Welcome to Chicago's Lakefront

Beach Dog Friendly Areas

Dogs can splash and play at the designated dog friendly areas on the lake, at Belmont Harbor or north of Montrose Beach, at Wilson Ave. and at the north end of Foster Ave. Beach.

Dog Friendly Areas Information Page

Water Conditions FAQ

What causes swim advisories and swim bans?

Swim advisories and swim bans are issued for potentially hazardous weather or water quality conditions. The Chicago Park District follows United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance for testing of recreational waters and tests for indicator bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the collected samples. There are many unknown sources that cause high levels of E. coli: high temperatures, weather events, storm water, sand, low lake levels and animal waste. Studies have suggested a link between fecal droppings from ring-billed gulls and other birds, which is why feeding birds at the beach is discouraged and harassment techniques have been implemented at some sites that have a history of high levels of E. coli. The Park District provides numerous lidded containers for trash and recyclable materials to decrease the available food source for these "nuisance species". Additionally, the Chicago Park District Department of Natural Resources cleans each beach daily.

What are indicator bacteria?

Although the type of E. coli that is tested for at beaches is not itself harmful, it is used as an "indicator bacteria" for potentially harmful germs (bacteria or viruses). This means that that if E. coli is found, there is a statistical likelihood that other germs may be present.

The sheer variety of germs that could be found in the environment and their low concentrations make it very difficult and expensive to test for each individual organism. To protect public health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted studies that provide a statistical link between the risk of getting sick and the presence of E. coli above certain concentrations.

What causes high levels of indicator bacteria?

There are many unknown sources that can cause high levels of E. coli in the water. Studies have shown that potential sources include waste from gulls, pets and wildlife, high temperatures, severe weather, storm water runoff, bacteria from the sand, and low lake levels. Research has suggested a strong link between high E. coli levels and fecal droppings from ring-billed gulls and other birds, which is why feeding birds at the beach is prohibited and gull harassment techniques have been implemented at some sites that have a history of high levels of E. coli. The Park District also provides numerous lidded containers for trash and recyclable materials to decrease the available food source for these "nuisance species." Additionally, the Chicago Park District Department of Natural Resources cleans each beach daily.

How often is the water tested?

EPA guidance calls for municipalities to test recreational public beach waters at least once every week. The Chicago Park District tests beach waters for bacteria a minimum of five days per week, or more when high levels of E. coli are found. To help decrease E. coli levels, the Chicago Park District uses an integrated approach of best management practices in an effort to minimize various sources of the bacteria.

How can I learn more about the current water conditions before heading to the beach?

Learn about current water conditions at the Chicago Park District Swim Report page or call 312-74BEACH, follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook Page.

Keeping Chicago's Beaches Clean

The Chicago Park District cleans the beaches daily, but we need your help to keep them clean. Please follow these rules when at the beach:

• Do not feed birds on the beach.
• Keep your picnic sites tidy and free of trash.
• Grill only in designated areas, and put used coals in red metal hot coal containers. Grilling on the beach is hazardous because used coals can remain hot in the sand for many hours and can cause burns if beach patrons step on them.
• At the beach and in the parking lot, put all trash in the containers provided.
• Place recyclable materials in the blue recycling containers, and place all other trash in the green waste containers. Materials that go in a blue recycling container include paper, plastic containers, glass containers and aluminum cans.
• Do not swim if you are not feeling well.
• Infants and toddlers should wear swim diapers.

Watch a video to learn more about our beach cleaning and water sampling.

Look for our “Big Belly” solar powered trash cans along the Lakefront this summer. These trash cans are solar powered trash compactors which will help minimize the number of times the Park District empties these containers along the Lakefront, supporting our sustainability initiatives for fuel conservation and decreased emissions as well as to support and utilize current solar power technology.

In October 2007, the Chicago Park District board of commissioners passed a measure that prohibits smoking at beaches, playgrounds, and playlots. In efforts to help keep our beaches clean, the smoking ban has helped decrease the amount of cigarette butts littering Chicago beaches.

In April of 2010, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners passed a measure that prohibits the feeding of birds and other animals at bathing beaches. Research has shown that the bacteria from bird waste can be a significant cause of swim bans. Feeding attracts additional birds to the beach, which can increase the problems associated with bird waste.

Public support is vital to maintaining cleaner, safer beaches. Cleaner beaches result in fewer swim advisories and bans. For more information about keeping our beaches clean, visit www.greatlakes.org.

Lakefront Webcam

Click on the link below to view current lake conditions before heading to the beach, or just take a look at one of several costal webcams lining Chicago's lakefront. Webcam link hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Chicago Harbors

The Chicago Park District's nine lakefront harbors stretch from Lincoln Park in the northern part of the city to Jackson Park in the south. With accommodations for more than 5,000 boats, the Chicago Park District Harbors constitute the nation's largest municipal harbor system and feature state-of-the-art floating docks, moorings, star docks, fuel facilities and other amenities for Chicago boaters and their guests.

For more information on Chicago's Harbors, click here.

Lakefront Natural Areas

The Chicago Park District’s natural areas program offers Chicago residents and guests a variety of opportunities to discover and appreciate nature. Natural areas provide many ecological benefits. They protect and offer sanctuary for rare and endangered species, protect the region’s biodiversity, aid in stormwater management, and act as buffer zones against water contamination. The Park District maintains native dune and beach habitat at six of Chicago’s beaches:

• 63rd Street Beach
• Montrose Beach
• Kathy Osterman Beach
• Loyola Park / Leone Beach
• Rainbow Park
• South Shore Cultural Center / South Shore Beach

Sand dunes occur wherever wind-blown sand has a chance to temporarily or permanently stabilize into a ridge. The prevailing west-east wind direction makes Illinois dunes petite versions of our neighboring Indiana dunes, but no less interesting. Come explore these habitats, home to unusual grasses, flowering plants and birds.

Four of our beach natural areas are also designated as bird and butterfly sanctuaries: 63rd Street Beach, Montrose Beach, Kathy Osterman Beach, and South Shore Cultural Center.

Lakefront Map

The Lakefront Trail Map offers a complete, easy to follow outline of Chicago’s 18-mile paved trail along Lake Michigan. Running from Hollywood Ave. on the north end, to 71st St. on the south end, the map features mile markers, restrooms, facilities, public transportation information and available parking lots along the trail. Printed on durable water resistant paper, it’s small enough to slip into your pocket while walking, jogging or biking along the lake.

To view or print out a copy of the Lakefront Trail Map, click the links below:

1. Lakefront Trail Map (complete brochure)
2. Lakefront Trail Map cover
3. Lakefront Trail Map icon key
4. Lakefront Trail Map Hollywood Ave. - Diversey Pkwy.
5. Lakefront Trail Map Diversey Pkwy. - Madison St.
6. Lakefront Trail Map Madison St. - 55th St.
7. Lakefront Trail Map 55th St. - 79th St.

For questions regarding Chicago's beaches, call 312-74BEACH (312.742.3224) or 312.742.PLAY (7529).

Text the name of the beach to 312.715.SWIM (7946) to find out the swim status at that location. For the entire list, leave the body of the text blank.

Lakefront Cultural Attractions

The Chicago lakefront also offers world class museums, a zoo and Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. Be sure to call ahead for hours, parking options and admission prices.

• Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
  1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
  312.922.STAR
  
• Art Institute of Chicago
  111 S. Michigan Avenue
  312.443.3600
  
• Chicago Cultural Center
  78 E. Washington Street
  312.744.6630
  
• Chicago Riverwalk
  Along Wacker Drive between Lake Shore Drive and Franklin Street
• Chicago History Museum
  Clark Street at North Avenue
  312.642.4600
• Field Museum
  1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
  312.922.9410
• Lincoln Park Zoo
  2001 N. Clark Street
  312.742.2000
• Museum of Contemporary Art
  220 E. Chicago Avenue
  312.280.2660
• Museum of Science and Industry
  57th Street & Lake Shore Drive
  773.684.1414
• Notebaert Nature Museum
  2430 N. Cannon Drive
  773.755.5100
• John G. Shedd Aquarium
  1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
  312.939.2438
• Soldier Field
  1410 S. Museum Campus Drive
  312.235.7000

Non-Motorized Water Sports

• Non-Motorized Water Sports Information and Safety Awareness Information

Get Involved

There are many opportunities to get involved in volunteer stewardship projects along the lakefront (and at other locations in the Chicago Park District). To see a list of sites and workdays, click here.

Beach Data and Reports

Click here to download historic data from the Chicago Park District’s beach monitoring program.

Links

Alliance for the Great Lakes

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Illinois Department of Public Health Beach Monitoring Web site

Shedd Aquarium

US Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes National Program Office