Kenmore 68th Avenue Boat Launch — Attraction in Kenmore

From a 40 year boater around Lake Washington: Read through all the reviews and was very surprised no one mentioned the channel water hazards. It appears everyone in past three years has been very luck. Sammamish Slough (not Kenmore), the channel the ramp is located on, drains Lake Sammamish and bear creek into Lake Washington. While there is a weir at the headwaters at Lake Sammamish, the weir is way overgrown and contributes to debris flowing west into lake Washington. The mouth of the Slough at Lake Washington is chalk full of sediment which you see folks mention in other reviews plus millfoil is rampant. But, worse, about 5 years ago a larger tree came floating down the slough and embedded center channel west of the boat ramp center channel and can be easily hit as its completely submerged but close to the surface. Not a problem for Kyaks but big problem for sterndrives of all sizes. So, take this review and beware motoring through the channel to open lake water. US Corps of Engineers is responsible for the channel and aware of the issues but has yet to commit to dredge clearance improvements. Also as noted, there are very limited parking. If its a nice day, you betta be there by 0900 or forget about a parking spot and with the new bridge improvements you cant park along the main road anymore. Also, no dock -the one that is there is for the Rowing crew. I dont mind beaching the boat to run up to the trailer if I get "in lot" parking but no way to leave for longer if you have to park 1/2 mile away. And, as common with ALL the lake Washington public boat ramps, 90% of the boaters lack patience and will be on you like a cheap suit if you arent fast enough in and out for them (you want to experience this is spades, take your boat to the single in/out at Kirkland on a sunny day.............given you know a resident of Kirkland who has a card key for the ramp auto center post) Alas, this behavior is common place throughout greater Seattle now so consider it the "new normal" for public ramps. Despite all this, and because I have a discover pass, I still sometimes use this ramp for my 18 foot BR. Suggestion for alternative - To avoid MOST of the melee, do yourself a favor and use a pay for ramp like at Coulon which, due to the $25 fee, seems to weed out some of poor behavior, bad etiquette boaters more common to the low cost alternatives like Kenmore. Yet look at me, I still give kemore a...

We already had a tiny launch with limited parking, then someone thought it'd be great to make half of the tiny launch into a kayak launch! They were gifted a really nice floating dock (wouldn't want them to scratch the underbellies of their plastic boats!) that came complete with cleats on the opposite side of the dock a boater would need them on, and oh, no bumpers? A month later... a sign appears stating "No Motorized Vessels" no wonder! So while the boaters (the people with the $10K+ watercrafts) get to beach their boats (and get chunks of gelcoating stripped off) in order to pick up their family/friends, the kayaks get the floating dock.......... I just love it when im watching ALL the kayaks get in the water via the shore... Also, thank you City of Kenmore for not replying to any of the emails regarding this mess... LASTLY small request... if you are not towing a trailer, please stop parking in the very very limited...

I want to give this spot 5 stars… It’s a pretty popular spot but you can luck out during the weekdays. PARKING! Parking is a HUGE issue for anyone trying to use the water, watercraft, fishing, nature watching, etc. I would’ve thought the city would’ve considered that when they just renovated the bridge…? (Unspoken word of the water, if you’re not towing a trailer don’t park in trailer spaces, it’s inconsiderate.) The ramp itself is a very mellow, shallow two lane ramp that it’s usually easy to navigate for novice to expert captains with shallow moorage on either side. Pretty easy for solo launching of small to moderate sized vessels. Hopefully this helps. East goes through to the Kenmore Slough and West goes to...