Place

West Beach

Green blades of marram grass stick out of the yellow sandy beach near the shoreline.
Marram grass growing out of the sand near the shoreline.

NPS Photo / K. George

Quick Facts
Location:
Portage, IN

Accessible Rooms, Baby Changing Station, Beach/Water Access, Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Rack, Entrance Passes for Sale, Fire Extinguisher, First Aid Kit Available, Food/Drink - Coffee, Food/Drink - Ice Cream, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Park Newspaper Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Seasonal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Showers, Toilet - Flush, Trailhead, Trash Dumpster, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Bottle-Filling Station, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible, Wheelchairs Available

Getting There

West Beach Parking Lot
376 North County Line Road, Gary, IN 46403.

Trailhead GPS Coordinates
41.622934, -87.207747 (Decimal Degrees).

Need to Know

  • Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time.
  • Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water at the parking lot. Seasonal restrooms, potable water, showers, and lockers at the bath house. Seasonal restrooms and potable water at the picnic area.
  • Pets – Permitted everywhere on a leash (6' or shorter) with the exception of the lifeguarded swimming area, which is maintained from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
  • Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach, littering.
  • Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
  • There are 8 covered picnic shelters near the West Beach parking lot that are wheelchair accessible. The shelters are reservable at www.recreation.gov starting six months in advance of the desired use date. The reservation is good for day use from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. The shelter reservation does not waive the West Beach car entrance fee collected during the summer months.
  • Cooking fires at the picnic shelters are permitted in the provided grills or an approved carry-in grill. An approved grill is a non-combustible container with an enclosed bottom and enclosed sides with a minimum depth of 2 inches. Charcoal must be cooled and safely disposed of in a non-combustible container or removed from the area.
  • Parking lot is paved and has spots for 600 cars and 20 buses and RVs.

Safety

  • Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
  • Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
  • Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the parking lot and on the trails to the beach.
  • In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

  • The bath house, picnic tables, restrooms, some picnic shelters, and walkway to the beach are wheelchair accessible. The beach itself is not wheelchair accessible

Visitor Activities

  • Swimming. Due to a lack of applicants, lifeguard availability is limited for the 2024 swimming season. This is subject to change as we continue to look for more applicants. Call the visitor center at 219-395-1882 for more information. Lifeguards may not be present. Swim at your own risk. Rip currents and large waves can make swimming hazardous.
  • Hike the West Beach Trails. Enjoy the sweeping views of Lake Michigan from the top of the Dunes Succession Trail stairs.

Nearby Beaches

Indiana Dunes National Park

Tags

Last updated: September 26, 2024