Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park
Kirkland, Washington · on Lake Washington · Houghton Beach Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park
Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park is a 3.8-acre City of Kirkland waterfront park on the shore of Lake Washington, about one mile south of downtown Kirkland. It is one of the city's official guarded swimming beaches and a family-friendly swimming hole, with a sandy beach, a shallow children's swim area, and a deeper roped-off area with a swim dock used for dock diving, one of the official places to swim along Kirkland's Lake Washington shore.
The park sits directly on the Lake Washington shoreline between downtown Kirkland and Carillon Point, with views across the lake toward the Seattle skyline. It is a developed urban waterfront park (not backcountry) with landscaped lawns, a playground, and public art alongside the beach.
Swimming at Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park
Swimming is in Lake Washington off a sandy, gently sloping beach. The city maintains two designated swim zones: a shallow area suited to small children and a deeper, buoyed area with a swim dock/platform where dock diving is permitted. City lifeguards are on duty during summer (typically July through Labor Day), and loaner life jackets are available at the lifeguard stand. Suits swimmers of all levels, from young kids in the shallows to more confident swimmers using the dock.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 5811 Lake Washington Blvd, Kirkland, WA 98033, along Lake Washington Boulevard between downtown Kirkland and Carillon Point; walkable/joggable from downtown Kirkland.
Parking: Small on-site lot with roughly 25-30+ spaces, including accessible parking; the city offers a real-time parking availability map for the lot.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city beach park with an on-site parking lot; it's roughly a 1-2 minute flat walk from the lot to the sandy beach/swim area. No trail or hike is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
There's a designated shallow area suited to small children plus a deeper roped/buoyed area with a swim dock for stronger swimmers. However, the city requires all children 12 and under to pass an open-water swim test before crossing the shallow-water buoy line into the deeper dock area, lifeguards are only on duty roughly July through Labor Day (none in shoulder season or cold weather), and a teen near-drowning incident at this beach has been reported in local news, so supervision matters even with lifeguards present.
Parking
Free
Small free on-site lot with roughly 30+ spaces including accessible parking; city offers a real-time parking availability map for this lot. No paid-parking fee found in any source.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms on-site, open seasonally (roughly March through October per city/park-guide listings); not guaranteed available off-season.
Hours
Park is open daily; city listings show 6:00 AM-10:00 PM (an earlier-found city source said 'sunrise to 10:00 PM'). Guarded swim season is roughly July through Labor Day; lifeguard coverage suspended below 65°F or in severe weather.
On the water
Restrictions: The park's own launch is for non-motorized watercraft only (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards/SUPs); no indication motorboats or jet skis are permitted to launch from Houghton Beach Park itself. Nearby Carillon Point marina businesses do offer motorized boat and jet ski rentals if visitors want those on this section of Lake Washington.
A seasonal SUP/kayak rental concession (Perfect Wave) operates directly at the park during summer, so many visitors rent on-site rather than bringing their own craft.
Rentals nearby
Stand-up paddleboards, single/tandem/triple kayaks, plus SUP lessons and Jetsurf/eFoil demos; rentals include paddle, PFD, and (for SUP) a leash
Prices: Paddle board $25/hr; single kayak $30/hr; tandem kayak $40/hr; triple kayak $60/hr
On-site at Houghton Beach Park, 5811 Lake Washington Blvd NE, Kirkland · Fri-Thu 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm (seasonal/weather-permitting; closes during beach closures)
Stand-up paddleboard and kayak rentals; dogs allowed on kayaks but not paddleboards
Marina Park, downtown Kirkland, under the tent near the public boat docks/restrooms (~1 mile from Houghton Beach Park) · Daily, noon-8pm, weather permitting; online reservations recommended 12 hrs ahead, walk-ups accepted
Boats, jet skis, and paddleboards
1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033 (~1 mile from Houghton Beach Park) · Open 7 days a week, 10:30am-8:30pm
Backstory
Named for Doris Cooper, Kirkland's first female mayor (served on City Council 1973-1993, mayor 1984-1990), who with Judy Frolich and Delores Teutsch organized a 1969 telegram campaign to U.S. Congressman Tom Pelly that secured federal funding to purchase the waterfront land, converting former industrial/oil tank farm shoreline into public parkland.
Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park: FAQ
Is Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park kid friendly?
There's a designated shallow area suited to small children plus a deeper roped/buoyed area with a swim dock for stronger swimmers. However, the city requires all children 12 and under to pass an open-water swim test before crossing the shallow-water buoy line into the deeper dock area, lifeguards are only on duty roughly July through Labor Day (none in shoulder season or cold weather), and a teen near-drowning incident at this beach has been reported in local news, so supervision matters even with lifeguards present.
Do I need to hike to reach Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park?
Small free on-site lot with roughly 30+ spaces including accessible parking; city offers a real-time parking availability map for this lot. No paid-parking fee found in any source.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park?
A seasonal SUP/kayak rental concession (Perfect Wave) operates directly at the park during summer, so many visitors rent on-site rather than bringing their own craft.
When is the best time to visit Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park?
Summer (lifeguards on duty roughly July through Labor Day); restrooms are open seasonally March through October.
What are the rules at Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park?
City park hours are sunrise to 10:00 PM. Swimming beach is guarded only in summer (roughly July through Labor Day) and lifeguard coverage is suspended below 65°F or in severe weather; water quality is tested weekly by King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, with the beach subject to temporary closures to water contact when bacteria levels exceed safe thresholds.
What water body is Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park on?
Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
