Beach Closures and Safety

With nine beaches and all this coastline, there are plenty of ways to enjoy our shores. But lakeside fun should never come at the price of safety. Here are a few tips to keep you up-to-date on beach safety, closures, and more.

Water Safety

Rip Currents

Do not swim when rip current warnings are in effect—these currents can carry away even the strongest swimmer. If you do get caught in a rip current, don’t try to swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until you’re out of the current. We also don’t recommend swimming when there are large, crashing waves, as they can also cause rip currents. During summer months, lifeguards are stationed at West Beach within Indiana Dunes National Park and at the swimming beach in the Indiana Dunes State Park. Lifeguards are not present at other locations of the beach.

E. coli Levels

Avoid swimming when E. coli levels are high because the bacterium can cause sickness. Call 219-926-7561 followed by prompt #2 for information regarding E. coli levels.

Closures & Weather

If dangerous rip currents or high E. coli levels are present, Indiana Dunes State Park will bar people from entering the water, although guests may still enjoy the beach. Signs alerting the public about closures are placed at the main gate at 11AM on the day of the closure. In addition, the park advises people to visit the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office for rip current conditions along Lake Michigan and to visit the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and sign up for their BeachAlert to receive notifications of closures and advisories.

The Indiana Dunes National Park beaches are accessible and open year-round; however, in the case of unsafe conditions, signs will be posted to indicate that swimming is prohibited.

Rip Current Safety

Weather Forecast

Beaches Map