Black Lake

Black Lake, located near Olympia in Thurston County, offers a public boat ramp managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The recently remodeled launch facility includes an improved boat ramp, dock, and two toilets to serve paddlers and boaters. The site is easily accessible from I-5 Exit 102: head west on Trosper Road for 2.6 miles, then south on Belmore-Black Lake Road for 1 mile, west on 66th Ave SW for 0.2 miles, and finally south on Fairview Street SW for 0.4 miles to reach the access area.

Black Lake supports a healthy population of warm-water fish species including Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Brown Bullhead, making it popular with anglers. In addition to the public WDFW ramp, two private resorts on the lake offer alternative launch options along with fishing docks and shore access if needed. Before planning your visit, check with WDFW for any seasonal closures or maintenance schedules that might affect access.