Seattle, WA · lake · best for beginners
Lake Union
Houseboats, seaplanes, and Gas Works Park — Seattle's urban lake is endlessly entertaining flatwater. Stay alert in the seaplane landing lane mid-lake.
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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions
Wind
9 mph
gusting to 12 mph
Air temp
71°F
0% chance of rain
Best day to paddle this week
Thursday · 100
Today
93
72°
Wed
97
78°
Thu
100
66°
Best
Fri
100
65°
Sat
87
66°
Sun
94
68°
Mon
100
75°
Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 3p | 9 | 12 |
| 4p | 9 | 12 |
| 5p | 9 | 12 |
| 6p | 8 | 13 |
| 7p | 7 | 13 |
| 8p | 5 | 14 |
| 9p | 5 | 13 |
| 10p | 6 | 15 |
| 11p | 5 | 13 |
| 12a | 3 | 12 |
| 1a | 3 | 7 |
| 2a | 2 | 3 |
Why this score
- Wind — 9 mph — noticeable but manageable-7
Launch notes
Launch from the Center for Wooden Boats south end or Gas Works north end. Seaplanes have right of way, always.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive