Snohomish County
Living in Lake Stevens.
A city built around its lake, less than three miles east of Everett, between the Cascades and Puget Sound.
What it is like
Lake Stevens, from the official record.
Every fact here comes from the city, the county, WSDOT or the parks agencies. Sources are listed below.
Getting around
State Routes 9 and 204 meet in Lake Stevens, where WSDOT finished four roundabouts and a wider SR 9 in July 2025. The US 2 trestle is the direct highway route west across the Snohomish River to I-5 in Everett, and SR 92 runs from SR 9 out to Granite Falls. The city puts downtown Seattle less than 40 miles away.
Community Transit runs four routes through the Lake Stevens Transit Center, including Route 903 to light rail at Lynnwood City Center in the morning peak, and the on-demand Zip Shuttle gets around town.
Parks and trails
The paved Centennial Trail runs along the city's east edge, 1.3 miles of it inside city limits, for walking, biking and horseback riding. North Cove Park, beside City Hall at the northeast end of the lake, has a boardwalk, a fishing pier and a swim beach.
Lundeen Park has a swim beach, a salmon spawning creek and a self-serve paddleboard and kayak rental kiosk. Davies Beach on the west shore has a boat launch and sunrise views, and Cavalero Hill Park has a skate park and an off-leash dog area.
The lake
The lake covers about 1,000 acres, with 8 miles of shoreline, and is 146 feet at its deepest. It is open for fishing all year, for bass, kokanee and perch, and the city lists two rowing clubs on the water.
Two public boat launches, at North Cove and Davies Beach, each have two lanes and docks.
Known for
Lake Stevens is named after Governor Isaac I. Stevens and was first settled in 1886. The Rucker Mill, built in 1907, became known as the world's largest sawmill, and its original pilings are still visible at Mill Cove Reserve. From the 1920s to the 1950s it was a lake resort town, and it became a city in 1960.
The city puts on events through the year, from the Polar Plunge in February to HarvestFest at North Cove Park and the WinterFest tree lighting in December.
From Rich
I have lived in Arlington since December 2003, and I started driving trucks on Snohomish and Skagit County roads in 2004. If you are weighing Lake Stevens, call or text me and I will tell you what I know about it, and what I do not.
Related reads
- Arlington WA real estate and moving guide →
- Moving to Snohomish or Skagit County →
- Acreage and land →
- Buying land and acreage in Snohomish County →
- Selling acreage in Snohomish County →
- Arlington acreage and land →
Sources
- City of Lake Stevens: city profile
- City of Lake Stevens: city history
- City of Lake Stevens: Centennial Trail
- City of Lake Stevens: North Cove Park
- City of Lake Stevens: Lundeen Park
- City of Lake Stevens: Davies Beach
- City of Lake Stevens: Cavalero Hill Park
- City of Lake Stevens: Mill Cove Reserve
- City of Lake Stevens: public boat launches
- City of Lake Stevens: water recreation
- City of Lake Stevens: other recreation
- City of Lake Stevens: community events
- WSDOT: SR 9 and SR 204 intersection
- WSDOT: US 2 westbound trestle
- WSDOT: SR 92
- Community Transit: Lake Stevens
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