Atwater Beach

Open all year long, this 5-acre open space features a sandy beach on beautiful Lake Michigan in Shorewood near Milwaukee and is the perfect location to cool off this summer.

After you park on the scenic Lake Drive, you will find lots of public art and a playground high atop the lake’s bluffs. Make your way down to the beach by the staircase that leads to the middle of the park or by a wheelchair accessible zig-zag path down the bluff to the bottom. This path is littered with milweek, butterfly weed, black-eyed susans and more than 3,000 other native plants. With these species of plants you are sure to see a monarch or two. In 2015, it was designated as an official monarch butterfly waystation. 

Once you walk down the stairs or take a nature walk and finally get to the beach you will be greeted with a playground, sandy beach and beautiful scenic lake views. Dogs are allowed at Atwater beach and beach hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.