Fall 2008

Soaking up the rays at North Avenue Beach

Welcome to Chicago's Lakefront

The Chicago Park District manages the city's 26 miles of open and free lakefront for the enjoyment of Chicago residents and visitors. Admission to Chicago's beaches is free.

We invite you to walk, eat, jog, catch some rays, bike, rollerblade, sail, play volleyball, explore, or just relax along Chicago's lakefront. We hope you enjoy this summer at the lake.

The 2008 Beach season runs Friday, May 23 to Monday, September 1. Swimming is permitted and lifeguards are on duty at all beaches from 9:00am to 8:30pm daily.

For questions regarding Chicago's Beaches, call 312-74BEACH (312-742-3224) or 312-742-PLAY (7529).

Swimming Ban Notification System

Be aware of current water quality conditions at your local beach with the Chicago Park District flag notification system.

Green - Swimming is permitted. Water is calm and quality is safe based on current monitoring for E.coli bacteria.

Yellow - Advisory is in effect. Caution is advised. Water and weather conditions becoming unpredictable. Restrictions may be implemented. Increased risk of illness may be present based on current monitoring for E.coli bacteria.

Red - Swim ban is in effect due to severe weather and/or water conditions, which may be hazardous. Serious risk of illness may be present based on current monitoring for E.coli bacteria.

Regardless of flag color, our beaches are always open. Flag colors represent conditions for swimming only.

Swimming Beaches (monitored by lifeguards)

Information about our swimming beaches including addresses, parking, accessibility and distance swimming areas, is listed below.

Swimmers

There are 15 designated areas where distance swimming is allowed at the beach either equal to or slightly past the boat line. Patrons should check with the Natatorium Instructor or Lifeguard Captain on duty for specific instructions for each location. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Chicago Park District Beaches and Pools office at 312-742-5121.

Please be aware that parking is limited at most beaches, so we encourage you to take public transportation.

12th Street Beach
1200 S. Lakefront (12th St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk & Restrooms
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore at boat line
31st Street Beach
3100 S. Lakefront (31st St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Free lot
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore from pier to tower
57th Street Beach
5700 S. Lakefront (57th St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk & Restrooms
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore from 55th St. south to pier
63rd Street Beach
6400 S. Lakefront (63rd St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Free lot
Distance Swimming: @ 64th Street, parallel to shore between 1st and 3rd buoys
Albion Beach
6600 N. Lakefront (Albion Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Calumet Beach
9900-9600 S. Lakefront (Ave. G @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk & Parking
Parking: Free lot
Distance Swimming: South end of beach (10 yards north of Taylor Pier), parallel to shore
Columbia Beach
6726 N. Lakefront (Columbia Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Fargo Beach
7432 N. Lakefront (Fargo Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Foster Beach
5200 N. Lake Shore Drive (Foster Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Center Tower to north end of beach, parallel to shore at boat line
Hartigan / Pratt Blvd. Park & Beach
1050 W. Pratt Blvd (Pratt Blvd. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore at Farwell Pier
Howard Street Park & Beach
7600 N. Lakefront (N. Eastlake Terr. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Jarvis Ave. Park & Beach
7400 N. Lakefront (Jarvis Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Juneway Terrace Park & Beach
7800 N. LakefrontN. Eastlake Terr. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
George A. Lane Beach at Thorndale
5915 N. Sheridan Rd. (Thorndale Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Leone Park & Beach
7032 N. Lakefront (Touhy Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Metered parking
Distance Swimming: Lunt to Farwell, parallel to shore
Loyola Ave. Beach
6550 N. Lakefront (Loyola Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Metered parking
Distance Swimming:
Montrose Beach
4400 N. Lake Shore Drive (Montrose Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Free lot and street parking
Distance Swimming: Tower 4 (north of boathouse), parallel to shore
North Ave. Beach
1600 N. Lake Shore Drive (North Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Paid lot
Distance Swimming: Beaches 3 & 4 (north of boathouse), parallel to shore
North Shore Beach
6700 N. Lakefront (North Shore Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
Oak Street Beach
1000 N. Lake Shore Drive (Oak St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore Division St. to Chess Pavilion (20 yards west of buoys)
Ohio Street Beach
400 N. Lake Shore Drive (Ohio St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore to red buoy (minimum of 20 yards west of buoy markers)
Kathy Osterman Beach
5800 N. Lake Shore Drive (Hollywood Ave. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming: South end pier to 2nd buoy north, parallel to shore at boat line
Rainbow Beach
2873 E. 75th Street (75th St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Free lot
Distance Swimming: Parallel to shore at boat line
Rogers Ave. Park & Beach
7705 N. Eastlake Terrace (N. Eastlake Terr. @ Lake Michigan)
Parking: Limited street parking
Distance Swimming:
South Shore Beach
7100 S. Lakefront (71st St. @ Lake Michigan)
Accessible Beach Walk, Restrooms & Parking
Parking: Free lot
Distance Swimming: South end rocks to trees at north end of beach, parallel to shore at boat line

Montrose Beach Dog Friendly Area

Dogs can splash and play at the designated dog friendly area on the lake, north of Montrose Beach, at Wilson Ave. and the lake.


Dog Friendly Areas Information Page


Water Conditions FAQ

Keeping beaches clean

What causes swim advisories and swim bans?

The Chicago Park District follows United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance for water testing of recreation 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 avian sources, which is why feeding birds at the beach is discouraged and harassment techniques have been implemented at 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.

How often is the water tested?

USEPA guidance calls for municipalities to test recreational public beach waters for exceedence levels of E. coli bacteria at least once every week. The Chicago Park District tests beach waters for bacteria five days a week, or more when necessary. To help decrease the levels of this bacteria; the Park District uses an integrated approach of best management practices in an effort to minimize various non-point sources of E. coli.

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.

Keeping Chicago's Beaches Clean

Keeping 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.
  • 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. Recycling materials include paper, #1 & #2 plastic containers and aluminum cans.
  • Do not swim if you are not feeling well.
  • Infants and toddlers should wear swim diapers.

Look for our new “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.

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 Map

Lakefront recreation

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 cover
  2. Lakefront Trail Map icon key
  3. Lakefront Trail Map Hollywood Ave. - Diversey Pkwy.
  4. Lakefront Trail Map Diversey Pkwy. - Madison St.
  5. Lakefront Trail Map Madison St. - 55th St.
  6. Lakefront Trail Map 55th St. - 79th St.

If you prefer to have a Lakefront Trail Map mailed to you, click here.

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

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.