City of Bonney Lake

Lake Bonney is a small lake that is only suitable for small boats without combustion engines. The public boat launch for Lake Bonney is located on 74th ST E just before Ken Simmons Park.

 

Lake Tapps is a reservoir lying to the North of Bonney Lake; the lake is owned and managed by Cascade Water Alliance. For more information visit www.cascadewater.org.

Lake Tapps Water Levels

Information on water levels in Lake Tapps water is available through the the following websites:

• Cascade Water Alliance - Recreational Lake Levels
• Lake Tapps Community Council - www.laketappsnews.org

Lake Tapps Planning & Management

Cascade Water Alliance became the owner of Lake Tapps from Puget Sound Energy in 2009. Property owners along Lake Tapps who want to build new improvements or modify existing improvements must obtain a license from Cascade, in addition to any City, County, State, or Federal permits required. For more information contact Cascade at 425-453-0930.

In 2011 a group, including representatives from the City of Bonney Lake, developed a working lake management plan. The plan is available to view online at www.cascadewater.org.

The City of Bonney Lake operates a boat launch and boat trailer parking at Allan Yorke Park on the south end of Lake Tapps.

2023 Boating Season Information

For the 2023 season, the boat launch will be open to Bonney Lake residents only. Residents must purchase a Boat Launch parking pass from the Bonney Lake Police Department. Boat Launch parking passes are available now. Instructions for purchasing a Boat Launch parking pass are included below.

On March 21, 2023, the City Council approved a plan to build a new watercraft trailer parking lot on the site of the existing Ballfield 4. It is anticipated that this parking lot will be ready for the 2024 boating season.

For the 2023 season, tow vehicles and watercraft trailers can park at the existing Ballfield 4 parking lot only. This parking lot has been restriped to allow for the parking of up to 26 tow vehicles and watercraft trailers. This parking lot is available on a FIRST COME – FIRST SERVED basis and is for tow vehicles and watercraft trailers only. If no parking is available in this parking lot, tow vehicles and watercraft trailers will need to be returned to the owner’s home. Tow vehicles and watercraft trailers that are parked in any of the other Allan Yorke Park parking lots or in surrounding neighborhoods are subject to having the tow vehicle and watercraft trailer impounded.

The boat launch will open for City residents when the lake is deemed to be at “recreational levels” by Cascade Water Alliance. The City of Bonney Lake does not control when this will occur. 

Resident Boat Launch Parking Passes

Boat Launch parking passes are available for purchase by residents living inside the Bonney Lake City Limits. See also BLMC 12.12.051.

This pass allows residents to launch their boat and park in the designated watercraft trailer parking lot at Ballfield 4. If there is no space in this parking lot, then you must have a space to park your tow vehicle and watercraft trailer legally off site. Please do not park in any other Allan Yorke Park parking lots or the surrounding neighborhoods.

Each resident boat launch parking pass is $30.00 plus tax (total $32.85) per vehicle per year.

 

Resident Boat Launch parking passes can be purchased by

• US Mail:
  Submit an application
  
  Include a photocopy of your driver's license with your address showing you reside with the Bonney Lake city limits along with a check for $32.85 made out to the City of Bonney Lake and mail it to:

Bonney Lake Police Department
18421 Veterans Memorial Drive E
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

The pass will be mailed back to you. If we receive the request during normal business hours, we can get it in the mail same day.

• Electronically:
  Submit application and upload proof of residency at this link:
  Resident Pass Application

After you have submitted the application and proof of residency, call 253-863-2218 to pay $32.85 ($30 plus applicable tax) over the phone with a valid credit card. The permit will be mailed to you on the day it is issued OR you can come in person and pick up the permit.

• In Person:
  You may also print and fill out an application (Printable Application) and bring proof of residency to the Bonney Lake Police Department. You may pay for and receive your permit there.

 

Resident Parking Pass Requirements

• Proof of residency is required; you must live inside city limits to purchase a resident pass. To verify residency inside city limits, please view the City Limits Map or visit the Pierce County about my property page and type in your address. A Bonney Lake address does not mean that it's inside of the City Limits.

• Valid Driver's License or other acceptable identification is required.

• The fee for replacement of an annual pass is $100.00. No refunds will be given for lost, stolen, or unused passes.

For more information call the Police Department at 253-863-2218. 

 

Lake Bonney does not require a boat launch permit, but does prohibit internal combustion engines. Private launches require permission from the Homeowner's Association in charge of those launches.

Allan Yorke Park Boat Launch Closures
The city may temporarily close the boat launch facility without advance notice. No refunds will be given for the temporary or permanent closure of the boat launch facility.

Closure Dates:

• All Day: Wednesdays, July 12 - August 23, 2023 for Tunes @ Tapps
• All Day: Saturday, August 26 for Bonney Lake Days
• Morning: Saturday, September 2 for Bonney Lake Triathlon

If you would like to subscribe for notices of when the Allan Yorke Park Boat Launch may be closed, reopened, or if hours/days change for using the boat launch please sign up for the subscription on our website home page under subscriptions or click this link: Subscription Sign Ups


Location: 7203 West Tapps Hwy (South end of Lake Tapps) Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Directions: Google Maps
Hours of Operation: closes at dusk
Parking Areas: (Parking Map)
Questions:  Call the City at 253-862-8602 Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm

Kayak and paddle board rentals are available from the Snack Shack. Call 253-882-4169 for more information.

Location: 1715 198th AVE E Bonney Lake, WA
253-798-4177

Pierce County operates a separate park, swimming area, and boat launch on the north end of Lake Tapps. For more information, including park hours and fees for parking and using the boat launch, visit the Pierce County website.

The Washington State Mandatory Boating Safety Education Law went into effect on January 1, 2008. The law requires boaters to pass a boating safety course or an equivalency exam and to obtain a Boater Education Card before operating a motorized vessel of 15 horsepower or greater.

The card requirement is being phased in from 2008 to 2014. All operators of boats having motors of 15 horsepower or greater are required to have their Boater Safety Education Card with them when operating a boat as follows:

Year Age Group
2008 12 years to 20 years old
2009 25 years and under
2010 30 years and under
2011 35 years and under
2012 40 years and under
2013 50 years and under
2014 60 years and under

After 2014, all boat operators except those exempted elsewhere in RCW 79A.60.640 must carry a Boater Safety Education Card.

For more information please see the Washington State Parks Boating Program website or contact: 360 586-6592
 
For a list of boating safety courses available around the state, see the Washington State Boating Program website.

Be sure to review the Watercraft Regulations brochure provided by the Bonney Lake Police Department's Marine Service Unit.
In the brochure you'll find answers to questions such as:

• Do I need a boaters card?
• What is the legal age of vessel operation?
• What safety equipment is required?
• Do I need vessel registration?
• What are the speed limits and hours of operation?
• Is there a specific direction of travel?
• Are there marked restricted areas?
• What are the requirements for Personal Watercraft (PWC)?
• What are the laws on water skiing safety?
• Are vessel inspections necessary?

Boating regulations are also available in Bonney Lake Municipal Code Chapter 16.16. For more information on watercraft regulations and boating safety, please contact the BLPD Marine Service Unit at 253-863-2218

There are many options for recreation on the water around Pierce County and Washington State, from rivers and lakes to the Puget Sound. For more information visit the following websites:

• Pierce County Parks
• Washington State Parks