Beaches

Beaches

From the cobble beaches of Washington Island, to the gently rolling dunes of Sheboygan, to the soft, sandy beaches of our inland lakes and rivers, beaches are nature's nirvana. Wisconsin's beaches provide wildlife habitat, recreation areas and tourist destinations. Unfortunately, beaches are especially vulnerable to agricultural, urban and industrial land uses, and many of our beaches are showing the effects. We invite you to explore, enjoy and help protect and restore Wisconsin's beaches.

Current Beach Status

Up-to-date beach closings and advisories for Great Lakes coastal beaches and some inland beaches starting Memorial Day.
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Beach Advisory Reports

Run reports for current and historical E. coli monitoring data in the Wisconsin Beach Health database.
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About The Beach Health Database

Learn about the "Wisconsin Beach Health" database for water quality data and beach advisories.
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Reasons for Advisories and Closures

Learn about the reasons local health departments issue swimming advisories or closures at beaches.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to questions about the DNR beach program, beach health and beach monitoring.
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Beach Monitoring and Assessments

The DNR and local health officials monitor water at public beaches on a regular basis to protect public health.
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Data Entry Portal

Data entry portal for beach managers.
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Wisconsin's Beach List

Public comments on the current year's beach list, including the risk-based rank, are welcome and accepted at any time.
Wisconsin's Beach List

Great Lakes Beach Maps

Looking for a beach to visit on Lake Michigan or Lake Superior? Check out county maps which identify beaches.
Great Lakes Beach Maps

Wisconsin's Great Lakes

Information about Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and how DNR works to protect and restore these critical resources.
Wisconsin's Great Lakes