Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteBoat ramps in Tacoma, WA
We list 4 public boat ramps and launches in Tacoma. Another 82 are within 25 miles.
Search the map around Tacoma Kayak & canoe launches in TacomaFishing piers in Tacoma
More boat ramps around Tacoma
- 7.1 mi Wollochet Harbor Club Boat Launch Gig Harbor Boat rampFree
- 7.4 mi 37th Street NW Boat Launch Gig Harbor Boat rampFree
- 7.4 mi Sea Cliff Country & Riding Club Beach Park Boat Ramp Gig Harbor Boat ramp
- 7.5 mi Randall Drive NW Public Boat Launch Gig Harbor Boat rampFree
- 7.9 mi Kayak Landing in Federal Way Federal Way Kayak launch
- 8 mi South of Lisabula Maplewood Fishing pier
- 8.2 mi Wooton Park Boat Ramp Federal Way Boat ramp
- 8.3 mi Burton Acres and Jensen Point Boat Ramp Seattle Boat ramp
- 8.3 mi Steel Lake Boat Launch Federal Way Boat ramp
- 8.3 mi North Lake Boat Launch Boat Ramp Auburn Boat ramp
Tacoma boat access in numbers
| Boat ramps | 3 |
|---|---|
| Kayak and canoe launches | 1 |
Water you can reach from here: Commencement Bay, Quartermaster Harbor, Spanaway Lake.
Washington rules to know
- In Washington, cities like Lakewood prohibit power loading at their ramps.
- Operators 12 or older born after Jan 1, 1955 must carry a Washington Boater Education Card to run a boat with a motor of 15 hp or more.
- Boats not registered in Washington need a WDFW aquatic invasive species prevention permit ($24 total, valid one year); canoes and kayaks that need no registration are exempt.
For closures and rules check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Heading out in Tacoma? what ramps cost, kayak launches and ramp etiquette.
Illustration 
Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesBoat ramps in Tacoma: questions and answers
Where can you launch a boat in Tacoma, WA?
We list 4 launches in Tacoma, including Dick Gilmur Shoreline and Kayak Launch, Dockton Park Boat Ramp and Point Defiance Park Boat Ramp. Another 82 are within 25 miles.
Where can you launch a kayak in Tacoma?
Dick Gilmur Shoreline and Kayak Launch works for kayaks and canoes.
Which lakes and rivers can you launch on in Tacoma?
The launches in Tacoma give access to Commencement Bay, Quartermaster Harbor and Spanaway Lake.
Did a launch close, or is one missing? Send us a tip.