Attention: Temporary Closure

The picnic area, restrooms, and a portion of the parking lot at Lake View Beach are closed as contractors work on an improvement project, which includes the installation of a concrete ramp to increase access.

The closure will remain in effect through May 15, 2024, or until further notice.

Getting There

Need to Know

• Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
• Covered picnic shelters with great views of Lake Michigan.
• First come, first served. No advance reservations.
• Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water.
• Pets – Permitted on a leash (6' or shorter).
• Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach, littering.
• Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
• Cooking fires are permitted at the picnic shelters in the provided grills or an approved carry-in grill. An approved grill is a non-combustible container with an enclosed bottom and enclosed sides with a minimum depth of 2 inches. Charcoal must be cooled and safely disposed of in a non-combustible container or removed from the area.
• Parking lot is paved and has 40 spots and can fill up quickly on summer weekends.

• Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
• Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
• Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the picnic area and on the trails to the beach.
• In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

• The picnic shelters and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The beach is not wheelchair accessible. There is a very good view of Lake Michigan from the parking lot and picnic shelters.

Visitor Activities

• Picnicking.
• Swimming. No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous.
• Walk past five historic homes from the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair, which are located 1/3 mile to the west along Lake Front Drive.
• Smelt fishing in the spring (no permit required).

Nearby Beaches

• Dunbar Beach
• Kemil Beach
• Central Avenue Beach