Located in the city of Kirkland, and named for the city's first female mayor, Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park is a 3.8 acre recreation area of waterfront access to Lake Washington. Our son-in-law took us here just in time to see an absolute gorgeous sunset over the lake. Most of the water access is via concrete stairs, with a small sandy area and a sunbathing/diving pier. It reminded me a lot of the UW-Madison Memorial Union, with a similar set-up...though we never saw such a gorgeous sunset like this there. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - gorgeous sunset - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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A great space and lots of waterfront as well as some beach. The views are spectacular especially the sunsets. There's kayaks and canoes to rent. Or just a dock to fish or swim off of. Or just go for a walk. Restaurants and cafes are within walking distance too. read more

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A lovely, little park, which offers a bit of everything: a playground for littles and an area for slightly biggers, some grass upon which to sit for a picnic or rest as children run and play, a sandy/rocky beach that's small enough to feel cozy on a spring day (but likely gets packed on warm, summer weekends), an extensive pier, giving ample areas to sit for a picnic or enjoy the weather and the views of Seattle across Lake Washington. This park is sweet and adds the perfect touch for families who live in the area and would like peace and serenity as well as a spot for their children to to engage in the opposite. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I regularly walk south bound along Lake Street to enjoy views of the water and the mini parks along the way. Houghton Beach Park is the southern most along the series of (unconnected) parks, and possibly the biggest (vs. the downtown Marina Park). This park is just big enough to accommodate congregating clusters of teenagers and young adults, to have a play area for younger kids to climb and to gleefully run amuck, to relax from the shade of nearby trees, and to sit on benches for mothers with strollers to catch some fresh air. It's also nice to just walk along its paths and pier. When my nephew was young, I regularly took him to the playground here and just watch him go nuts at this play area. The park is just big enough to have its own dedicated parking lot. Alas, it's never big enough on nice days, and visitors will park on Lake Street or nearby neighborhood street. In the summer months, there have been additional businesses such as kayak rentals. With COVID, not sure what will happen. Nearby, the Kidd Valley burger is now an Ivar's eatery. read more

A perfect place to end a day watching the sunset with your date ;) The docks are clean and the water is beautifully clear. The playground for kids is by far the most realistic boat structure I've ever seen, and I'd be lying if i said I wasn't a bit envious :) there is even a tight rope walk connecting the two sections! The ducks here are also very unafraid of people. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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made a quick stopover here with the dog on a warm sunny seattle afternoon for a quick walk and respite from the car. lots of people with kids down by the water and others walking or at picnic tables or benches but there was plenty of room to not feel like groups were on top of one another. there's a sup )standup paddle board) and kayak rental area to the north, an area for kids to climb and play, tons of grass, a dock to walk out on (or jump off of :)) and restrooms. there were plenty of areas in full sun right at midday but also trees providing shade if that's what you're looking for. lots of green grassy areas but also a lot of duck and goose poop but if you're from around these parts, you know to thank the visiting canadian geese for the majority of those deposits. the only issue i had was that the parking spaces are mighty narrow and difficult to navigate in and out of. i did see kirkland parking enforcement come through the lot as i was leaving so on nice days when this park's offerings are at a premium, it might be prudent to make sure you're not staying beyond the posted allotted time (2 hrs, if i recall correctly?) read more

I really enjoy Houghton Beach Park. It's especially great when the weather is warm and has plenty of areas for you to lay out and soak up some rays. The park is a good size and has a dock, sand volleyball area, playground, tons of benches and a picnic area. There are even some statues of art around too. It has it's own parking lot, but usually is full in the summer time as it is packed with people. There are often ducks here walking around looking for food. The beach has sand and rocks, the sand was a surprise to me haha I love coming here even when the weather isn't so warm out. I really enjoy walking around in the park and hearing the ocean nearby. You can even see part of Seattle's skyline as well. It's a great place to come to to read, write or relax. All in all I'm sure I will be back here, especially this summer. read more

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Beautiful waterfront. You get an epic view of Lake Washington with downtown Seattle and Olympic Park mountains in the distance. Not the best sand beaches but still a great place to go to swim, tan, hang out and play volleyball. They have a caged sand court and it is great! Also a lot of good grass area. There is a lot of parking on the streets. Lots of pretty houses and greenery. Everywhere is very clean and well maintained. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Beautiful view - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Came to this beach because I was in the area. I've wanted to visit Houghton in the past, but never prioritized it. Today, being such a beautiful day, I couldn't resist! I'm so glad I got the opportunity to visit, because the weather today was absolutely amazing, and there were so many awesome people at this beach. The parking lot was super easy to access and parking was a breeze, even with this weather.. so I image not too many people visit here. There are a variety of vibes I get from this beach, there's several benches spread out to sit and relax on, but then there's also a couple of docks you can walk out on and catch fish (or like me, take pics) I was able to get really close the several ducks, as they rested in a comfortable state, and they were so unbothered by my presence, it was incredible. For the children there's a nice sandy area to play in, and a cool jungle gym in the wood chips!!! Volleyball for the adults is just steps away from the beach and the boat rental amenity is something the brag about!! Loved this beach! read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Such a peaceful beach. - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Hard to get parking, but you can park across the street and walk over to the park. Nice place to swim and lay out in the sun. There is a designated swimming section, and a dock which you can jump off into the water. read more

On my way to the Kirkland Marina,. I decided to pull into a parking lot and check out the Houghton Beach Park which was such a good stop.. Most excellent! Tons of energy and fun throughout the park. ! Activities: Swimming, Paddle board rentals, volleyball, snack shack, patio with chairs to sit at, green lawn to sunbath, toys to play on for the kids, lifeguards watching the swimmers and keeping them safe. Could be challenging on a nice day: Parking! I know that another review said ample parking, not so sure about this. I have passed this park many times and the parking lot is totally full on nice days. Look for parking on side streets close by, but be careful on parking restrictions....the parking patrol loves to give tickets in Kirkland. Bring the beach towell, a nice snack to eat and a great book and have yourself a great afternoon. read more

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Fun small beach park with a playground. Relatively easy to get to with a small parking lot. If it's full, plenty of street parking nearby. Came here on a sunny Saturday morning and not very crowded. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Beach with view - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Houghton Beach Park is a scenic waterfront, recreational area for volleyball games, swimming, Jet-ski, kayaking, mega paddle boarding & boating. Beautiful beach park in Kirkland, there is a lot of area for sitting, while maintaining social distance. Street parking. The high low tides make the beach experience perfect. Yesterday, 07/19/20 Sunday, was our first time to visit and we truly loved it. Very nice and well maintained with nice recreation facility with a play ground for kids. We swam and water was cold. 07/26/20 on Sunday we went back to go jet-skiing. Staff were helpful, knowledgeable on how to operate the equipment. We had a blast. We can't wait to go back. We absolutely love this beach. read more

Houghton is a lovely, simple, small park in Kirkland that is right on Lake Washington. Close to downtown, free wifi, and free street parking makes it a place to hangout or take a walk when it's warm. There is a kid's playground. Sand volleyball, dock where fishing is allowed and a lot of park benches. You're allowed to swim here, and you can launch boats that don't have a motor like kayaks. You can reserve the picnic area by going online. The sand volleyball is for whoever shows up first. Gas BBQs are allowed. read more

Small park with small playground. Nice neighborhood. There is a "beach cafe + grill" that seems to be a popular spot along with Ivar's.

Often a lot of bird poop everywhere. So you can't really enjoy walking on the waterfront paths. Also, the experience is spoiled every so often when someone brings their dog and lets it off leash. Good view of the lake though. However, very noisy given it's right next to a busy road. read more

Houghton Beach Park is fabulous! They have ample parking most of the year. During the summer it can sometimes be hard to find parking here, but not as hard as in the Kirkland Marina since the only restaurant near here is Kidd Valley and there is really no other businesses/cafes/bars in this stretch of the beach. Lots of nice grassy areas and park benches. Great view. Bit quieter than some of the other Kirkland beaches. Some nice statues/art work. They have a bathroom, however it is only open during the summer time when the beach is packed. And they also have a little snack shack which primarily sells burgers. read more

I love this little beach on the waterfront. Lying on the grass and basking in the sun, yes please. Visit the Perfect Wave SUP/kayak rentals right on the beach. Great place to paddle around. Street parking. Beach volleyball. Right next to some eateries if you get hungry. Also a snack shop on the beach. Brought my nephew here recently and he had a blast playing in the sand and wading around in the water. Aaaand ICE CREAM TRUCK. YAY! Summertime fun. read more

Cute little park. Great for kids. Or just to sit and relax and enjoy the waterfront. -Volleyball court -Swimming -You can rent kayaks or whatever you need to get out on the water -Nearby bar and grill -Parking: residential streets works for me! read more

This is a great beach park in Kirkland along Lake Washington Boulevard, which is easily accessible from Bellevue. It's especially great to visit this park during sunny days, but the only issue is that everyone else thinks that, too! It gets packed quickly. So if you plan to come here make sure you get here early for a spot on the grass for sun bathing or one of the picnic tables if you plan to bring food. Parking can be found along Lake Washington Boulevard or up on the residential streets. There is a private parking lot, but again, if it's packed you won't be able to find any parking. I've even visited during weekdays after work and the place was still packed on sunny days. The beach portion is primarily occupied by families and children, as there is a small playground area there. There are also volleyball nets and a large dock that you can dive off of. With that said there are public restrooms with a large section for changing, and a stand where you can rent paddle boards. If you're hungry there are eateries walking distance from the park, including nearby BeachHouse Bar and Grill and Kidd Valley. My favorite part of this park is that you can see a view of Seattle from here. read more

Nice park to take the kids to see ducks and if you want you could swim. The water is cold and the sand is dark brown, definitely not Hawaii. Nice to swim for toddlers, water is shallow and calm. There's also a playground. read more

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Love this stretch of waterfront in the heart of an amazing little town. Great level sidewalks for strollers, wagons and wheelchairs. Wonderful picnic greens right on the water. Perfect children's playground with loads of benches for parents to relax. Sandy beach with life guard in summer months. Swim lanes and pier. Park is very clean and sidewalks are swept to keep it clear of sand. Be careful on steps near lifeguard station as there's moss on steps in water. Little ones can easily slip on these. Rental hut for kayak rentals and snacks - pizza, drinks and ice cream. Outdoor shower to rinse off sand on side of hut. There's great people watching, sunsets, day dreaming and reading spots and fun Beach volleyball sports. Within walking distance from incredible restaurants. May want to consider parking down the street - grabbing food and walking to the beach to avoid over crowding parking lot - it can be a challenge on great days to find a space. We have a 3 yr old and 16 mo old and they love splashing around in the swallow waters which are roped off for the little guys. Lot of waves from boat traffic. Not bad idea to bring a life vest and/or floaties if your kiddos are not great swimmers, but water is shallow enough that at 5'7 person can wade out 10-15 feet out knee deep before hitting swim lane ropes. While there are a lot of great shade trees around the manicured green space - may want to bring an umbrella and/or tent if you want shade on the sandy beach. Beach is a gritty rocky sand - not soft fine sand you might find elsewhere, still lots of shells to sift through and pebbles to explore. Lots of ducks love the area and are fun to watch. Very tranquil area all times of the year. Very yuppie area. Feel very safe and comfortable on own with children as a woman. read more

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So I just got done walking through this entire park twice looking for a water fountain. There's one teeny one near an entrance, and it seems like it's been broken for a long time. This is unacceptable for any public park but especially one in such an expensive area. Aside from that, this is a great little park to relax and chill at on an off day, like early on a weekday afternoon when there aren't many folks about, especially when it's cool or cloudy. But on a day like today, where it's hot and humid af? Avoid like the plague, it's just crowded and noisy and miserable. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with this park. Combination of mixed memories and my kid's ages, I guess. For the little tots, this is a great spot. The swimming area is routinely staffed with lifeguards and to go past the roped off shallow area (knee high on a kindergartener), the kids must pass a swimming test. Cute play area surrounded by lots of big leafy trees. Beach volleyball pits. Aqua Verde food stand and a very nice restaurant all connect. Small parking lot of it's own (not common for the waterfront parks on this side) and ample street parking. (Be aware there are time limits and rumors of meters) Beautiful views, long dock, floating dock, kayak rentals (seasonal) and along the long waterfront promenade making walking/jogging from park to park or just with a view a top favored activity among locals. read more

I came here with my 1 year old to play in the sand and water. For this purpose, I don't think I'll come back. This beach might be better for sun bathers or older kids who just want to use the playground. Pros: -water isn't freezing -playground is up against the beach -showers (outdoor) -activities (during the summer) Cons: -zero shade -very small amount of sand -water is incredibly murky -dead fish on the beach -sand is more pebble towards the water, and is all pebble in the water -parking lot is extremely small read more

Such a chill place to be for any and everyone. I seen all types of people and all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the options for things to do. There was some company having rentals for wake boarding and kayaking. Next time I'm there I'll def rent a kayak and learn on Lake Washington. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Took me a nap - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Lovely beach, ample parking, nice green grass, lots of picnic tables, paddle club, restrooms, play area and ducks to feed. Not as crowded as Kirkland Marina and comparatively more secluded and quiet. Our favorite picnic spot! read more

Its quit sometimes and feels relaxed. Parking is available and street parking near by. Always love coming walking around the beach. read more

Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

So beautiful - the view is spectacular! Especially on a nice day, come here and watch the sunset and you will not be sorry. It is close by to a burger place, but otherwise you need to head into Kirkland for more food. Luckily, there are similar parks all along the way. The only downside is parking - when it gets nice out it is hard to find a place nearby. Also the road that borders it can get so clogged with traffic, at rush hour or with no warning, it can be difficult to get in or out of the area. read more

A great place to dip your toes in the water or catch some rays! I didn't have any trouble finding a good parking spot so I was able to get out an enjoy the sun right away! read more

Drove by this park on Friday and noticed the pirate ship-like play area, and thought my kids would enjoy it....so, we came today and the kids really had a great time. It's not crowded, but we came around 5pm and it's near a little beach waterfront where the kids can play in the sand and near the water. The park was pretty relaxing...nice view and it's close to a couple of restaurants if you get the munchies.. They have a parking lot nearby or street parking and plenty of picnic benches/park benches. We'll definitely come back read more

Great park to take the kids too. It's a big park with lots of room and lots to do. It can get busy at times in the summer so be warned, parking can get troublesome. Worth checking out if your new to the area! read more

Lovely beach with plenty of grassy areas to sit & beautiful sunsets, but extremely crowded on nice days in the summer. Little to no parking within blocks of the beach. Wouldn't recommend for anyone hoping to socially distance. read more

I absolutely love this park/beach. It is always so clean and the views are breathtaking at sunset and sunrise. My children love the sand area to build castles and they love they can walk a short distance to the playground. During the summer it is crowded as it is a short walk to downtown Kirkland shops that include food and ice cream but worth the trip. Only reason I could not rate this more is that often the restrooms smell as if they are not kept up as they should and the parking is hideous in the summer months and may have to park a ways in order to get to the beach and could be a pain if you are bringing chairs etc. There are benches, grass for picnic ,sand for laying on a towel the sand to get some rays and some awesome volleyball nets set up away from the main beach. read more

My favorite beach in the whole state. Friendly, beautiful and even has free wifi on the beach!

This place is amazing. There is a ton of pokestops and a gym, if you play Pokémon go. And the playground is awesome. It may be small but it can be very fun. read more

I really enjoy walking through this park, even if it is just for people watching. This is a convenient place to meet small groups for walking or jogging up and down the shoreline. read more

We love Houghton beach park. Great place to take the kids. There are bathrooms, parking, and pretty decent playground set. Plenty of beach and sand areas to dig holes and make canals. Watch out for duck poop though. When the weather is nice, this is our go-to spot for family picnics. During the Summer you can even tent paddle boards and kayaks, etc. what's not to love?!!! read more

Was there in July (2014). The day I was there with our preschool, there was a significant amount of goose poop at the shoreline where small children and babies were walking and enjoying the water on the beach. You could not step anywhere without stepping in it. It was nasty. There are other beach parks in Kirkland that are just as beautiful without this problem. read more

Spent day here with my 3.5 yr daughter. Great area and nice facilities. There are washrooms and changing areas by the sand beach in the same building as the hot dog stand. Also a grill/pub next to park as well. Nice play structures and docks to lounge on. Water was clean but cold. Will come back again! read more