Face masks are required on National Park Service-administered lands where physical distancing cannot be maintained and in all NPS buildings and facilities.
Part of the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Porter Beach offers access to Cowles Bog, which has rare plants and varied wildlife. A 4.6-mile trail leads to the dunes and the beach.
Safety note - Porter Beach does not have lifeguards. Swim at your own risk. Do not swim in Lake Michigan when Rip Current warnings are posted or in large crashing waves, which can cause rip currents. These strong currents rushing out into Lake Michigan can carry even the strongest swimmer with them. If you get caught in a rip current, do not try to swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the current. Even with calm water, non-swimmers and children should always be very closely monitored by an adult. Check for beach hazard warnings before you go.
Hours: 6 am to 11 pm, daily.
Amenities: Parking available for 65 vehicles. Seasonal restrooms. Restrooms are wheelchair accessible but not the beach. No alcohol, no glass containers, no fires on beach. no removing plants, rocks, shells and fossils.
Parking: At the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Johnson Beach Road in Porter. Call 219-395-1003 to get recorded information on available parking at Indiana Dunes National Park beaches and the nearby Indiana Dunes State Park.
