5 places To Take Your Dog Swimming Outdoors near Milwaukee
Need a place to beat the summer heat? Or looking for a way to get your dog some low-impact exercise? Here are 5 places to swim your dog outside in southeastern Wisconsin!
#1: Menomonee Park
Menomonee Park, near the town of Lannon, has a great dog beach to the right of the regular beach. The water is always warm and clean! Entry is $5 if you do not have a Waukesha County annual park pass. Click here for more information and swimming rules. Note that humans cannot swim with their pets, and this area is unfenced.
#2: Fox Brook Park
Fox Brook Park is also in the Waukesha County Park system. The swimming area is slightly more crowded, but it is fully fenced which is great for swimming dogs who might not be reliable off-leash!
#3: Minooka, Mukwonago, and Muskego Parks
These three additional parks in the Waukesha County Park system do not have designated dog swim areas, but your dog can swim on the regular beach whenever a lifeguard is not present, called Swim at Your Own Risk hours. See this page for the hours at each park.
#4: Ottawa Lake
The left side of the boat launch at Ottawa Lake in Kettle Moraine – Southern Unit is one of my favorite places to bring my dogs swimming. There is a dock so you can practice your dog’s dock diving skills, and my favorite hiking trail (Scuppernong) is just a few minutes away. You will need a day or annual pass for Wisconsin State Parks to get to the lake. Humans can swim at the boat launch, and small boats like kayaks often launch from the ramp.
#5: Harrington Beach State Park
If your dog craves waves and a long beach instead of a lake, this Wisconsin State park along Lake Michigan has a dog beach on the south side of the park. There is a short walk to get to the beach, which can be hard for excited dogs who might pull on leash! Metal steps take you down to the sand. Beware, if the water level is high there might not be any accessible beach. It is best to call ahead to see if the sand is accessible and if there are any dangerous tides.
I hope you find this list useful for your next swimming adventure with your best friend! As always, safety first, so make sure you follow water safety rules and use a life jacket if needed. Specifically, in Wisconsin, be aware of blue-green algae and make sure your dog is up-to-date on their heartworm and flea/tick protection.
