East Houghton Waterfront Park is one of the most peaceful spots in Houghton — a little surprising, considering it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown. With its stunning views, innovative skate park, and expansive green space, the park is the perfect place to enjoy Upper Michigan’s distinct seasons.
Things to Do at East Houghton Waterfront Park
Most people come to East Houghton Waterfront Park to relax by the water and take in the spectacular view. A long wooden dock wraps around the park, creating a beautiful place to walk or relax. On warm days, locals and tourists stop by to enjoy the breeze or eat a takeout meal from one of the restaurants in Houghton.
Across the Portage Canal, you’ll see the Mont Ripley Ski Area. Look to the left to spot the Portage Lift Bridge and the Ranger III when it’s in port. To the right, there’s a series of docks, boat slips, and fishing piers.
At any given time, you’ll see people:
- Sunbathing on the docks
- Fishing from the piers
- Relaxing on the lawn
- Using the skate park
- Walking or biking on the park path
- Playing cornhole (see photo above)
Park Facilities
The park offers a variety of convenient facilities, including:
- Picnic shelter
- Modern bathrooms with showers
- Trash and recycling collection
- Pizza box collection
- Cornhole game
Park bathrooms are open seasonally; the showers are popular with boaters who are moored nearby.
Houghton Skate Park
East Houghton Waterfront Park is home to the Houghton Skate Park — the U.P.’s second professional concrete skate park.
The skate park was a true labor of love. Local residents proposed the project and raised more than $200,000 to cover the design and construction. The whole community got behind the project, raising more than $50,000 in small-dollar donations and supporting fundraising events including a concert and a skate deck art auction. Organizers also earned a variety of grants, including one from the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Since it opened in 2019, the skate park has become an integral part of the area. Locals of all ages come on bikes, scooters, and skateboards to work on tricks or simply enjoy the ramps.
How to Get to East Houghton Waterfront Park
East Houghton Waterfront Park is located 0.5 miles from downtown Houghton. You can walk there easily along the Houghton Waterfront Trail.
Directions to East Houghton Waterfront Park
- From downtown Houghton, drive east on College Avenue/US-41 (toward Michigan Tech)
- Turn left on Lake Street immediately after you get out of the downtown area
- Follow Lake street around the corner to the right; it turns into Lakeshore Drive
- At the bottom of the hill, just before the Super 8 Motel, take a hard left onto the rail trail
The parking lot is on the right, a short distance down the trail. This section is shared with bikers and pedestrians; drive slowly and stay alert.
History of East Houghton Waterfront Park
Like many places along the water in Houghton, East Houghton Waterfront Park was once a hub for industrial activity. The picnic pavilion and benches are located on a former coal dock; where the Super 8 Motel now stands, there was a railroad switchyard. The path that runs through the park and along the water was once a rail line for DSS&A, Mineral Range, and Soo Line trains.
Rail service to Houghton ceased completely by the 1980s, and city officials decided to pull up the railroad tracks and remove the former industrial architecture. For a while, the park was little more than a scraggly field. Over the past few decades, it’s been dramatically revitalized into the community hub it is today.
What’s Nearby
The Houghton Waterfront Trail passes right through the park; it’s one of the best spots for hiking near Houghton, MI. walk about 1 mile east, and you’ll find Prince’s Point park. Go 1.3 miles in the other direction, and you’ll find Houghton Waterfront Park, which is home to two of the beaches near Houghton, MI. Prefer to be surrounded by nature? Check out the stunning Nara Nature Park.