Issaquah Dock Houseboat Walk
Landmark · Gate 6 Road, Sausalito, CA 94965
Verified September 2026
Photo by Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most-photographed stretch of Sausalito's floating-home community, a public sidewalk running past dozens of houseboats built from everything from ferryboat hulls to WWII surplus lumber. It's the same houseboat scene, elsewhere on these docks, that Otis Redding was staying in when he wrote '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' in 1967.
What To Expect
You're walking a public street, not a private marina — the sidewalk is open and locals are used to visitors, but the docks themselves and the homes on them are private property. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to walk the length of Issaquah Dock and take in the range of houseboat styles, from converted tugboats to elaborate multi-story floating homes.
Getting There
Take Bridgeway to Gate 6 Road, on the north end of town past the Bay Model, and park on the street where you see the Issaquah Dock entrance sign. From there it's a flat walk south along the public sidewalk connecting the docks — see the site's Sausalito Houseboats guide for the full community history and visiting etiquette.
Good To Know
Free, open year-round, no set hours. Keep noise down and stay off private docks — this is a residential neighborhood, not an attraction built for tourists, even though it draws plenty.
Our Take
Go on a weekday morning if you can — it's quieter, the residents are more likely to wave than sigh, and the light on the water is better than the afternoon glare.