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Montrose Harbor Beach
Categories: Pets Active Life Beaches Active Life Parks Pets, Beaches, Parks [Edit]
601 W Montrose AveMontrose & The Lakefront
(at United States Highway 41)
Chicago, IL 60613
Neighborhood: Uptown
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
60 reviews for Montrose Harbor Beach
60 reviews in English
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Review from Vanessa U.
Chicago, IL
This is my favorite beach in Chicago. Laid-back, family-friendly, and there's a guy that sells tacos from a grill on the back of his bike -- I couldn't ask for more!
Also, if you're a little body-sensitive (and I am) you won't feel like a freak of nature on this beach. It's not a fashion show, or a body-building show, or any kind of show at all. It's just a great place to go to get some sun, hang out by the water, and not worry about who's looking at you or what they're thinking about how you look. -
Review from Annie W.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Pretty beach with lots of green grass and trees - perfect space to grill just before the sand and water. Lovely beach, overall. That said...
The women's bathrooms need some attention, both to cleanliness and to the number of stalls - I've never seen beach bathrooms that so clearly encourage people to pee in the lake for sanitary, as well as sanity reasons! -
Review from Caroline B.
Oak Park, IL
8/3/2011 1 photo
Oh Montrose Beach, my summer Eden. I spend as much time as possible at the beach, and I've been to many a beach in my days. I love the water, I love the sun, and I love not being in my non-air-conditioned apartment when it's over 90 degrees.
That being said, I'm working with limited resources while living in Chicago, a coast-less city. While Montrose beach may not be the prettiest, quietest and cleanest beach, it lives up to my standards and has one important thing that the other beaches are missing...FREE PARKING. This is the most important reason of why I come to Montrose instead of the closer Oak St, North Ave beaches (which tend to get more crowded than Montrose I must say). I am a beach going professional, so I have a chair, an umbrella, a small cooler and there is no way I am lugging my stuff from a remote parking spot or paying $15-$20 to park. The key to getting parking at Montrose is to arrive before noon and you normally don't have a problem. I try to get there before 10am and set up shop.
Yes there are children swimming and running around and large families grilling out in the park...but it's a beach, isn't that what people are supposed to do? I love seeing the little kids have fun in the sand and splash in the water because it reminds me growing up going to beaches on the east coast and playing all day in the sand and surf...while we are missing the surf and the sand is a little hard here in Chicago, we make do with what we have -
Review from Yoel f.
Chicago, IL
7/12/2011
The good points.... The beach is huge.... there is some parking there.... and has many of the same amenities that North ave beach without the crowds
The bad points.... weird swimming so close to dogs, worry about the cleanliness issue with that. Also, people don't control there kids, still too busy to feel like you have any privacy.
Lastly, be nice if there was some eye candy. -
Review from Serg F.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2011
DO NOT COME HERE! THIS PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!! STAY AT NORTH AVE. OR OAK OR ANY OTHER BEACH JUST DON'T COME HERE. YOU'LL F**KING HATE THIS PLACE!!! ALL THOSE SAYING THIS PLACE IS NICE AND SUCH AND SUCH ARE LYING AND HANG OUT AT NORTH OR OAK. Please refer to the link and start at 1:42. Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Johnny T.
12/9/2010
So, Montrose beach, to me, = dogs and (sand)fleas. Montrose Harbor = boats and sea sickness. Montrose Harbor Beach = quiet elegance. Sand dunes. Unexpected peace.
Unexpected.
On an early fall day, I walked along the grassy portion of the beach and rested for a while atop one of the hills. It was a bit chilly and there was no one there. I was stunned to realize how far out into the water I could see. I was surprised at the beautiful silence of wind, waves and birds. The intersection of sand and grass, water and earth... all right there off of LSD and a stone's throw away from Uptown madness... it hit me: why haven't I spent more time here? Somewhat contradictory to the inspiration of nature, I found myself happily driving along the streets that abut the beach. I didn't realize there was so much drivable real estate east of LSD. Again, why haven't I been here before?
I need to fix this.
Being from the bluegrass, sand really isn't my thing but grassy sprawls get my motor runnin'. I didn't expect to find a park in the middle of a beach. But now that I know it's here, game on.*
*This review is purely informational. Please don't start coming here and clogging it up. Kthxbye.Listed in: Parks, Why Frank, Oprah And The Real…, Goin' Uptown, God's Country
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Review from Abigail L.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011
Here's the deal: If you want a beach for laying out, go to North Ave. If you want a beach for grilling, yard games, long walks on the beach and plenty of space for flying kites, go to Montrose Beach. They have plenty of free parking and public bathrooms. Let me say, yesterday was a bit surreal. Nice and windy, plenty of kites flying, lots of space for writing name in the sand, grill going, blanket in the grass, basking in the sun with friends, walked Lou over to the dog beach at one point. And for some reason, in mid September the water was somewhat warm, enough to walk with feet in the water...
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Review from Mark F.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2010
My dog and I LOVE the dog beach, but this isn't a review for the dog beach. This is a review for the people beach. The dog beach is paradise compared to the actual beach. At least dog owners are responsible enough to clean up after themselves. I have never seen more trash in my life. Half-drunk 40's, avocado rinds, tortillas, limes, chicken and rib bones, soda cans, spent charcoal, etc. Hell, I could have my myself a fajita just from the trash on the ground.
Sure, you don't get clueless rollerbladers and douchebags in Affliction t-shirts. Instead you get families of 32 setting up shop, taking up about 10 acres, letting their kids run wild. Try walking on the path...you'll likely get mowed down by a 6 year old riding his bike or nailed in the face with a soccer ball.
I can't blame the Park District for this, however. It comes down to personal responsibility and cleaning up after yourself. If you drink a soda, throw the can away. The park and beach are not your trash cans. -
Review from David G.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2010
I don't find this beach to be "ghetto" at all. There was a bit of trash and debris, for the most part out the outskirts of the beach, but nothing too horrible. I'm not going to pretend to be Adrien Monk and spray everything with Lysol and wear a body condom to avoid contact with bacteria. This is the city and you're going to have assholes tossing beer cans and paper cups.
I was there in the morning until about 1:00 PM and not once was it obnoxiously crowded. It was so laid back that I set up about 100 yards from the beach and I hardly heard a peep from the 100 some people, kids and adults, kicking soccer balls, throwing frisbees, splashing in the water. I sat on the beach reading a book. I was only disturbed once by a man walking by saying, "You're a little far from the party." I replied: "It's quieter out here."
It may not be the same crowd as North Avenue Beach, but I prefer the relative solitude to the overcrowded jerky beaches any day. -
Review from Stephen M.
Wheaton, IL
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nothing special about Montrose Beach-- a great place to scoot off to if you're not feeling the crowds of North Ave.
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Review from Carla F.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2009
Yeah, it's kinda dirty. Maybe a little ghetto. But it's a beach and it's free. When I go I enjoy the view of the skyline north of the beach and I don't spend my time gauging whether or not people are fat as some other reviewers seem to do.
I have yet to go in the water here, so I can't tell ya if dog crap is going to be floating your way.
My only gripe is about the bathrooms. I realize that there's not a whole lot that can be done here, but someone should just dump a few buckets of water on the floors every now and then to get that wet mud/sand and smell out of there. -
Review from Amy H.
7/20/2006 2 Check-ins Here
A nice beach that doesn't get too crowded. There is also a pretty big park area outside of the beach where a lot of people picnic and grill.
I used to play volleyball on this beach and I always thought it was a nice mix of families and young people relaxing and having a good ol' time on a summer night. -
Review from Amanda Z.
9/17/2008
This is the place to head if you're looking for a little fun and sun without sexy bodies prancing around...
The sand is hard (take that for whatever you will)...and there can be debris...however, at any of the Chicago beaches, there is debris. You deal with it. Big city? Big garbage. Eh, just watch where you're stepping! (That being said, I haven't noticed any more garbage here than at any of the other Chicago beaches.)
I love this beach because there's room to spread out. You don't feel like your group of beach towels is being eavesdropped upon by the next because there is room to park yourself away from others. If you get bored just laying around, you can take a walk a bit north and check out the doggie beach.
Montrose bus heads straight there during the summer, drops you off just where you need to be. Bring a cooler, your friends, and some sunscreen...this is part of the making of a perfect summer day!Listed in: No stupes or funhaters here.
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Review from Jenna S.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2008
Fun!
I'm a fan because we can bring our dog here. I love it!
We went for the PAWS Run for Their Lives event, which was super fun. The non-beach area is clean and large, great for barbecues and hanging out. There's a lot of sporting areas like soccer fields, badminton and volleyball courts and places to rent kayaks.
The dog area is nice and clean (surprisingly - no poop!). I like that there's a place at the beach to take dogs so they can have fun in the sand and swim in the water.
I didn't notice any weird garbage on the beach or anything, but I think there was some broken glass. A few dogs on the PAWS walk had been on the beach and later had to have things cleaned out of their fur and paws... I'm not really sure what was going on, but there was probably something dangerous in the sand.
Overall, a good dog-friendly place in the city. Great for parties and dog-related fun activities.Listed in: Pamper Your Pooch!!
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Review from Barbara D.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2008
Skinny dipping at 3am.
Solitary, Invigorating, Cold.
Makes one feel alive.
Oh yeah and during the day....
Great place to grill, picnic, bring your dog, fly a kite, roll around in the grass, build a sandcastle, swim, watch the boats, you know...normal stuff. -
Review from Jada B.
7/29/2008
I have seen my future at this beach, and it's not a pretty one. I am convinced I am going to be one of those crotchety old ladies wearing a big one piece swimming suit with a sagging bum, sun hat and beach shoes walking up and down the beach picking up trash and grumbling about "those kids these days!"
Montrose Harbor Beach is filthy! I was laying on my blanket with my eyes closed and I could feel plastic bags and trash blowing over me. I witnesses several people in my immediate vicinity finish a bag of some kind of crap and blatantly just throw the bag and debris in the sand next to them. A family near us was purposely throwing chips all over the sand next to them to attract a hug flock of seagulls. Until my husband and I went ballistic, that is. I wonder, do they feed the rats in the alley behind their house, too? Gross!
The good points are that it is very easy to get to and there is always plenty of parking - at least during the week, I've never tried on the weekend. And I guess the dog beach is a bonus for some, but not for me. I try to set up as far from the dog beach as possible because inevitably it is a constant stream of dogs getting outside the fence trying to pillage any food you've brought with you while the owner just stands there screaming the pooch's name.
It's just a shame this place can't get it's act together, but I guess you really have to blame the patrons. I mean that sea of broken glass glinting in the sun and the dirty diapers partially buried in the sand didn't just magically appear and it's hardly the fault of the beach. -
Review from banana l.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2007
yay:
public beach.
TONS of FREE parking.
easy to get to.
marina.
skate park.
dog beach.
never as crowded as north ave.
tucked away and quieter than north ave.
boo:
hard sand.
getting kicked out by the Po-Pos before 11pm.Listed in: Museums, Zoos, Parks, etc...
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Review from Elizabeth S.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2011
This review is for the dog park at Montrose Beach. While your dog might be the greatest dog ever, not all dogs are as well behaved and there are dog owners who are not responsible. i, unfortunately, had a pretty bad encounter today. I was playing fetch with my dog when another dog came over to greet my dog. This dog started playing and got increasingly more aggressive, which is the opposite of my dog, and the owner got a clue to moved his dog along. I returned to playing with my dog and 15 minutes later, the much larger, aggressive dog was back and his owner was no where in sight. I picked up my dog so that he wouldn't get hurt and then the large dog started jumping up against me and chomping his jaws towards my dog. I was afraid that he would either get a hold of my dog, my hands, or arm. People looked on horrified as the dog was not relenting and I kept jerking away from it's jaws. The owner finally called his dog over, but by then I had scratches and my pants were torn. He said that he was taking his dog home but then he let it continue to play with other dogs. Onlookers came up to me afterwards and asked if I was ok (the irresponsible dog owner didn't even think to ask). I will definitely NOT be returning!
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Review from Ali O.
Chicago, IL
6/25/2009
I had to laugh at Micheal P's review, because the day I went I witnesses the exact same thing. For some reason, a big portion of the sand (right in the middle of the beach) and turned into a semi-swamp. It was all wet and mushy with a few inches of water. I'm assuming the build up was due to the torrential down pour a few days earlier . . . which is just nasty. Stagnant rain water. Sick. Even sicker? Children frolicking in the nasty mess.
But whatever. What other people want to do with their children is none of my business. So we found ourselves a nice dry patch of sand by the water and set up shop.
The sun was bright, the water was cool, and there were no annoying yuppies prancing around. And for me, that is really all I ask for in a beach.
I think some of the reviewers might be using the word "ghetto" to simply mean non-white. And shame on them. Because this is a perfectly nice beach filled with nice families and cute kids. Sure, maybe it isn't the white sanctuary that is north ave beach...and to that i say thank god.Listed in: Norf Side
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Review from Jack P.
8/10/2008
Another brief note from Mr. "I-just-love-a-cheap-getaway." $15.00 for a one-hour personal kayak tour. $25.00 for two if you are willing to share a two-man kayak. What a sweet deal!
My friend Joe and I went out on a Saturday when for some reason there was no-one at this park and beach, the weather and water were both perfect for kayaking, and sailing along the shores of doggie beach was just about as fun as it could be.
The people who work for Chicago Kayak are very friendly and helpful. You don't need an advance reservation. I am a happy camper anytime I can just walk up and do something without lines or hassles or attitude here in the city. I hope they stick around.
(Note: This is a review for the kayak rental vs. the beach itself - though I had zero issues with the beach. It was totally empty except for volleyballers and boaters)Listed in: Urban Nature Retreats
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Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2008
Montrose Avenue lakefront has gotten to be my absolute favorite. I go on weekdays (hey, minimal employment has its perks!). Weekdays are far and away the time to go, particularly early. Gentle Reader, it is worth setting your alarm early, early, and going to the beach here to watch the sunrise. It is spectacular.
I don't have a dog, and my cats aren't leash-trained, so walking animals here is not an option.However, it is really fun to see other people's dogs frolic in the water. The dogs are just a trip. I really enjoy seeing them.
Today I walked along the path and at the water's edge. There was a young couple in chairs, watching their 3 young children play; there were two men, practicing putting; there were two guys with metal detectors, chatting and scanning; a women with a yellow lab who was frolicking on the water's edge; and me. The sun was shining, there was a gentle breeze, and the lake lapped gently on the sand. Does life get any better than this?
Can I encourage you to do a favor for all the lakefront lovers? I frequently take a plastic bag and pick up bottles/cans/other recyclables when I walk. There are plenty of receptacles. Do a good deed for Mom Earth and all of us Lakefront Lovers, and help make the lakefront beautiful for all of us. My friend Julia got me in this habit a couple years ago, and I'm glad she did. It makes me feel like the world is a better place because I have been there. It's a great feeling. Share it with me, will you? -
Review from Renee B.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2009
I'm getting pretty tired of reading these reviews saying the beach is "dirty" and "gross". People! It's a Lake Michigan beach!! If you want white sand and clear blue water, start saving and head to Jamaica.
This beach has free parking, and it's huge both length and width-wise. What more do you expect from a public beach? I usually go alone or with a few friends, but there is definitely plenty of room to bring the family and play volleyball, soccer, or build sand castles.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2007
Yuck!
I was so excited to finally be going here last summer. It was a beautiful hot sunny day and the E. Coli level was, for once, low enough for the city to allow swimming at Montrose Beach. Okay, everybody knows the Great Lakes are filthy but I didn't expect the beach itself to be so nasty (plenty of Great Lakes beaches are really nice). There were baby diapers and chip bags and god knows what else all over. In the sand and in the water.
Jesus Christ, Chicagoans, have some pride and clean up after yourselves. Gross. -
Review from Drew S.
Chicago, IL
7/22/2008
There's no reason to be hating on Montrose Beach. If you somehow manage the unpossible (me fail english?) and can walk with your nose up in the air while scouring the ground for trash you probably won't enjoy your day at the beach or your life in general. Why not look at the boats on the water or the gorgeous city skyline instead?
It's a decent enough beach to lay on the sand or toss a disc in the water. Go pay $10 for the same lake in Evanston if you can't deal with the plebes.
And for the record: anyone who doesn't think the Montrose Dog Beach is the happiest place on earth needs to have their soul checked. -
Review from Sarah I.
Chicago, IL
7/21/2010
Love this beach. It's HUGE, way less crowded than, say, North Ave (ick), and clean, and the dog beach is a delight to take a stroll through. Honestly, I didn't notice any trash at all when I was there this past weekend. The biggest complaint we had were the obnoxious teenagers camped out next to us for a while being annoying and smoking pot. But seriously: it's a public beach. The small annoyances that go with are just like the totally gross bathrooms: expected, and silly to complain about.
Also, there's free parking (if you can find a spot, which we managed) in addition to the metered lot.
I should add that I liked the food they were selling out of the building with the bathrooms near the dog beach. The fries tasted really fresh!
In sum, I loved spending my day here and can't wait to do it again. -
Review from Beth M.
Chicago, IL
8/6/2008
I didn't see any diapers in the sand or gross amounts of trash. Then again I wasn't examining the sand that closely. It's a public beach. It's free. I did, however, notice that the sand is a bit rough and not as fine as the sand at North Avenue Beach.
Out of going to Montrose Beach, visiting Millennium Park, going to a Cubs game, and eating out--Montrose Beach was by far my 5-year-old nephew's favorite part of visiting Chicago. He could have played in the waves all day. It made me realize that there are a lot of people who don't have the opportunity to live so close to a beach (especially one with such a gorgeous view).
I'm going to the beach again this weekend;) -
Review from Sarah M.
Manhattan, NY
7/7/2008
I wish we could give negative stars...
This is the GROSSEST beach I've ever been to!
We were up north and didn't have time to go to Oak Street or Fullerton/ North Beach so we ended up walking over to Montrose, hoping to catch a quick swim. What we found were:
-- 5 discarded diapers in the sand
-- 4+ items of discarded clothing
-- 1 pair discarded flip flops
-- Soda pop tabs (the sharp parts, sticking out of the sand)
-- Loads of broken glass
-- the HARDEST sand I've ever walked on, and if it's possible for sand to be Greasy, it was
-- bloated, pink & shiny blobs (I think they were people)
-- and finally, a shoreline that was gathering BLACK SLUDGE in little wave-made deposits down the entire length of the beach
When we asked a lifeguard what was wrong with the water, she just said that the beach had been closed due to bacteria and blamed it on people throwing their trash in the lake. It was WAY more than trash and we weren't told what. They were, however, allowing the kayak rentals to continue, which required people to get in the water, but I guess a little bacteria won't stop them from running a profitable venture.
We thanked her and then moved on, but when we reached the top of the boardwalk and started back along the pedestrian path (to get the heck out of there) she came up from behind us and said "Beat You!"
I'm not really sure what that meant, but all this grotesqueness made my skin crawl and I felt dirty the whole time we were there.
Ick. Blech. Ptooey.
This place is disgusting. -
Review from jason e.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2008
Dear God. It's like a Mad Max nightmare come to life... post industrial wasteland strewn about with human and animal waste. Just down from the dog beach. Is it was so dirty because the dogs shit in the water?
Based on the alternative, I would certainly hope it was the dog shit that made it so dirty.
It's really hard to believe that this beach and Oak street are on the same body of water. -
Review from David J.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2007
Just got back from a great afternoon at Montrose beach. I met up with some friends to play some ultimate frisbee, then we grilled some food, relaxed for a while before finishing out with some volleyball.
I was at North Ave. beach yesterday (a Saturday) and it was much more crowded. There were open volleyball nets at Montrose the whole time I was there today (midday till about 5pm), whereas at North Ave the volleyball nets usually fill up by around 11am.
The sand was fine, although there were some shells and pieces of glass where we set up to play ultimate. I did not find any littler in the sand, and whilst I only paddled in the water, I did not find anything in there either.
Also worth noting is that whilst there is a lot of parking, it does fill up since most people drive to the beach. By midday, it seems that parking was hard to come by. However, I cycled and locking up my bike was not an issue; they have some bike racks, but also a lot of poles supporting the boathouse that can be used to lock your bike to.
All in all, an excellent day. -
Review from Christian H.
7/29/2010
When it comes to beaches and harbors, this is one of the best in Chicago. It is not very crowded and it has the most amazing view of downtown. I suggest taking a date, loved one or a book and walk to the end of the harbor in the early evening. As it gets darker, the light from the harbor will spark a fire in your body. It is beautiful. You should make a day out of visiting this area.
Listed in: Can't Miss Chicago Places
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Review from Lisbeth D.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2008
Before the doggies took over our lives, my husband would try to talk me into getting a dog by describing how much fun it would be to go to the dog park. I finally caved in (for other reasons) and we adopted Bella. Unfortunately, we quickly realized we could never take her to Montrose Beach (or any dog park) due to her dominance issues and extreme dislike of water. It's only laying out in the sun for this dog!
Enter Audrey, the water-loving dog we "inherited" earlier this year. Finally a dog we can take to Montrose Beach to frolic with other canines without being worried she'll try to mount every other dog she sees (unlike Bella!) The dog beach is a HUGE area with much more running room than any dog park I've seen. The other dogs and their owners here are also more friendly than other places we've been. The beach is set below a grassy area so it's perfect for Bella to sun herself outside of the park while Audrey romps around in the water. I was a little nervous as we approached the dog beach because of all the trash thrown on the people part of the beach. The dog area was extremely clean though.
Minus one star for not really being enclosed. In one inch deep water, Audrey could easily run around the fence and escape...and I don't put it past her! -
Review from Ye L.
New York, NY
8/16/2009
So I'm rating this as a 3 star only because I have never been to any of the other beaches in Chicago for comparison. I also have no idea what the beach is like during normal beach hours since I arrived a little before 9AM on a Saturday morning. The plan was to get to North Avenue early so that we could get a good spot for the air and water show but the lot was closed by 8:30 and there were so many vendors that the area just seemed highly unappealing. We then aimed for Foster Beach but ended up here instead when I walked the wrong direction from the parking lot. Parking was super easy due to the early hour. Basically nobody was around except for dog owners and their dogs at the dog beach. Quite a sight to see actually.
The actual beach itself is huge. I'd say it's somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 of mile in width, and maybe 80 yards in length (from water to rocks). The beach was pretty empty when we got there. Basically just a few Hispanic families. The sand was reasonably clean, and it seemed like it had recently been combed. However, a big portion in the middle was randomly wet, so perhaps the water table does something weird there. Over the course of the next two hours, more or more people streamed in but it never felt that crowded. Eventually, some younger people came and I assume that further down the beach there may have been more younger folk rather than families.
All in all a pleasant enough experience. More families than I prefer, but I'll take that over towel to towel crowds.
FYI: No dog poop in the water, though the water was freezing so I didn't explore that far. -
Review from Maggie R.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2009
1 star for being sort-of close to my apartment.
1 star for the bird/butterfly sanctuary and dog beach.
1 star for there being cyclocross race(s) here in the fall.
1 star for all of the families that come and hang out/"let it all hang out"
1 star for the fact that the douchebag quotient is far less here than other beaches further down the shore / i'm not made to feel too horrible about being 30lbs overweight and pale as shit.
minus 1 star because the beach really could be a lot cleaner, and minus another star because swimming in lake michigan in general is probably a public health/safety issue. -
Review from Christine M.
Chicago, IL
7/5/2009 1 photo
After spending many a summer fighting the crowds at North Avenue beach, competing with teeny-boppers and muscle dudes pounding volleyballs in my face, I was pretty pleased to finally make it to Montrose.
(That being said, Chicago, you never fail to impress and surprise me even after all these years.)
I hadn't been here and after finally finding the group of friends, breathed a sigh of relief to see there was plenty of space to stretch out, find a spot of your own and overall relax with out someone screaming, "Like! Oh my God!" from two beach blankets away.
Only downfall, there isn't a bar at this one -- but you can pack your own cooler, save some cash and Chicago Police will not be on you like they are at that "other" beach. Then again, I'm disappointed anywhere I go and there isn't a bar. -
Review from Ivan H.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2009
Me Gusta!
I live in Logan Square, and only of my favorite sunny day activities is riding my bike east, taking the LFT north to Montrose Harbor Beach, and chilling out. At the south end, you can watch dogs playing with each other. There's plenty of room to lay out, as well. I'm particularly fond of sitting on the rocks and reading.
This place is so serene and loaded with diverse people in the summer (not like the douchey "MTV Spring Break" sort of parties at North Ave.) Definitely a nice spot to escape! -
Review from Adele n.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2010
This is probably my favorite place in the city of Chicago. This isn't a five-star resort, people. The crowds and chaos are essential to the urban charm. It's clean enough for all normal purposes (swimming, sunning) unless you're particularly afraid of germs. The best part is the people watching. Every kind of person is here --- twenty-something girls loudly discussing their pregnancy plans; huge families burying each other in the sand, carousing teenagers; screaming children; bicycle cops hitting on girls. This is a good place to feel like part of the big, beautiful, messy humanity of this city.
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Review from Ruth M.
Chicago, IL
9/3/2008
This review is for MonDog. Our pooch loves this beach - and so do his people. I've seen as many as 200 dogs there and as few as 15 on a weekday mid-morning. It has a wide wheelchair ramp down onto the beach and as of last week now has double gates typical of DFAs. Parking in the weekends in the height of summer can be a challenge, but it's a great place for a picnic on the grassy area - no food allowed in the dog area for obvious reasons - so come early.
As far as the trash that other reviewers have mentioned, I picked a chip bag out of the water last weekend, but honestly, that's it. People are excellent about picking up after their dogs, and 'water pooping' (yes it has a name!) is strictly prohibited.
Last thing: this is an official Chicago City Dog Friendly Area, so you're meant to have a license - and for $5 for your neutered/spayed dog, it's a bargain. More info is here: http://www.chicitycler... -
Review from Mike H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/1/2006
This beach rules. Plenty of FREE public parking, a skate park, a DOG BEACH, and a great mix of people--(when I went I was sitting inbetween a rowdy group of German dudes in Speedos, a large hispanic family, and 2 hand-holding lesbians---how's that for diversity?). Not as yuppie as North Avenue Beach, or as ghetto as some of those Roger's Park beaches. If you are man (or woman) enough to brave the frequent e coli warnings, give this beach a try....
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Review from C. Benjamin W.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2007
I've been to Montrose Beach a number of times to play volleyball with my brother's church-going friends and a couple of times alone to read and get a little bit of sun.
Montrose Beach is a wonderful place to go if you are not interested in navigating through the crowds that congregate around the city's more popular beaches. It's the kind of place to go if you're feeling disinterested in conversations with strangers, but otherwise cheery. It sounds strange, but it's a great place to go in those in-between times when you feel like being amongst other people, but want to read or swim alone.
Sure, it's not as clean as the city's other beaches, but it's not a dump either. There is also plenty of parking available on the access roads and easy access from the Wilson Street Red Line stop. I think that the accessibility of the place is what draws the variety of people and families that you find. You are not going to be lounging among Chicago's high society or Lincoln Park crowd.
There are a couple of things to know about going to the beach in Chicago.
- Watch for E-Coli warnings. They generally follow heavy rains when the lake gets a lot of water runoff and events when there are a lot of birds on the beach making waste.
- That is why it's important to not feed the seagulls on the lake. They turn that food into guano on the shore and in the shallows where the bacteria eat it. The bacteria propagates and the beach is closed all because a bunch of people wanted to watch some birds eat wonderbread.
- Lake Michigan's warmest waters are at the surface. So swimming is best during stretches of sunny days with an East wind. What happens is that the wind drags warm surface water towards Chicago and the cold water up-wells on the East side of the lake to replace it. Conversely, Chicago's lake water will be at its coldest during stretches of West wind because the cold water up-wells on Chicago's side of the lake. -
Review from Linda N.
4/1/2010
I love chilling on the beach on a warm day especially in march. its nice because it isn't packed with people like it would be during the summer. minus 1 star because it was really dirty. i was afraid i was going to cut my foot on the shards of glass that were littered everywhere.
