Houghton Waterfront Park — officially called Kestner Waterfront Park — is located next to the Portage Canal in Houghton, Michigan. Home to two beaches, a beautiful picnic pavilion, and one of the biggest playgrounds in Michigan, this five-acre park is a popular recreation spot year-round.
About Houghton Waterfront Park
Houghton Waterfront Park is open year-round, but it’s most popular from May to October. The bathrooms and changing room, which are located in the same building as Portage Paddle Sports, are open seasonally. Pets are not allowed in the park.
Park facilities include:
- Modern bathrooms
- Watersports rentals
- Trash cans
- Picnic tables and grills
- Cornhole
- Sand volleyball court
As you walk over the bridges into the park, you’ll see a large, grassy lawn in front of a bandshell and a shaded picnic pavilion. The City of Houghton hosts a summer concert series in the bandshell; bring a blanket or beach chair and enjoy the show for free. You’ll find dates on the city’s event calendar. The picnic pavilion is free to use and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you’re looking for campgrounds near Houghton, MI, the City of Houghton RV Park is right next door.
Beaches at Houghton Waterfront Park
Houghton Waterfront Park is home to two of the most popular beaches near Houghton, MI — especially for families. Since both beaches are located on the Portage Canal, the water warms to a swimming temperature earlier than Lake Superior.
The main beach (pictured above) is located between the Chutes and Ladders play structure and the City of Houghton RV Park. It’s on the far end of the park, so there’s no traffic and plenty of room to sunbathe. The water stays shallow for quite a way off shore, but keep in mind that lifeguards are not on duty at either beach.
The east beach is located on the opposite end of the park, right next to the parking lot. This beach is smaller, but it has a better view. Parents with small children often prefer it because the water is shallow and less prone to waves. The Houghton Waterfront Trail and Lakeshore Drive run close to the beach, so there’s a steady stream of pedestrians and cars passing by.
Chutes and Ladders Playground
Chutes and Ladders is the main attraction at Houghton Waterfront Park. This massive wooden play structure features slides, ladders, tunnels, monkey bars, swinging bridges, and plenty of stairs. Keep in mind that some of the stairs are very tall, so you might need to accompany toddlers. (You’ll get a good workout in the process.)
At the bottom of the Chutes and Ladders park, you’ll find swings and a smaller, separate play structure for smaller kids. You can watch little ones play from the shaded picnic tables in front of the playground (see photo above).
Be prepared for your kids to get dirty — the play structure is built on a tall, sand-covered hill, and kids love to run or roll down the sandy slope. There’s a foot-wash station nearby, though, so it’s pretty easy to rinse off on your way out.
SUP and Kayak Rentals
Houghton Waterfront Park is home to Portage Paddle Sports, which rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and aqua lilies. You can also rent beach cruiser bikes — they’re a great way to explore the Houghton Waterfront Trail.
Portage Paddle Sports also operates an ice-cream shop out of the rental building. Choose from a 42+ flavors — we love Mint Mackinac Island Fudge — as well as vegan gelato and a small selection of snacks.
How to Get to Houghton Waterfront Park
Houghton Waterfront Park is located just west of downtown Houghton, Michigan. You can walk there in 15-20 minutes from downtown — just hop on the Houghton Waterfront Trail and head in the direction of the Portage lift bridge.
Directions to Houghton Waterfront Park
- From downtown Houghton, head east (toward the lift bridge) on Lakeshore Drive.
- Drive 1 mile to reach the park
During the summer of 2023, the City of Houghton is taking down an old parking deck, which means that several blocks of Lakeshore Drive are closed intermittently. To avoid these closures, take Shelden Avenue (the main street), and turn right on Quincy Street. Then, turn left on Lakeshore Drive near the bridge.
If you’re coming on foot from elsewhere in Houghton, there’s no need to cross the busy five-lane Memorial Drive to get to the park. Instead, walk to the bottom of 6th St. and turn left onto Memorial Drive to find the pedestrian tunnel that runs under the road.
History of Houghton Waterfront Park
Houghton Waterfront Park was once the site of a booming industrial operation that served the copper mines of the Keweenaw. Where the main beach is now, two enormous gantry cranes transferred copper ore from rail cars onto ships. The roundhouse for the Copper Range Railroad sat on the site of the parking lot and east beach, and a railroad line ran along the waterfront.
After the copper mines closed and the railroad stopped running, the downtown Houghton waterfront fell into disrepair. Ray Kestner, who was the city manager and Director of Public Works from 1971 to 1997, spearheaded the revitalization efforts. The park’s official name, Kestner Waterfront Park, is an homage to Kestner’s achievements — he transformed the waterfront into a beloved community recreation area.
Creating a stable, even surface for the park required extensive backfilling. If you’re interested in the process, you can see a series of excellent photos here.
Things to Do Near Kestner Waterfront Park
If you’re up for a walk, hop on the Houghton Waterfront Trail from the park. Running for more than 8 miles along Portage Lake, it’s one of the most popular spots for walking, biking, and hiking near Houghton, MI. Walk along the marina, stop for a pasty or a sweet treat at Roy’s Pasties & Bakery, and check out the old railroad depot (now the Copper Range Depot restaurant), or head down to one of the other restaurants in Houghton, MI..
For an adventure, check out one of the waterfalls near Houghton, MI. To see another former industrial site, check out the beautiful East Houghton Waterfront Park.