Montrose Beach

Montrose Beach is a wide north-side beach in the Uptown and Lakeview area of Chicago, Illinois, at 4400 N Montrose Harbor Dr. The beach faces Lake Michigan, a freshwater lake with no tides, and the sand is pale and soft, backed by a natural dune area that is protected as habitat. The water is usually clear to blue-green on calm days and cold through much of the summer. The shoreline is long and open, with exposure to wind and waves from the north and east, and the beach is also used for surfing in the off-season. Montrose Harbor lies beside the beach, and the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary immediately to the east makes the area popular with birdwatchers during spring and fall migration. A designated dog beach is part of the site, which makes Montrose one of the few places on the Chicago lakefront where dog owners can let their pets swim. The atmosphere is relaxed and varied, mixing families, groups of friends, dog owners and nature enthusiasts, and the beach is less packed than the downtown stretches. Amenities include seasonal lifeguards, restrooms, a beach house cafe and the dog beach area. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, generally from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The beach lies on the Lakefront Trail about five miles north of the Loop. Transit access is by the CTA Red Line to Wilson followed by Bus 78 Montrose to the lake, and a Divvy station is near Montrose Harbor. Parking lots are available near the harbor but fill quickly on warm weekends. Visitors planning a longer day often combine the beach with a walk through the dunes and the bird sanctuary, or a ride along the Lakefront Trail to nearby Foster Beach.