American Lake Is One Of The Most Underrated Summer Destinations In Washington

What do Lake Chelan, Lake Wenatchee, and Lake Sammamish have in common? For one, they're beautiful, and we're very lucky to have them... but they're also pretty popular places to be in the summertime. If you'd like a more laid back lake day, we recommend heading to one of our more underrated treasures, like American Lake. Come see why those who find this place tend to fall in love with it.

You'll find American Lake in Lakewood, near the Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

It's the largest natural lake in Pierce County, but plenty of Washingtonians don't even know it exists.

There are two public parks on the lakeshore, American Lake North Park & Marina and Harry Todd Park.

This is a great place to bring the family, especially if you enjoy glimpses of Mt. Rainier from the treetops.

Fishing is extremely popular here, so the boat launch really comes in handy.

People catch Sockeye salmon, cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and rock bass fairly frequently.

Kayakers and canoers love paddling out over the smooth, clear water.

And what breathtaking views they must have.

Each of the two public parks offers lakeside beaches for swimming, picnicking, fishing, and sunbathing.

You'll probably see a lot of military families swimming at Summer's Cove, a small, quiet area on the JBLM side, away from the fishing spots.

American Lake is a true treasure, and we're lucky to have it here in Washington.

If you're concerned about crowds, try to go early in the morning on a weekday... or better yet, arrive late and watch the sun sink into the horizon.

Have you ever been to this beautiful lake? We still have a few weeks of summer left, so take full advantage of the weather.