Mason County, Explore Hood Canal
- Hoodsport Winery, Explore Hood Canal
- Hoodsport, Washington (distances), MyPortAngeles