Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk Beach

 
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail
 

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Parking and Hours

Parking Lot

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

  • 97 total spaces
  • 0 oversized spaces
  • 41.630994, -87.178383
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk has 3 separate parking lots.

 
Sandy beach area with bright blue pathway

Getting There

Portage Lakefront Parking Lot

100 Riverwalk Road, Portage, IN 46368

Directions starting from the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Indiana State Route 249: Follow State Road 249 north and take the bridge over U.S. Highway 12 towards the U.S. Steel and Precoat Metals businesses. Turn left at the stop sign and cross over Burns Waterway. Once over the waterway, immediately turn right and head north, towards the lake, passing the entrance sign. Park only in public designated parking spots to help protect the fragile dune ecosystem along the roadside.

Need to Know

  • Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water when the pavilion is open.
  • Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach, littering.
  • Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
  • Parking lots are paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends.
  • 3,500 square foot public pavilion includes restrooms, a seasonal snack bar and a glass walled classroom/meeting space.
  • There are picnic tables at the pavilion.

Safety

  • Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
  • Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
  • Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the parking lot and trails.
  • In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

  • The pavilion, picnic tables, restrooms, and trail are wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair accessible beach mat provides access to the beach area. It is installed in late spring and removed in early fall.

Visitor Activities

  • Swimming. No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous.
  • Hike the paved Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk Trail for great views of Lake Michigan.
  • Fishing. Open at all times to those actively engaged in fishing.

Nearby Beaches

History and Background

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk was opened in October 2008. The redevelopment of the site, formerly used by a steel corporation as settling ponds for industrial byproduct and a sewage treatment facility, is a successful model of brownfield reclamation.The land, buildings, and facilities at the site are owned by the National Park Service and operated in partnership with the City of Portage.

Boundary Area

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk area is defined from the Burns Waterway to the eastern edge Ogden Dunes and from a line 300 feet north of the shoreline of Lake Michigan to the south where the park meets private property.
 
 
Rip Tides Poster

Rip Currents:

Be on the lookout this summer for rip currents on Lake Michigan.

Before your next visit to the beach, learn how to spot a rip current and what to do if you get caught in one. Always check the local beach forecast for any warnings, and exercise caution.

IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT

♦ Don't fight the current
♦ Swim out of the current, then to shore
♦ If you can't escape, float or tread water
♦ If you need help, call or wave for assistance

SAFETY

♦ Know how to swim
♦ Never swim alone
♦ If in doubt, don't go out
More information about rip currents can be found at the following websites: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov and www.usla.org

 
Infographic explaining to flip, float, and follow when drowning.

Drowning? Flip, Float, and Follow

“Flip, Float, and Follow,” is a campaign and drowning survival technique by Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to help people remember how to successfully escape a variety of drowning accidents in the Great Lakes such as rip currents, long-shore currents, and structural currents.

1️⃣FLIP: Flip over onto your back and float.

2️⃣FLOAT: Float to: keep head above water; calm yourself down, and conserve energy.

3️⃣FOLLOW: Follow the safest course to safety: do not fight current; follow current to assess which way it's flowing. Swim perpendicular to the flow. If too tired to swim, continue floating and try to signal for help.

 
The Dangers of Shelf Ice
The Dangers of Shelf Ice

Stay off the shelf ice! Despite its unusual beauty, don't risk your life. Enjoy the view of the shelf ice—from a distance!

Last updated: September 27, 2023

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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