Great little beach off the marina at Belmont Harbor. Easily accessible from the Roscoe st under pass. Little sandy beach, launch deck, and lake views. It's nice because it's shady too. There's only one area, so no separation by size. Beware that the entry is a single gate, not double gate, so make sure no one gets out accidentally. It's pretty convenient to all lake shore drive has too offer and bonus that the mobile dog wash is right outside to wash off excess sand so you keep your car clean. My dog loves it. I need to bring some toys next time but we definitely had a fun run in the sand. read more

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08/28/20 - yikes talk about a blast from the past. I was walking north from Fullerton Beach and got all the way up to the Chicago Yacht Club @ Belmont Harbor when I walked by an enclosed area that is where the dog beach is. The beach is a tiny little patch of sand that people bring their pooches to so they can socialize w/their doggie friends and go swimming. Because of the high lake levels most of the dog beach is under water. You can still see the sand but only a small portion remains above the water level. This really doesn't seem to bother the dogs or their owners as they still come. While the dogs are swimming and playing in the waters the owners are socializing. Its nice to have this but only a small portion remains. read more

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Lots of dogs but not too many dogs. If I trusted my dog more I would've had her off leash but she's nuts

Would be nice but it's a very small shore and people like the ones attached don't clean up after their dogs! If your dog poops along the shore, CLEAN IT UP!! read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - losers who left right after their dog pooped on the shore and they didn't bother to clean it up! - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is literally smaller than the smallest studio apartment in the entire city of Chicago, if you do not map this you might accidentally walk past it multiple times only to finally find a small patch of sand and trash. I cant believe this is actually a legit yelp/google location... NOW.... there are a few scenarios to how your experience goes, let me explain. The dock that used to wind out and back in for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON has collapsed and it is taped off, so you have to crawl under a very small archway I'd describe as "max 150 lbs to fit through this opening" so us heavier people, you must climb. Now, if you can fit: Congratulations! You are now on the dog beach. If you must jump: Be careful to jump ONLY straight down, if you jump OUT from the dock area, you may jump over the dog park and land in water or on trash, which is floating on water, so you do the math. Be careful here, its like standing on an island the size of a twin mattress, and thats being generous. read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - I can't even describe how small this beach is, so i tried with my hand. doesnt help, but dont go here. - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We took our dog here for the first time and loved it! It's not a huge area, but it's larger than our normal dog friendly areas on the northwest side, so I have no complaints. We are reluctant to go to Montrose as the fence doesn't extend all the way during low tide, and our greyhound can run fast. Belmont is great because the beach is actually several feet down a ramp from the paths in addition to the fence (double fence at the gate) so there's no way for your dog to escape, unless they swam away into the harbor. I've heard it gets dirty but at the start of the year the water was pristine and our dog had a blast. We'll be back here a lot! - As with all Chicago DFAs, you should have a DFA tag, available for $5 at Chicago vets. - Dog beach is located at the northwest end of the harbor, not along the open water. - There are two parking lots nearby for the softball fields, and it's just a short walk south to the dog beach, if you can find a spot. read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Took my dog here for the first time and we both had a blast! I've never taken him to a dog beach before and didn't know how he would deal with the water. He absolutely loved it. He loved playing fetch in the water and loved running around in the sand. What I like about this place is that the the beach is completely fenced in. My dog likes to wander around and check out other dogs, so the fence definitely eased my mind. I also liked how there was a ramp to the gate. My dog loves to greet other dogs at the gate and he gets obsessed until the dog comes out. Because there was gate there this made him not able to greet and eventually gave up on it and continued playing on the beach. Overall, this was a great experience and will definitely take my dog to this beach again. read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My dog is in love with this place! He has so much fun when we come here, and because he is happy, I am happy! It's on a small beach on Lakeshore by the marina. There are two gates to enter, which is good so the dogs can't run off. The people who come here are super friendly. I have made a couple of friends. Also, if you forgot to bring a ball, don't worry about it! There's like 15 just hanging around on the beach and in the water. My dog doesn't like to swim but I have been training him how to here. I think he is starting to get more into it because he sees the other dogs swim after balls, and he wants that ball! This park is just an asset to Chicago. Please go and support it. read more

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If the word "dog beach" brings to mind long stretches of shoreline with crashing waves, dozens of frolicking dogs, and a general atmosphere of contagious joy, alas you have come to the wrong place. (Go to Ocean Beach in San Diego, or Montrose Beach just up the road in Chicago.) The Belmont Harbor Dog Beach is just a small patch of sand on the flat Belmont Harbor, generally vacant in the winter but with a (dog) social atmosphere on summer weekends. Still and all, if you think of this as competing in the "urban dog park" category, and not the "dog beach" category, it's pretty nice. Dogs can splash in the shallow water, rummage around in the sand, and the whole operation is easily accessible from east Lakeview. I come all the time. But I do sometimes wish I were at Montrose, or in San Diego. read more

My dog is one of the smallest dogs in this city, closer to a rat than a dog at this point, or perhaps a cat as my indefatigable Ron Swanson fanboy friends have argued, and this dog beach was still too small for him. I like to imagine the Alderman meeting where the rich people of Lakeview convinced their representative to carve out some space for their dogs (named some 1-percenter dog name like Jimmy Chew or Loubowtin or Pucci or one of those ridiculous names where all the vowels are swapped around like Bryen. Cleir. Mieri.) 'Our dogs deserve open and safe spaces to play,' they said. 'Take them to Evanston. We need a place to dock our yachts,' the alderwoman said. 'No,' they said, 'We'll gentrify some other neighborhood if you can't provide this for us.' 'Fine,' the alderwoman said, 'I give you... people of Lakeview... three cubic feet of beachfront.' A smattering of polite applause. Restrained cheering. Alderwoman includes this championing of dog's rights in a weekly newsletter emailed to constituents. Take your dog here so that the two of you can realize, with sinking spirits, that the both of you won't fit on this patch of inadequate beachfront. Then walk the pleasant 37 minutes up to Montrose Dog Beach, where you will have so much room, you'll be agoraphobic. You reach for your inhaler. read more

The dog beach at Belmont Harbor is my favorite dog beach for both biased and practical reasons: 1) I live in the area. So this dog beach is convenient. 2) The area is just enough room for my dog to let off some energy, but it is small enough that I can easily keep an eye on my fellow. There are usually a lot of bigger dogs at this beach. They have different styles of play. If I had a submissive or skittish dog, I would likely not bring them to this beach, as it can get intense in such a small space. I saw another individual mention that there are more aggressive players here, and I would contribute that to the fact it is a small space and there are bigger dogs here (you get more of a mix at Wiggly Field and Montrose Beach). For me, this is not a downside as my dog is pretty energetic and likes to play a little rough at times. There is usually a seemingly tacit rule that if your dog isn't "going with the flow of traffic" (whether it's too submissive or too aggressive), you should probably leave. Unfortunately, if someone doesn't get that rule, they stay and end up messing up the vibe for everyone. This does not happen that often. However, I could see if you had a very submissive or small dog that gets pushed around, it might not be a good place. Alternatively, if you have a big dog that is harassing everyone else, you should probably leave. The beach is generally clean and pleasant. People are good about picking up there poop. I've seen a lot of people walking around without their shoes on. I'm not sure I'll go that far, but maybe that's a testament to the cleanliness? There are some geese in the water. So if you're dog is into birds, be on the look out. Overall a great place to have some fun with your pup! read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - Puppies at play at Belmont Harbor Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been meaning to take Jilly to a dog beach for a while now and tonight we finally decided to venture out and find one - a slight challenge since I am CTA reliant. Thank goodness for Google Maps! After doing a search for the phrase, "dog beach," a few results popped up and one of them was Belmont Harbor, a mere 2 miles away. Can do! I got Jilly on her leash, made sure I had all the necessities (poop bags and peanut butter flavoured Buddy Biscuits) and we were on our way! If you've never been to Belmont Harbor (we hadn't), here's a little nice-to-know: as Belmont Harbor Dog Beach isn't an "official" dog beach and a little on the small side compared to other beaches along the shore, there are no signs saying "DOG BEACH OVER HERE!" so we wandered a while before we found it. Never fear, fellow Yelpers who may read tis review; I am here to yelp! The "dog friendly beach" (as the tiny sign right by the entrance says) is on the north side of the harbor about halfway between Belmont and Addison. It's a small gated area about the size of a stretched out baseball diamond just along the lakefront trail. Can't miss it. I'm sitting here now as I write. Does it smell like dog? Yes. And a little "fishy" too. Does Jilly mind? Not at all. It's peaceful, pretty tidy and a few other dogs are meandering about with their humans. A couple of doggy bags were left along the ledge surrounding the beach and, I suppose, if I were a better samaritan, I'd do everyone a favor and put them in the trash bins that are less than a foot away. Oh crud. I was going to ignore those bags and leave them there but I just can't do it. Dang it. I guess I *am* a good samaritan after all. Anyway, nice place, this little beach. I give it a 3... We'll be back soon! read more

DisneyWorld my ass! A good dog beach for me is probably the happiest place on earth, and I prefer this one to Montrose just because it's way less stressful. Small enough that I'm not sprinting from one end to the other just to keep an eye on my pup, but still plenty of space or water fetch, doggie sand angels, and of course digging. There was a few feisty dogs that started fights and there was one irresponsible parent who brought her infant inside the park, but I can't take out one persons idiocy on the entire experience. Overall, I'd say the best park in the city if your pup loves to swim. read more

It's very small and not super well maintained. I saw glass there once (but many years ago). You pass this beach on the bike path. The dogs always seem happy in summer to get in the water. Can get very crowded in summer. Your dog really needs to be well trained. Also, don't go during the air and water show. read more

This beach was very very small, but it was easy to get the dog in and out (through a wooden gate) so they could swim in the lake! There were quite a few dogs there as well to play with! Not bad for a quick stop on a walk. Wouldn't call it a beach though. read more

It's free, it's full of dogs, and it's a beach. What's not to love? They have updated it with a better ramp and in/out gates to corral stray pups. I have noticed more trash washing up in this area than there used to be. And of course some idiot always brings a dog that has no business being around other dogs (or even people!), but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. read more

This was my gateway park to dog beaches. I took Samuel here for the first time with a friend and his dogs. It was great. I previously went to Montrose beach on a Sunday afternoon and was completely overwhelmed. When I went here this was a good place to restore confidence in dog beaching. This is a small area that is fenced in at the harbor. There's room for the dogs to run around and enjoy the sand as well as wade or full on swim in the water. This was a great way to introduce Samuel to the whole beach environment. The dogs are well behaved and the owners are friendly and responsible. The one down fall of this beach is that it is in a harbor and there's lots of boats around so there is some trash that collects on the right side of the beach. There's also some type of plant life/mossy stuff that collects there as well. I haven't had a problem with it because Samuel stays away from there. He likes to be with the doggy crowd or just a few feet away from me. Overall this park is on my list of places to go with the Pup. If want to experience the beach with your four legged love take them to Belmont Harbor as an introduction. Then when you're ready you can work up the confidence to take on the big beaches. read more

The beach gets four stars, with one star off for a run-in I had today with one of the patrons. More on that later. The space itself is small, but convenient if you live in the Lakeview/LP area and don't feel like driving up to Montrose. There's enough room for the dogs to get a good run in, as well as lots of swimming. It's not huge, and as other reviewers have noted, when the tide comes in, it brings all sorts of muck and trash from the boats anchored in the harbor. But overall, it's a nice little patch of sand for the pooches to run around and play. read more

It's completely free and our dogs have a great time here. It's not too big so I'm not chasing them all over the place. What more can I ask for? read more

It's on the smaller side, but there's plenty of room for dogs to run, most of the time there's some tennis balls to throw around already there. My old dog loves it! read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We took our pup here yesterday as we have for every weekend since the ice melted in March. On a hot Saturday, there can be 15-20 dogs all running and playing and chasing balls into the water. We think this park is much more fun than Montrose, because while it's a lot smaller, the owners here encourage the dogs to chase each other and wrestle and play, whereas Montrose dog owners tend to want to throw the ball for their dogs and get annoyed if yours wants to play too. Nothing wrong with that, but our likes to chase and bark and be chased, and that's the scene at Belmont. Small beach, and when the water level is high you have to jump the fence or walk in ankle-deep water to the beach, but the water is part of the draw. read more

I love this beach I was here on vacation Too many people used prong collars though read more

We come here every month or so and its always a good time. I try to pick times that aren't too busy, like early morning or late afternoon. I have a water baby for a dog, so this beach is perfect. It's not montrose, but t a great alternative for a few hours. read more

Dog Beach at Belmont Harbor - Dogs and people mingling on this beautiful day in Chicago. Now I get to go home with a happy dog that's covered in mud! - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you can, take your dog to Montrose. Montrose Dog Beach is amazing! If you can't go that far, any dog beach is better than none! Sure, it's a little small, and yeah, maybe the water's a little murky... but the pups will love it, and anything that makes my dogs happy makes me happy! :) read more

Although this dog beach is pretty small, the pups seem to enjoy it. It's clean and secure enough for dogs to run around without a leash.

Pretty cool place. My pup likes to run in the water. My biggest complaints are that it's fairly small, and there is only seating on the concrete along the fence. Other than that, it's a nice, convenient place for my dog to expend some energy and get as sandy as possible. read more

This is the first dog park I've ever experienced in Chicago (I've only been to parks in Houston) and this one misses the mark on all fronts. The only pro: the owners are generally nice and friendly. I brought my Yorkie (a little dog) and when we arrived there were several other small dogs mixed in with big dogs. But once all the small dogs left, the big dogs took over. My small dog didn't mind at all, running up and down the sand. However, this beach is very small (granted it's a harbor beach) and there wasn't a lot of room to re-position my small dog to friendlier confines. Would I return? Yes - only because it's literally 5 mins. walking time from my apartment. What the worst thing about this beach? It's absolutely filthy. And there's no water to hose off with after you leave. People stopped by to watch the dogs playing, which was kind of nice. Everyone in the city seems to be very animal friendly read more

While you will find many, many dogs and their owners on the sand at this little beach spot, it is not a city sanctioned dog beach. It is also not very clean. The beach is very small (so dog concentration is high) and the water looks to be heavy polluted from the frequently passing boats (after all, it is a harbor). If you're looking for a place to get your dog wet, head up north to Montrose. read more

Never had any issues at this park. I've always gone in the morning so it's been relatively empty. Enough room for my 20lb beagle to run around. A bit bare and I can see this being too small for larger dogs, but it's good for small dogs. Didn't notice any poop bags around so make sure to bring plenty. Only one entrance. read more

This place is pretty clean and although it's small the dogs have enough room to run around. My dog loves it. Def a place to check out.

Although I'm a huge fan of Montrose Beach, it can be a little overwhelming and stressful because of its size. I decided to try out Belmont Harbor Dog Beach, despite less than stellar reviews from some of my friends, we decided to try it out. It's completely fenced in and the double gate made me feel safe - even with my escape artist of a dog, Walter. I had heard from other people that the beach area was dirty, but with the exception of one small corner (where there is a random shopping cart!) it was ok by me! Walter had a great time with the other dogs and I had a great time with the other dogs and I had a great time watching him! Highly recommended. read more

The problem with dog beaches and dogs actually. Are the people with them. If you enjoy having to leave because people dont dicipline their dogs and allow them to hump constantly. Then this is the place for you and your dog! Beware though these are the same idiots who will say its your fault if you dont leave and your dog decides to teach their dog a lesson because their guardian wont! read more

Even though the place is small, it's still very nice. Other owners are attentive, because their dogs are always within sight. My only complaint is that the water is a bit stagnant. The smell is just normal lake smell, but there's some algae in areas and some trash. A bit more frequent skimming would probably remedy the issue. read more

My two pups love this spot. The smiles on every dog really is awesome! Saturday mornings at the dog beach means two super happy and relaxed pups! Week nights the place is empty around 8. Saturday mornings have around 8-13 pups running around, playing in the water & chasing tennis balls. Really is a city dogs dream come true!=) read more

This small fenced in area is perfect if you're running or walking along the lakefront path and need a quick stop for your dog to cool off. The only thing I worry about and what other reviewers have mentioned is the fact that this is in the harbor so you have the possibility of fuel/etc. in the water and there is quite a bit of regular old trash in the water as well. I'd stop again for my dog to cool off quickly, but for a true dog beach excursion I'd head up to the Montrose dog beach. read more

We have an Australian Shepherd, so finding new ways to exercise her are always a plus. I've never had an issue with this beach being too crowded overall, but the water on one side is dirty and littered enough that it really limits how many dogs can be in the water at once. Great location, but I really wish this place would be cleaned up more often. read more

I took Bucky here again today, and noticed that there is a sign up calling it an official "dog friendly area." Other online resources say Belmont Harbor dog beach isn't technically city-sanctioned, but it looks like it's legit now! read more

Small but more than enough to accommodate dozens of dogs. My dog has a great time and loves to fetch into the water, run around on the sand with the other pups, and get nice and dirty. He never wants to leave when we come here, but he's definitely nice and exhausted when we leave! Nice, clean place. read more

This dog beach is alright. I live nearby so I naturally find myself here often. I also find myself holding my breath every time we enter this dog beach as more often than not, there's aggressive dogs with owners who don't pay attention or use the infamous excuse, "oh he's just a rough player". I haven't experienced this at Wiggly Field or Montrose Beach nearly as much as I do here. So, be alert, I guess. read more

Our dog really loves the dog beach at Belmont Harbor. The sand area is much smaller than Montrose Dog Beach. The dog area is completely fenced in and provides enough room for the dogs to move around. If you visit early or late in the day, the dog park doesn't tend to be too crowded and your dog can have a bit more space to run. Spectators tend to line up along the park to watch the dogs and the boats in the harbor - it's generally a fun atmosphere! read more