Montrose Beach + Bird Sanctuary
Two sensory worlds in one stop — a calm, shallow swim beach and the "Magic Hedge" bird sanctuary.
Why you'll go
A wide, calm, shallow swim beach, then a 10-minute walk to a quiet nature trail where birders log 30+ species an hour in May. Open sand and water, then a hushed loop.
What they'll love
The shallow water at the swim beach is gentle enough that little ones can wade and dig at Chicago's largest public beach. Just south, the soft sand paths of the Montrose Beach Dunes wind past fenced-off habitat where federally endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers (the famous "Monty and Rose" lineage, nesting here since 2019) raise their chicks, and the wood-chip trails of the Magic Hedge turn up bunnies and squirrels for stroller-bound toddlers to point at.
Real talk
Free; a free beach wheelchair is at the lifeguard office. The off-leash dog beach is at the NE end — fun to watch, but keep them clear of the dog crowd; the calm swim/sand is the main beach.
Don't miss
- Wade in the shallow shoreline The water here is considerably shallow and generally has manageable waves, which makes it forgiving for first-time waders and nervous toddlers. Lake Michigan can still kick up, so keep little ones within arm's reach. Swimming is only guarded/permitted 11am-7pm in season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day); the historic 1934 beach house has restrooms, showers and shade right on the sand.
- Walk the dunes and look for the Piping Plovers The Montrose Beach Dunes Natural Area is globally rare panne habitat where federally endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers (descendants of 'Monty and Rose') have nested since 2019. Soft sand paths and the Montrose pier give views of the roped-off shorebird zones. It's dawn-to-dusk and free, but you must stay out of all fenced-off areas and dogs aren't allowed in the natural area. The pier on the east edge is the easiest spot to see the protected habitat from a safe distance.
- Do a short Magic Hedge loop with the Merlin app The Magic Hedge is a row of honeysuckle and small trees that's one of the country's top migratory bird spots (300+ species recorded); in summer kids are more likely to spot bunnies and squirrels along the wood-chip and dirt paths than rare warblers. Download Cornell Lab's free Merlin Bird ID app first so it can name birds by their calls and turn it into a game; keep a good-suspension stroller on the wider central paths and budget just 15-20 minutes for a toddler. There are no restrooms inside the sanctuary.
- Rent a kayak or grab a concession after sand time The beach has seasonal food concessions plus kayak and volleyball rentals and a non-motorized boat launch, so older siblings or one parent can paddle while the little one naps in the carrier. Free beach wheelchairs are available at the lifeguard office with a valid ID, and there's an ADA-accessible beach walk down to the shoreline if you're navigating with a stroller.