Belmont Harbor Beach

If you're looking for the pawfect beach to take your favorite canine pal to, look no further than the Belmont Harbor Dog Beach! Located in Lincoln Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, this small dog oasis is fully fenced, meaning dogs can enjoy off-leash play and swim time to their heart's content. 

While there isn't a separate area for small, shy, or senior dogs, all dogs are welcome to join the rocking good time at this dog beach that earns two paws up from both canine and human visitors alike. 

Benches provide puptastic spots to relax and enjoy watching your best canine pal having fun, but they are not located in the sand areas, so you may want to bring a beach blanket to be closer to the action. There's also little shade at this beach, so be sure to pack some sunscreen and a beach umbrella, so you don't get scorched from your day of fun in the sun. 

Belmont Harbor Dog Beach is super clean, and to make sure you do your part to help keep it that way, always have clean-up bags on hand and promptly pick up after your pup. While the lake is freshwater, you should bring bottled water and a bowl from home to keep your dog hydrated.

If you love to take photos as a memory of your adventures, be sure to bring your camera along as there are lovely views of the Chicago skyline from the shores of this beach. There is a $10 fee for parking required only on Sundays, while Monday through Saturday remain free. Keep in mind that high water levels mean less beach that is above water, so consider going in the early morning for less traffic on the sand. And while your dog is allowed to run free on the dog beach, be sure to keep the leash on when entering and exiting the fenced in area, and anywhere outside of it.

Looking for the pawfect place for a play date for Fido? Bring him for a swim at Belmont Harbor Dog Beach. It's pawsitively amazing!