Sunrise Beach
Lake Bluff, IL
Sunrise Beach is the Lake Bluff Park District's beach below Sunrise Park, divided into separate beach cells by stone groins. Lifeguards watch the swim area from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in season, and the middle cell is a designated off-leash dog beach for members. Travel writers have called it one of America's top secret beaches, which locals would rather they hadn't.
Guarded swimming and a real off-leash dog cell, though access is tightly controlled with passes.
How we score beachesIf you have a dog and a season pass, get the Park District dog tag; the middle beach cell is one of the few off-leash beaches on the North Shore.
Parking at Sunrise Park; beach access requires a Park District pass or daily admission, and staff check photo IDs.
A path descends from the bluff-top park to the beach.
Dogs are allowed only with a season beach membership and a Park District dog tag; they can be off leash in the designated middle beach cell.
Lifeguard season runs through the summer. Big fall and winter storms have damaged the beach and park before, so check for closures after a storm.
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