Lake and river dog beaches
Inland dog beaches — Great Lakes shoreline, state-park lakes and river access — listed by the rule the park or DNR publishes.
36 verified beaches qualify.
Wisconsin (14)
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Devil's Lake State Park — pet swim areas
Off-leash zone Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Governor Dodge State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Buckhorn State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Brunet Island State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Harrington Beach State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Kohler-Andrae State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Kettle Moraine Southern Unit — Ottawa Lake & Rice Lake pet swim areas
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Lake Wissota State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Governor Thompson State Park — Woods Lake beach
Leash required Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Pike Lake Unit (Kettle Moraine) — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Lake Kegonsa State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Governor Nelson State Park — pet swim area
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Point Beach State Forest — pet shoreline south of the lighthouse
Restricted area Year-round✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
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Whitefish Dunes State Park — pet beach
Restricted area Seasonal — check dates✓ Wisconsin DNR (State Park System) · verified 2026-09
Michigan (10)
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Warren Dunes State Park dog beach
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-08
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Holland State Park — Lake Macatawa dog beach
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Petoskey State Park
Seasonal restrictions Seasonal — check dates✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Harrisville State Park pet beach
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Ionia State Recreation Area — Sessions Lake shoreline
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Bay City State Park — Lake Huron shoreline
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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P.J. Hoffmaster State Park — Lake Michigan shoreline
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Van Buren State Park — Lake Michigan shoreline
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
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Dodge #4 State Park — Cass Lake pet beach
Leash required Year-round✓ Michigan Department of Natural Resources · verified 2026-09
Minnesota (8)
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Lake Byllesby Beach
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Dakota County Parks · verified 2026-09
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Schulze Lake Beach (Lebanon Hills)
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Dakota County Parks · verified 2026-09
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Matoska Park Dog Beach
Leash required Year-round✓ City of White Bear Lake · verified 2026-09
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Carver County regional park beaches
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Carver County Parks & Recreation · verified 2026-09
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Cedar Lake East Beach
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board · verified 2026-09
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Cedar Lake South Beach
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board · verified 2026-09
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Lake Harriet North Beach
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board · verified 2026-09
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Lake Hiawatha Beach
No dogs allowed Year-round✓ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board · verified 2026-09
California (3)
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Donner Memorial State Park — Donner Lake shore
Leash required Year-round✓ California State Parks · verified 2026-09
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Tahoe State Recreation Area — Gatekeepers shoreline
Restricted area Year-round✓ California State Parks · verified 2026-09
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South Yuba River State Park shoreline
Leash required Year-round✓ California State Parks · verified 2026-09
Florida (1)
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Bark Beach at Spanish River Park
Permit required Year-round✓ City of Boca Raton · verified 2026-06