Waverly Beach Park
Kirkland, Washington · on Lake Washington · Waverly Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Waverly Beach Park
Waverly Beach Park is a 2.76-acre City of Kirkland waterfront park on Lake Washington, featuring an official, lifeguarded swimming beach enclosed by a U-shaped pier. One of three guarded swimming beaches operated by the City of Kirkland, it is among the city's few official places to swim on the lake, a tidy urban swimming hole monitored weekly by King County Public Health for water quality.
The park sits down a forested hillside on Lake Washington's shore in Kirkland's Market neighborhood, set back from Lake Washington Boulevard, giving it a more secluded feel than some nearby waterfront parks. It has about 490 feet of shoreline, green lawns, a pier, and views across the lake to the Seattle skyline and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.
Swimming at Waverly Beach Park
Swimming happens in a calm, shallow area enclosed by a U-shaped public pier, with a small pebbly/sandy beach and concrete steps for entry. The zone is buoy-marked and shallow, geared toward families and children; lifeguards enforce the shallow-water boundary and require children 12 and under to pass an open-water swim test before crossing the buoy line into deeper water. At least one visitor review described the enforced swim boundary as unusually restrictive.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 633 Waverly Park Way in Kirkland, WA, about one mile north of downtown Kirkland; reachable via Lake Washington Boulevard, with the park set down a hillside from the road.
Parking: Two small on-site parking lots (roughly 40 spaces combined) plus limited street parking nearby; the lot reportedly fills quickly on warm summer days. One source states parking costs on weekdays except Sundays, though exact rates were not confirmed on an official fee page.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up city park; the parking lots sit above the shore on a forested hillside, so it's a short walk (a couple minutes down a paved path/steps, not a formal trail) from the lot to the beach. No source publishes an exact walk time.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Shallow, buoy-marked swim area enclosed by a U-shaped pier with concrete steps for entry, plus lifeguards on duty daily 12:00-6:00 PM starting July 1 and a free life-jacket loan program. Kids 12 and under must pass an open-water swim test before being allowed past the buoy line into deeper water; a Wanderlog reviewer described the lifeguards as strict, enforcing a shallow cutoff roughly a meter from shore, and noted some algae in the shallow zone. Playground on-site for non-swimming kids.
Parking
Lot
Two small on-site lots (roughly 40 spaces combined) plus limited street parking. Visitor reviews (Wanderlog) warn the lot is 'almost never' has open spots on warm days and advise arriving early; one aggregator (CityBOP) states a weekday parking fee applies except Sundays, but this was not confirmed on an official City of Kirkland fee page.
Restrooms
Yes
On-site restroom building described by visitors as clean and well-stocked with supplies; per an aggregator (CityBOP) the building is open seasonally (roughly March-October) with a portable toilet substituting in the off-season Nov-March. Changing rooms/showers also listed by an aggregator (OpenWaterData).
Water clarity
Mostly clear
One recent visitor described the water as 'clean and transparent,' though the same report noted some algae coverage in the shallow, lifeguard-restricted swim zone near shore. No additional clarity reports were located.
Hours
Park open 8:00 AM-10:00 PM daily; lifeguards on the swim beach specifically 12:00-6:00 PM daily starting July 1 (summer season only) per City of Kirkland.
On the water
Restrictions: The designated swim area itself is enclosed by the U-shaped pier and buoy-marked for swimming only, with pets and presumably launching excluded from that zone. The City of Kirkland's own park page separately notes a public dock plus distinct fishing and windsurfing areas outside the swim zone; an aggregator (OpenWaterData) additionally lists powerboating and water skiing as lake activities associated with the site, but that appears to be a generic Lake Washington activity list rather than something confirmed as practiced from this specific small park, so treat that part with caution.
A Wanderlog-aggregated review mentions visitors bringing their own SUP or kayak to launch from the beach area. No on-site rental or launch fee information was found.
What regulars say
Visitor reports describe the water as clean and transparent but call out strict lifeguard enforcement of a very shallow swim boundary (about a meter from shore) for those wanting to swim past ankle-to-knee depth, plus some algae in that shallow strip. The same reports flag the park as busy and bustling on hot summer days with the small parking lot filling up, so arriving early is recommended. No confirmed kayak, paddleboard, or canoe rental outfitter serving this stretch of Lake Washington could be verified, so no rental businesses are listed.
Waverly Beach Park: FAQ
Does Waverly Beach Park charge a fee?
No park entrance fee found; possible weekday parking fee per a directory source, unconfirmed on the official city site.
Is Waverly Beach Park kid friendly?
Shallow, buoy-marked swim area enclosed by a U-shaped pier with concrete steps for entry, plus lifeguards on duty daily 12:00-6:00 PM starting July 1 and a free life-jacket loan program. Kids 12 and under must pass an open-water swim test before being allowed past the buoy line into deeper water; a Wanderlog reviewer described the lifeguards as strict, enforcing a shallow cutoff roughly a meter from shore, and noted some algae in the shallow zone. Playground on-site for non-swimming kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Waverly Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Waverly Beach Park?
Two small on-site lots (roughly 40 spaces combined) plus limited street parking. Visitor reviews (Wanderlog) warn the lot is 'almost never' has open spots on warm days and advise arriving early; one aggregator (CityBOP) states a weekday parking fee applies except Sundays, but this was not confirmed on an official City of Kirkland fee page.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Waverly Beach Park?
A Wanderlog-aggregated review mentions visitors bringing their own SUP or kayak to launch from the beach area. No on-site rental or launch fee information was found.
When is the best time to visit Waverly Beach Park?
Summer, when lifeguards are on duty (from July 1) and the swimming area and playground see the most use.
What are the rules at Waverly Beach Park?
Designated swim area marked by a buoy line; lifeguards on duty daily 12:00-6:00 PM starting July 1 during the summer season; children 12 and under must pass an open-water swim test before crossing the buoy line; free life jacket loans available; pets are not allowed in the designated swimming area.
What water body is Waverly Beach Park on?
Waverly Beach Park is on Lake Washington, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
