What is Howarth Park in Everett?
Howarth Park is a City of Everett park on the Puget Sound bluff at 1127 Olympic Boulevard, with an easy 0.6-mile loop trail, a pedestrian bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks to a long beach, sport courts, a playground, and an off-leash dog beach on the north end. It’s open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, free to enter, and one of the most underused public beaches in Snohomish County.

Howarth Park: The Everett Beach You Drive Past Without Knowing It’s There

Olympic Boulevard in south Everett is mostly tidy residential streets, a few stop signs, and not much else to look at — which is exactly how most drivers end up cruising right past Howarth Park without noticing the turnoff. That is the central fact of this park. It’s one of the most scenic stretches of public beach in south Everett, it’s a short drive from downtown, and a huge number of Everett residents have never set foot on it.

Let’s fix that.

Where Howarth Park Actually Is

Howarth Park is tucked along the western bluff of south Everett at 1127 Olympic Boulevard. Coming from downtown, the easiest route is south on Rucker Avenue, right on Mukilteo Boulevard, and then left into the park about a mile and a half after you pass Forest Park. If you hit the Mukilteo ferry, you’ve gone too far.

The park sits on a long, narrow strip of bluff and beach that the City of Everett has owned and managed for generations. The bluff side holds the parking, playground, and sport courts. The beach is a separate world down below — reached only by the park’s signature pedestrian bridge.

The Three Parking Lots and What Each One Gives You

One of the things that confuses first-time visitors is that Howarth Park has three parking lots, and they’re not interchangeable. Pick the wrong one and you’ll either end up with a long walk or a missed view.

The north parking lot is what most beach-goers want. This is the closest pedestrian access to the beach itself. A short trail leads from the lot to the park’s pedestrian bridge, which spans the BNSF railroad tracks below and drops you directly onto the sand. If your goal is to get to the water with kids, a dog, or a beach chair, this is the lot.

The central parking lot sits at a small viewpoint on the bluff and offers a trail that drops down the hillside to the beach. This route is longer and steeper than the north access, but the view from the top is easily the best non-beach view in the park — on a clear day you’re looking straight across at the Olympic Mountains and Hat Island.

The south parking lot is the one most Everett residents don’t realize exists. This is the family-friendly end: two sport courts (tennis and basketball), a playground, a restroom, and a short, level walking path that leads to another great water view — again with Hat Island front and center. If you have young kids and want a picnic without the pedestrian-bridge hike, come here.

The Pedestrian Bridge and the Beach

The pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks is the quintessential Howarth experience. It’s not fancy — a metal walkway with railings — but it feels a little bit like crossing into a hidden world. You come off the bridge onto a long, driftwood-strewn beach with Possession Sound in front of you, Whidbey Island in the distance, and the Mukilteo ferry crossing behind you.

The beach itself runs north to south along the park’s full length. It’s sand and cobble, with plenty of driftwood washed up at the high-tide line and tide pools exposed at low tide. You’ll see people walking dogs, kids skipping rocks, the occasional fisherman, and on nice spring weekends, a handful of photographers chasing the light.

The freight trains that run on the tracks behind you are loud and constant — that’s the tradeoff for beach access in this part of Puget Sound. After your first trip you stop noticing them.

The 0.6-Mile Loop Trail

On the bluff above, Howarth has a short but scenic 0.6-mile loop trail that’s generally rated as easy. It takes most people about 15 to 20 minutes and connects the three parking lots through a mix of forested switchbacks and bluff-edge sections. Strollers can handle some of it but not all. Dogs on leash are fine.

The trail is at its best between March and September, when the alders have leafed out and the ground is dry. In winter the steeper descents can get muddy and slick — bring shoes with tread.

The Off-Leash Dog Beach

Here’s a Howarth detail most Everett dog owners don’t know until their neighbor tells them: the north end of the beach is off-leash. Everett has very few legal off-leash beach options, and this is one of them. The south half of the beach stays leashed, but if you walk north from the pedestrian bridge, your dog can run.

Standard rules apply: owners are responsible for cleanup, voice control, and pulling your dog back if another leashed dog or visitor is coming through. The regulars who use this stretch have an informal etiquette that works well — show up, be considerate, and you’ll be welcomed.

The Views and When to Come

Howarth faces roughly west-southwest across Possession Sound. That geometry means:

Morning: Calm water, often glassy, great for reflective photos and cool-weather walks.
Golden hour to sunset: The main event. The sun drops behind Hat Island and the Olympics light up pink and orange. This is the time to come.
Overcast days: Still beautiful. The moody gray sky and driftwood beach are some of the most Pacific Northwest scenery Everett has.

Weekends in July and August get busy, especially the north lot. Weekday evenings are the sweet spot — you’ll often have long stretches of beach to yourself.

Hours, Amenities, and Rules

Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Cost: Free.
Parking: Three lots, no fee.
Restrooms: Available at the south lot.
Playground: South lot.
Sport courts: South lot (tennis and basketball).
Dogs: On leash in all park areas except the north end of the beach, which is off-leash.
Fires: Not permitted on the beach.
Alcohol: Not permitted in park facilities.

Why Howarth Is Worth the Trip

Everett has Jetty Island for ferry-ride summer beach days, Forest Park for forest walks and the animal farm, and Legion Memorial for views and golf. Howarth is the one that fills a different slot: a real, walkable Puget Sound beach you can drive to in ten minutes, stay on for two hours, and leave without feeling like you fought a crowd.

It’s not flashy. It’s not a destination. It’s just quietly one of the best small parks in the city, and the Everett residents who use it regularly tend to keep it that way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Howarth Park in Everett?

Howarth Park is at 1127 Olympic Boulevard in south Everett, on the Puget Sound bluff between downtown Everett and Mukilteo. The easiest route from downtown is south on Rucker, right on Mukilteo Boulevard, and left into the park.

What are the hours at Howarth Park?

Howarth Park is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, year-round.

How do you get to the beach at Howarth Park?

The quickest access is from the north parking lot. A short trail leads to a pedestrian bridge that spans the BNSF railroad tracks and drops you directly onto the beach. There’s also a longer switchback trail from the central parking lot that descends the bluff to the beach.

Is Howarth Park dog-friendly?

Yes. Dogs are allowed throughout the park on leash, and the north end of the beach is an off-leash area. Owners are responsible for cleanup and voice control.

How long is the Howarth Park trail?

The main loop trail is about 0.6 miles and generally takes 15 to 20 minutes. It connects the three parking lots through a mix of forested switchbacks and bluff-edge segments.

Is there parking at Howarth Park?

Yes. There are three free parking lots — north, central, and south. The north lot is closest to the beach via the pedestrian bridge. The south lot has the playground, restroom, and sport courts.

Can you swim at Howarth Park Beach?

Wading is common on warm days, but Puget Sound water is cold year-round and the beach is not a lifeguarded swim beach. Conditions are best-suited for beachcombing, dog walking, and tide-pooling at low tide.

When is the best time to visit Howarth Park?

Weekday evenings between March and September are ideal. The golden-hour to sunset window is the park’s best view. Weekend afternoons in mid-summer can fill the north parking lot — come early or arrive after 4 p.m. for easier parking.