Kirkland brings together waterfront trails and waterways with nature parks and cultural venues. As you plan your days, consider whether you’d like to focus on a particular trail, views of wetlands and the bay, or art and events. The variety of places makes it possible to tailor your stay to these interests without packing everything into a single itinerary.
On foot between the waterfront and the city
The 1.2-mile Lake View Walk connects downtown Kirkland with Carillon Point and passes waterfront parks. The Cross Kirkland Corridor Interim Trail offers a different route: the gravel trail is 10 feet wide and 5.75 miles long. It runs north from the South Kirkland Park & Ride at the southern city limits through the Totem Lake Business District. This gives you a choice between a shorter connection from downtown to Carillon Point and a considerably longer route through the Business District. The stated lengths make the difference in scale clear without requiring you to treat the trails as a single itinerary.
Nature and varied waterfront views
At Juanita Bay Park, diverse flora and fauna are accompanied by views of Forbes Creek Wetland, Juanita Beach, and Juanita Bay. The waters surrounding the park are a protected wildlife habitat; observe the posted restrictions. Those interested in landscapes and habitats will find several clearly identified viewpoints within the same park.
Juanita Beach Park encompasses 1,000 feet of Lake Washington shoreline. It has a sandy beach and a shallow swimming area, both fully enclosed by a U-shaped pier. Visitors can launch personal watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards in the park. In addition to spending time by the water, visitors can learn about the area’s history from numerous interpretive signs throughout the park.
Other parks offer their own distinctive features: Watershed Park is a nature park with forests, walking trails, and a viewpoint. Brookhaven Park has a gravel interpretive walking trail. Together, these nature spots range from views of wetlands and the bay to a shoreline and swimming area, as well as forest trails and a viewpoint.
Plan for water and culture
Marina Park is a significant waterfront park on the shore of Lake Washington. Its facilities include a boat launch, moorage facilities, and a public restroom. The Kirkland Marina Park Dock and the 2nd Avenue South Dock together offer 82 uncovered moorage slips year-round. If you need a moorage slip, check availability before your trip.
Cultural venues offer different points of interest, too. Heritage Hall is a Greek Revival-style building, built as a church in 1922 and converted into office space in 1968. The Peter Kirk Building dates to 1891 and is the only surviving building directly associated with city founder Peter Kirk. The historic Peter Kirk Building is home to the Kirkland Arts Center, which offers art classes and galleries.
The Kirkland Performance Center is a 394-seat theater with an intimate layout. Even the seats farthest from the stage are just 40 feet away and offer a good view of the stage. The program includes live music, theater, dance, and comedy; the center also supports arts education and local artists. Since event dates vary, check the schedule if you’d like to plan around a particular performance.
Discover more destinations: Mercer Island, Bothell, Issaquah, Tukwila, Enumclaw, Woodinville, Newcastle, Shoreline.
For the main travel overview: King.
