The coolest location for a pool! It is a little walk to get to but definitely worth it! I went to the open swim session and my 2 year old daughter who loved it. There were lots of lounge chairs and pool noodles. Highly recommend! read more

Colman Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This review is from August 2021. I've gone to this pool before COVID and it was so. crowded. Even though the pool is gigantic it felt like someone was swimming over and on me on every moment. Enter COVID. Now they have limited entry - with people able to go in for hour long sessions. It's great. I went for the noon session on a Tuesday. It takes about ten minutes to walk from the parking lot to the pool as a single adult - probably way longer if you have kids and a bunch of stuff. I got there at 11:30 and there were about ten people in front of me in an organized well marked line. Masks were required for entry until you got on the pool deck. The pool is split up into lap lanes and recreational swimming. The recreational swimming area is huge and spacious with the new people limitations. There are pool noodles, plus it is a salt water pool so a lot of buoyancy. It was extremely relaxing and one hour with not many people is actually quite a bit of time to be in a pool. It's right on the water - but note you can't see the water from in the pool but you can from the deck. And the stroll back is lovely too. All in all - a lovely time if you plan ahead and have the time! read more

Colman Pool - Colman Pool on a Tuesday at noon. - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow, they have a great view of the Puget Sound because they are located at Lincoln's Park shore. One of the two open pools for summer. You will have to walk from any of the parking lots. That could be the only downside for some. I recommend first looking for their schedule because you have to make a line for 10 minutes or so to get into one of the waves. It lasts an hour, so better enjoy it before you get a quick shower. $7 per person. There are some lounge chairs but not enough for everyone. People at the front of the line will run to grab some spots and leave their stuff. I believe that if you are going for a swim, you could let somebody else sit. But that's just me. I guess you can always lay down after the swim, right? Water is just perfect. I think it is a bit warm. There is a trampoline where kids have lots of fun! Everybody is enjoying and is very respectful at the showers about waiting turns. There's soap, but I recommend bringing your own toilettries and towel, of course. You can always enjoy the view and a visit to the new Troll at the end. read more

My sister and I decided to take her kids to Colman today after hearing really great things about their pool. I must say that this is the best outdoor pool that I've been to in the Seattle area. Located beautifully on the edge of the water and Lincoln Park, this would be a perfect place to take your little ones (or just yourself!) on a warm day. The pool is quite large! There's a shallow end (3'6) which gradually gets deeper into the 10 ft area. I love how they provide free life jackets, noodles, and floatees. There is a small diving board on the deep end that is free to use, and also a small waterslide that you can pay $1 for a wristband to use. There are also plenty of pool chairs available on a first come first serve basis. What I was surprised about was that this pool is a saltwater pool! It's very clean with no chlorine, and the water temperature was very cool. There were a handful of lifeguards on duty and one of them was very helpful with finding my nephew a life jacket that would fit him. The public swim hours are between 1:45-4:45 pm, and it costs $5.50 for adults, which I think is completely reasonable! The only downside is that the pool is about a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. The walk is a downhill walk, so that's something to keep in mind if you're pushing a stroller or carrying extra stuff! read more

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Perfectly located RIGHT on the edge of the beach, this pool is a must if you enjoy swimming with a scenic view. I came here with several friends to swim and catch some sun rays and it was almost too perfect. The outdoor pool was quite large, including a shallow (3ft) and deep end (10ft). There's a small diving board (free) and a tall circular slide ($1 for wristband) that's totally worth it! They also provide floaties and boards and on occasion they have water basketball available for public use. For $5.50, they let you swim during their public session from 1:45-4:45, which I think is more than plenty of time to get all pruny. The minor downfall for me is that parking is a good 10-15 minute walk and the only way to the pool is by foot or biking. A hot tub would be a nice addition too, on chillier days. P.S. The pool is salt water! I definitely didn't see that one coming. read more

Colman Pool - Swimming with Friends - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm a California native, so I took outdoor pools for granted when I was at home. However, after a Seattle winter and losing about 90% of my skin color, I was very excited to try out this outdoor pool. It's a long course (50m) saltwater pool, and it was wonderful to get out and swim under the shining sun after swimming indoors since September. Getting to the pool from the parking lot is about a 15 minute walk, but it's a beautiful one, since I turned left from the parking lot and walked along the water. I parked in the main lot where there's plenty of spots, but there was also a beach parking lot farther south than the main lot, which looked completely full when I walked by, but it's a bit closer to the pool. Along the way I had a nice view of the Puget Sound, along with seeing a bald eagle and a heron! Admission for adults for lap swim was $5.50, and I came for the 12-1:30 lap swim time on a Wednesday, and it was really crowded. There were probably about 8-10 people per lane, a couple fast lanes and a couple slow lanes. Most people were pretty courteous, clearing the ends of the pool to allow for flip turns and such, although there were of course the people who pushed off right in front of you as you do your turn, but that happens everywhere. Overall, a great place during the Seattle summer to get your outdoor pool fix, but be prepared to walk to the pool, and don't expect to have a lane to yourself. read more

Colman Pool - The walk along the water - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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An outdoor pool, by the water, that is cheap, clean, has a slide and 2 diving boards. Always good times. read more

Colman Pool - Colman pool goosd times - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Coleman Pool is one of the few outdoor pools in Seattle. It is situated in Lincoln Park. On a beautiful Seattle summer day it's fantastic place to go for a swim. There are beautiful views of the water and its nice and clean. The prices are pretty cheap, about $5 for adults and $3 for children. Lockers are a quarter each use. There are tons of lifeguards on duty. They offer lap swim, swim lessons, public swim etc. Pretty awesome place to get your tan and swim on. (: read more

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Lap swimming gets INSANELY PACKED! There were 5+ people to a lane at the lap swim last night. The facilities are clean and well kept, lockers provided for $0.25, the heated salt water pool is warm enough, as long as you're moving. I would be happy to pay double the entry fee if that would mean only 2-3 people in a lane... read more

Colman is one of the only outdoor pools I know of in Seattle. It is a nice spot near the beach and a scenic walk to get there. I have no complaints about the price or staff. My only problem and a rather stressful one is how crowded it can get. Not only in the pool but for finding a seat as well. I have only gone several times over the past few years but on at least two of those occasions I have had to sit on the ground with my towel because all the seats were taken. I would highly recommend getting there right when it opens otherwise it might be hard to get all setup! That said, Colman is an awesome place and who needs a chair when you'll be taking a swim most of the time :) read more

In a dead heat against myself to win the tacit contest of "least timely review of the season," I'd like to note the excellence of this outdoor pool (one of Seattle's only publicly accessible outdoor pools, in fact). Having spent years in pools during college for swimming and water polo and such, I've been in a variety of them, and there are quite a few criteria by which a pool can be judged (or, at times, damned). I'll start with the criteria that aren't universal--the intangibles. Colman pool requires a sort of commitment to get to, as you have to walk through the park (or approach it from the not-right-off-the-roadway boardwalk, and it's in West Seattle, which depending on who you talk to, might as well be Tangiers (or worse--Kirkland). But once you get there you're rewarded with a panorama of ocean water, as the pool facility abuts the beach, and if you position yourself on the lee side of the pool, you can gaze at the watery horizon. Seattle, this is kind of as close as we get to the "infinity pool." Now onto the pool facts. For years in college I swam in a pool that was 33 and one third yards in length. It's okay; I laugh too. Colman is regulation size, 50m and eight lanes, with both a high dive and a standard board. (These tidbits may matter less to you, of course, if you're toting your kids over for a full 3 or 4? (foggy on this last bit) hours of outdoor splashings on those few days of summer which shriek up to an absolutely intolerable 81 degrees. Up next: water composition. You know how a lot of pool water is chlorine and urine in what's probably a 53/47 ratio? Yes, you do. Well I love Colman for using a grown up chlorine/saltwater hybrid. It's both fitting, as a pool which seems to extend from the ocean, and infinitely kinder on the skin, eyes and hair, and yes-on those sad instances when you get a little blast of it kicked into your mouth by a noodle-wielding toddler-it tastes better. So if you are a lane-swimmer, this pool is fast, orderly, and there are some good swimmers who understand protocol. Nice. If you're more a "drag kids to swim lessons" type, you'll also appreciate that these lifeguards are overwhelmingly Not Dickheads. This is a big one (are you listening, Ballard Pool?) I happened to be in the cordoned off area when a little girl began to struggle and I swept her up and delivered her poolside to her mama. The lifeguard didn't get butt-hurt about this, and appreciated it and thanked me. And I watched her administer the rules that are necessary without ever being patronizing or snotty. This is a challenge when one is 19, and I've seen it go very awry, people! In the many times we've been to this pool I've had opportunities to watch many of the lifeguards chastise, remind, enforce, and cajole, and you know, they're a really good bunch. The young woman who staffed the front of the house this summer is also outrageously good-natured, and even secretly allowed us to plunder the overspilling Drawer of Lost Goggles after she recognized us from our recidivist patterns of arriving without goggles and repurchasing them ad nauseam. Overall this pool is kind of dreamy. The sort of place that you'd almost make a trans-city move for if you're into that sort of thing. The swimming serenely against a backdrop of sea and sky sort of thing, that is. read more

The pool was AMAZING! The view, spectacular and staff were friendly. I agree with a previous post that common sense was lacking. I paid a good amount of money to reserve the pool for a party. The staff was helpful but they did not let me know that the closest parking is 1/3 of a mile away from the pool. Just a heads up would be nice as I was not familiar with the area and there is nothing clearly posted online. I did ask for the staff to warn future party planners that this is a logistical point that should be made clear and got a brief apology and what I feel was a shrug. So please learn from my experience and don't plan a party here if you have elderly, pregnant, or have anything more than a bag to carry from the parking lot. read more

It was a beautiful Seattle summer day - 80 degrees, no humidity- and I thought to myself, "What better day to go swimming right by the water in West Seattle's Lincoln Park." As a life-long lover of swimming with a now 6 1/2 year old who loves the water too it's almost criminal that this was our first trip here. We came down to the beach pretty early - around noon - and bought our tickets because I've heard it can sell out early on hot days. Then we spent about an hour just walking around, watching the people fish, throwing rocks, that sort of thing. We got in the line at around 115 or so when it was just starting, and by 145 when the pool opened the line had gotten so long I couldn't see the back of it. Anyone who tried to get in after that opening time was turned away, although I don't think I really had to get down here at noon. 1 would have been fine. By the time we got changed into our suits and out to the pool all the lounge-chairs were taken, but we managed to snag a few regular chairs to put our stuff. Lesson learned, for next time, go immediately out and snag the lounge-chairs with a strategic placement of towels - and then go back to the locker room for changing. I'd also bring some snacks as swimming for 3 hrs can make you mighty hungry. We had a great time though - my son can pass the deep water swim test with ease (swimming back/forth across the pool) - allowing him to use the water slide ($1 extra), spring off the big diving board and otherwise splash around to his heart's content. It was a busy day, but I didn't feel like the lines for the slide/diving board were too long, or that the pool was so crowded we couldn't have fun. The water is warm and since it's salt-water you don't get that chlorine burn even if you swim without goggles. The locker rooms are quite large, but a little threadbare as are all city-run properties these days. Gets the job done though, and they have showers + suit dryer + rental lockers ($0.25). Great to have a public facility like this that really combines some of the best features of Seattle (waterfront view, park location, etc). Will definitely be back. read more

You have to go to Colman Pool because its just so cool. Especially on a hot day. It's an outdoor, saltwater, heated pool nestled between the amazing Lincoln Park and the beach near the Fauntleroy Ferry. It's cheap thrills and the only drawback is A LOT of other people think so. I'd suggest going off hours to avoid the big crowds, but you definitely need to go. Its retro cool, but better hurry this watery oasis closes for the season way too soon. A fairly perfect day would include a leisurely walk through Lincoln Park or a bike ride from Beach Drive. Picnic optional, but always recommended. read more

Oh, yuk, I have to downgrade Colman Pool to three stars because today I saw a band-aid and hairs floating in the water AND someone left nail clippings on the pool deck behind a chair. They must have been grooming their toenails because they were way too big to be fingernails. Either way, that's just nasty. read more

Colman Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I had always heard of the Colman pool like some mythical creature. People spoke of it with a faraway look in their eye. The saltwater! The sound view! The open air! The low price! It wasn't until this record breaking summer that it seemed worth venturing out to. (I know, I know- West Seattle is actually very close). With a 20 min drive we were whisked away from the big city to summer a little more idyllic. Parking is well marked, but a bit confusing as it identifies beach parking or something. We began a trek downwards (to the left) towards the beach. Wonderful picnic tables, play areas, and finally an open trail along the waterfront led the way to the pool. For $4 there are ample deck chairs, deliciously warm & refreshing salt water, and glorious Seattle sun. I was in heaven. Thank you to the truly wonderful diver who made some spectacular dives, and kinda biffed it once. Even more thanks go to the flopper who landed on his back and was red for the rest of the afternoon. Quarter points off for the slide costing a dollar more & that the diving boards aren't open the entire time. Ten points for this spectacular Seattle summer. Everyone's a winner! read more

As a concept, Colman Pool deserves 4 stars. Heated saltwater pool, on the beach--pretty cool. The three stars is for the amount of hassle involved to have a 4 star experience. You can always go to the beach and save the hassle, but if you really want to swim just plan well. The biggest downside is that it is insanely crowded on hot days. It's also quite a hike to the parking lot (I know, petty complaint). As long as you're prepared, you'll have a very good time. If you're not, you might just bag it and go to the beach--which is pretty sweet. How to prepare? **Pack snacks & drinks (and don't forget the sunscreen) The vending machines are public machines and don't always work **Bring cash to buy tickets and quarters for lockers. If you want to use the water slide, bring cash **Come early and get your tickets (as in, the minute they open) Eat some snacks & hang out on the beach or toys for a while **Get in line early for public swim The pool sells out and people stand in line FOREVER to wait for someone to leave **Be sure you have everything with you after you leave the car **Remember where you park read more

I went swimming during the public swim at the Colman Pool this weekend. I had a great experience. It is true, you have to walk through a park and down a hill to reach the pool, but the walk was not that difficult for me. However, walking back up all the stairs, I definitely ran out of breath. It would be a difficult walk for some. The view is spectacular. The pool is right on the sound and you can see the water and sail boats in the distance. There is also a nice grassy area around the pool, with part of it fenced off, so you can sit there while still inside the facility. Once you get down to the pool, we had to wait in line to get in. There were 2 lines, one for people who needed to buy tickets and one for people who already had them. I found this strange since I looked on the pool's website and found no place to purchase tickets ahead of time. Maybe the other line was for people with passes? I don't know. The locker room was nice and large and had tables that you could put all your stuff on while you changed and put on sunblock. Once I was outside, ALL tables, chairs, and chaise lounges were occupied. I was surprised at this, since we got in line at the front door 15 minutes before public swim opened. But, we found a place to put our towels on the ground and swam the whole time we were there anyway. The pool is a great size - 50 meters and is divided into sections, which is nice. The smaller children were in the shallowest section and so on. My group swam in the 5-6 feet section and had plenty of room to move around. I personally like the salt water much better than chlorine, but my sister disagreed with me. But, swallowing pool water isn't fun, no matter what's in it. We had a great time swimming and I would definitely go back again! :) read more

Colman Pool is unique and great. It is a heated saltwater pool in west seattle. It is open during the summer. The locker room is clean though a bit old. They have water noodles to play with too! heh. read more

No, no, no. For a town with a love affair with fitness, where is the love for the Colman pool? While the setting is gorgeous, who can deny that (?), the pool had a dirty floor in the locker room, just ok staff, crowded lap lanes (7-11 people in a lane), slightly unclean water (it is salt water), and slightly peeling pool walls. I prefer a cleaner pool in a less scenic location. read more

This outdoor salt water pool is located on the water in West Seattle. While mostly it only allows for lap swimming it can be a great place to get some excercise on a sunny day. Beware it can be crowded. Supposedly many real swimmers practice here. It can be quite a walk from the parking lot though as it is located in the depths of the park, but its a nice walk and everyone could probably do with a little more excercise. read more

World famous Coleman Pool Saltwater pumped from the other side of the sidewalk Puget Sound this place is the best.

About a month ago a recreational group I belong to rented the pool from 7 until 9 p.m. one Saturday evening, after the pool was closed for the day. I was the last person to shower up and leave Colman. I accidentally left my new swimsuit on the bench next to the showers. I didn't think I would have any problem getting it back as between the private party that evening and the time the pool reopened the next day there was obviously no one else entering and using the facilities. To my dismay despite calling the first thing the next morning, the lifeguards said they had not found my swimsuit. At the very least, even if the lifeguards had been in a hurry to get out early the previous evening (Saturday night, after all), there was also a maintenance person who scheduled to come in early Sunday. Pretty mysterious. When I did contact the Seattle Parks Department, they seemed pretty defensive and reported that the protocol for picking up stray items had been followed by their staff. ("Maybe it fell out of your bag on the way to the car." "But I know I hadn't wrapped it up, as it would have been sopping wet."). On the other hand, swimsuits just don't get up and walk away. I would not leave anything behind at Colman Pool, for any reason, as security may be a problem ("Maybe an 'inside job'?"). read more

It's a bit of a walk over to the pool, but a little exercise never hurt anybody. On a sunny day in Seattle, this pool is jaw-dropping. It's large, clean, heated, outdoors, alongside the beach, and with a view of the Olympic mountiains. They even have a picnic area if you want to bring a group or your family. Personally, I prefer going to the 5pm-7pm lap swim. It's more relaxed and with the lap swim you can really experience how massive the pool is. read more

Classic beautiful pool. I love the location and I can't think of a better place to go swimming on a beautiful Seattle summer day.

I like the pool but the facility is a bit run down and it is hard to get to. First time I went one of the lady lifeguards was terribly rude to me when I asked questions because after all it was my first time and I had no clue what to do or where to go for things. The prices are good but it gets crowded quickly! read more

Crowded and cold , even a 90 degree day can't keep you warm. No real designated swim area for kids. They charge you twice to even use the slide once to get in and once for the slide...to me that is absolute BS. Water is salty not enough room to actually swim when the pool is occupied though it looks huge from the photos. Kids like any kind of pool so they don't notice but as an adult you tend to have more experience with what is a satisfactory swim session and this was not almost went for a refund but got too lazy read more

This place is AMAZING!! A beautiful 50-yard, outdoor, salt water pool perched on the edge of the Puget Sound with incredible views of the Olympics. Lap swimming here is great. Even when it's crowded the 50 yard lanes really keep people pretty well spaced. And after swimming, you can sun in the lounge chairs and soak up the sun. I've heard the slide is also fun, but haven't tried it yet... next time I'm there though, I'll give it a try! read more

Coming to Colman Pool was one of the worst experiences in my life and I completely regret going. Here's why. First off, we had to park very far away and the walk to the pool was a 20 minute hike. When we got there, we were greeted by unkind and clueless teenagers at the front desk. Secondly, the life guards were HORRIBLE. They were rude, and didn't have any reasonable rules. My son with mild autism was having a good time diving in the pool, until he was yelled at for diving to close to the slide. After that, he was swimming around asking people for pool noodles, until he had 5. Then a rather obese lifeguard showed up and hollered at my son for having too many noodles. Overall, I was disappointed, and upset of the service and we left early and wouldn't get our money back. My son already has a hard enough time with Down syndrom, why can't he just have a good time at the pool. read more

We walked in. No-one asked us anything about what kind of ticket we wanted. We paid 5.25 per person. Walk in at 1 p.m. Out was a weird lap swim and we were just there to have fun. So we waited for 30 minutes for the open swim to start. Rude life guard walls up to us and asks for another 5.25 per person for Oren swim hour. I said no-one asked us anything. We have just been waiting on the side because it was to intimidating to swim with all the serious swimmers. He says wrk you either pay or leave. We paid 10.50 and left without even ever getting in the water!!! Ridiculous. No common sense is left in this world. read more

This is the greatest pool I've ever gone swimming in! Last summer was the first full summer in Seattle for my partner and me, and we're always off on Tuesdays, so we were able to make it for three sessions that were actually on semi-hot days. We chose the afternoon public swim... we still like swimming kiddo-style. :) It's a little hard to find within the park. Each time we went, we ended up taking a different path down to the waterfront where the pool is located, and one time we had to climb down this dry waterfall bed. It's probably not as long a walk as it seems to be when you've been on two buses coming from Wallingford and are eager to jump in the oh-so-refreshing salt water. We never had a problem getting in though--each time we showed up about an hour later than the beginning of the session and got in just fine, no lines. There were also no chairs a couple times, but we don't lay out anyway. So here's some more reasons why Colman is the best pool ever: 1. the beach view, obvs. When you're done swimming, it's nice to sit on a log on the beach and rest before hiking back up the hill to the bus stop/your car. 2. They have enough pool rafts and floaty noodles for an army of people. When you get tired of treading water while tossing around this awesome water-skipping frisbee thingy they also have, you can grab onto a giant piece of animal-shaped foam flotsam and take a breather. Two girls we saw there totally had the right idea: one had stacked several rafts, climbed on top, and had her friend pull her around with a noodle, like a chariot. What?! 3. Hi-dive!!! 4.Tasty snackies in the machine, for if you forget to bring your own. 5. The salty water makes you feel really great inside. We swim at Evans Pool all winter and the swimming euphoria you get from a regular pool isn't close to that which you get from a saltwater pool. It cures a hangover pretty well too. It's a bummer that it doesn't open until the end of June this year, but it probably won't be swimming weather until then anyway. Just wish they stayed open after labor day, or had a twilight public swim. read more

The view on a clear day is spectacular! I love coming over for lap swim on my days off. The lanes are usually not too crowded, and all the other swimmers are friendly. Once I met an Olympian there (who shall remain nameless), and even she was friendly and respectfully shared the lane with us mere mortals. Also, I like the salt chlorination, it's not as hard on my skin and hair. read more

How can you go wrong with a salt water pool right next to the ocean? You can't! We look forward to the new season opening every year. Be aware, though, the salt content of the water is high (it's purified sea water) so if you or your child is careless about getting water in the mouth, you'll notice the difference between this pool and a typical salt water pool. read more

Working out at Colman Pool is what defines summer as a swimmer in Seattle. Great swimmers from all over the city converge to swim long-course in the sunshine. It doesn't get better. read more

So we went back on a pretty coolish day....and it worked out. There was no one there and the pool itself was warm enough to swim in even though the air was too cold to stand in. It was ultra fun....I cant wait for it to open again next spring! read more

Cool place for a swim. Love outdoor pools way better than indoor ones. Just wish the lap swim times were a little more convenient for me, it almost takes an act of god to get here during the posted times. That said, I thoroughly enjoy it when I can actually make it on time. read more

I've been looking for a decent place to swim for a bit and this was a good excuse to get back in. Who can complain with a 50 Meter Pool next to the sound? I had a good hour workout (easing myself back in). Will say that salt water has a tendency to dehydrate, so I personally prefer chlorinated pools. Other than that, I enjoyed it. Will go back again! read more

This is a beautiful outdoor salt water pool with an amazing view of the sound and if your lucky sometimes whales pass by!

This pool had poor life guards my friend almost drowned, they yelled at us for having more than one pool noodle, and they kicked my friend out for diving into the deep end where they said we could dive. The water had dirt and other gross things such as bandages, rocks, and insects. We didn't have fun and this pool was not worth our time and money I would not suggest going to this pool or wasting your money here. read more

This place is freakin awesome! Now, the only reason why I would give this place an average score is not because the pool itself didn't deliver; it's the hours. So, they only allow open swim from 1-4:45 weekdays. Ok, how about us adults who work 8-5? Are we not allowed to have our fun in the sun either? Oh well, they give us "lap-swim" time from 5-7! That's sooo greedy. I'm 26 years old, and still am a kid at heart that wants to go down the slide, use the dive-board, and well, just be goofy with one of those floaty noodle things. Seattle stays light out till around 10pm during the summer. So, why not have the pool be opened for "fun-time" or "open-swim" from 7-10pm?(therefore allowing those who want their work-out after work to still get their time in). That's my dream!! read more