Juanita Beach Park
Kirkland, Washington · on Lake Washington · Juanita Beach Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Juanita Beach Park
Juanita Beach Park is a 22-acre City of Kirkland park on the northeast shore of Lake Washington, built around a sandy beach and a concrete U-shaped pier that encloses a shallow, protected swimming area. For anyone looking for a lake to swim in near Kirkland, this swimming hole has deep roots: it has operated as a public swimming destination since the 1920s, first as a private resort and since 1956/2002 as a public park.
The park sits on Juanita Bay along Lake Washington's northeast shore in Kirkland's Juanita neighborhood. A naturally long, shallow shelf extends the swimming area out several hundred feet from shore, a feature exposed after the 1916 Lake Washington Ship Canal construction lowered the lake roughly 8.8 feet and revealed the white sand beach. The 22-acre park includes about 1,000 feet of shoreline, a wetland section with paved trails and bridges, ball fields, tennis and volleyball courts, and a 1905 Forbes family house preserved as a historical landmark.
Swimming at Juanita Beach Park
Swimming takes place in a shallow, sandy-bottomed cove enclosed by a concrete U-shaped pier/dock, which protects the swim area from boat traffic and open-lake chop. The shallow shelf extends well offshore, making it well suited to families and children; King County-area lifeguards staff the beach daily from around noon to 6pm in summer (roughly July 1 through Labor Day).
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland, WA 98034, on the northeast shore of Lake Washington in the Juanita neighborhood.
Parking: Two on-site parking lots with capacity for about 200 vehicles.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city park; the sandy beach and enclosed swim cove sit immediately next to the parking lots and bathhouse, so no trail or hike is needed to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Swimming happens in a shallow, sandy-bottomed cove enclosed by a concrete U-shaped pier that blocks boat traffic and open-lake wave action; a long shallow shelf extends well offshore, keeping most of the swim area gentle for young kids. King County-area lifeguards are on duty daily (about 12pm-6pm) from around July 1 through Labor Day/early September.
Parking
Lot
Two on-site parking lots with combined capacity for roughly 200 vehicles, directly adjacent to the beach. No fee schedule was found in the sources checked; the official city parks page (kirklandwa.gov) returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch attempts, so parking cost could not be confirmed.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse with restrooms at the beach; the bathhouse was rebuilt and reopened in December 2020.
On the water
Restrictions: No motorized watercraft; per the park's Wikipedia summary, only non-motorized boats are permitted to launch from the park. The enclosed swim cove itself (behind the concrete U-shaped pier) is reserved for swimming rather than boat traffic.
Exact launch point/ramp location and any permit requirements were not found in the sources checked; the official city park page could not be fetched (HTTP 403).
Backstory
Originally the site of a Duwamish winter village at the mouth of Juanita Creek. Homesteaded by Dorr Forbes in the 1870s; his son Leslie and wife Alicia opened the private Juanita Beach resort in 1921 with cabins and bathhouses. The resort closed briefly in 1953 due to pollution, was sold to King County in 1956, and was annexed/acquired by the City of Kirkland (1967 annexation, 2002 park acquisition). A 2006 Master Plan modernized the park, and a new bathhouse opened in December 2020, later winning a 2021 Project of the Year award. A 2015 community letter also proposed the site for a Kirkland aquatics/recreation center due to regional pool shortages.
Juanita Beach Park: FAQ
Is Juanita Beach Park kid friendly?
Swimming happens in a shallow, sandy-bottomed cove enclosed by a concrete U-shaped pier that blocks boat traffic and open-lake wave action; a long shallow shelf extends well offshore, keeping most of the swim area gentle for young kids. King County-area lifeguards are on duty daily (about 12pm-6pm) from around July 1 through Labor Day/early September.
Do I need to hike to reach Juanita Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Juanita Beach Park?
Two on-site parking lots with combined capacity for roughly 200 vehicles, directly adjacent to the beach. No fee schedule was found in the sources checked; the official city parks page (kirklandwa.gov) returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch attempts, so parking cost could not be confirmed.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Juanita Beach Park?
Exact launch point/ramp location and any permit requirements were not found in the sources checked; the official city park page could not be fetched (HTTP 403).
When is the best time to visit Juanita Beach Park?
Summer; the park has been a popular swimming destination since the early 1900s and lifeguards are on duty seasonally from around July 1 through Labor Day.
What water body is Juanita Beach Park on?
Juanita Beach Park is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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