Most state parks with water access only allow dogs during the off-season. Below you can find state parks where you can take your dog to cool off the water. These designated dog swim areas are open year-round or whenever the park is open.
COLORADO
Chatfield State Park
11500 N Roxborough Park Rd, Littleton, CO 80125
The Chatfield Dog Off-Leash Area provides 69 acres of completely fenced open space for your dogs to exercise- including two ponds and miles of paved and unpaved walking trails.
Cherry Creek State Park
4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014
The Cherry Creek Dog off-Leash Area (DOLA) is a 107 acre fenced area that has water access for dogs.
Highline Lake State Park
1800 11.8 Road, Loma, CO, 81524
Dogs may swim in the designated area near the East boat ramp (but people cannot).
MICHIGAN
Pets are allowed along the shoreline of a number of Michigan State Parks. Pets are not allowed at designated bathing/swimming areas and areas signed otherwise (ie. piping plover nesting habitat). Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash even if they are in the water. There are more than twenty Michigan State Parks with pet friendly shorelines. Here are a few:
Wilderness State Park
903 Wilderness Park Dr, Carp Lake, MI 49718
Wilderness State Park has two pet-friendly beaches, including 1) the area just east of the headquarters building (adjacent to the picnic area and down a small path) and 2) an area on the west end of the East Lake Lakeshore Campground. The majority of the park’s shoreline is open to pets September through March; however, the shoreline (other than the pet-friendly areas) is closed to pets April through August to protect endangered piping plover habitat.
Holly Recreation Area
8100 Grange Hall Rd, Holly, MI 48442
Located south of the designated swim beach, there is a stretch of shoreline along Heron Lake where dogs can swim.
Proud Lake Recreation Area
2700 Glengary Rd, Commerce Charter Twp, MI 4839
Dogs are allowed to swim along the entire length of the Huron River and Proud Lake shoreline (other than the designated swim beach in the modern campground).
Dodge #4 State Park
4250 Parkway St, Waterford Twp, MI 48328
There is a designated pet-friendly beach just outside the designated swim area.
South Higgins Lake State Park
106 State Park Drive, Roscommon MI, 48653
There are three pet-friendly beach areas, one along a section of shoreline in the day-use area (along the east boundary of the park), one in the campground (west side of the boat access site), and a campers-only area (along the west boundary of the campground).
Warren Dunes State Park
12032 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer MI, 49125
Dogs are allowed north of the northernmost swim buoy at the beach, providing 2.5 miles of shoreline open to pets. The dog-friendly beach, accessible from the northernmost of the park’s three parking lots, Beach Lot 3, is well marked.
OHIO
In Ohio State Parks pets are permitted in most day use areas, with the exception of swimming beaches, and must be on a leash. Fifteen state parks offer designated dog park areas complete with fenced-in enclosures and water sources. More than half of the dog parks also offer access to the park’s lakefront. Ohio State Park Dog Swim Areas are provided adjacent to the dog parks at the following parks:
Alum Creek State Park – 3615 S. Old State Road, Delaware, OH 43015; a fenced area with water access for dogs only.
Delaware State Park – 5202 US Highway 23 N, Delaware, OH 43015; a swim area is available near the public beach.
Madison Lake State Park – 4860 E Park Drive, London, OH 43140; a designated dog swim area is located on the west side of the lake.
Mosquito Lake State Park – 1439 State Route 305, Cortland, OH 44410; The Cooperation Station features a dog swim area.
Portage Lakes State Park – 5031 Manchester Road, Akron, OH 44319; an unfenced dog swim area.
Salt Fork State Park – 14755 Cadiz Road, Lore City, OH 43755; direct lake access for dogs.
A.W. Marion State Park, 7317 Warner Huffer Road, Circleville, OH 43113; a non-fenced area allows off-leash access to the lake.
Harrison Lake State Park – 26246 Harrison Lake Road, Fayette, OH 43521; a dog swim are is located near the campground.
Hueston Woods State Park – 6301 Park Office Road, College Corner, OH 45003; a dog swim area is located near the dog park.
Lake Alma State Park – 422 Lake Alma Road, Wellston, OH 45692; a dog swim area is on Lake Alama.
PENNSYLVANIA
Presque Isle State Park
301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie. These sandy beaches provide visitors with the only surf swimming within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Beaches are open daily from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. Dogs on a leash may only swim in unguarded swimming areas. In the following unguarded areas, leashed dogs are permitted on the sand and in the water: from the east end of Barracks Beach to the West end of Beach 6, from the east end of Presque Isle Lighthouse to the west end of Beach 9, from the east end of Beach 9 to the west end of Beach 10, from the east end of Beach 10 to the Restricted Area on Gull Point, from Thompson Bay to the north side of Beach 11 and from the south side of Beach 11 to the North Pier.
VERMONT
At Vermont State Parks, pets are not permitted on the sandy beach or designated swimming areas. However, pets are allowed on the far side of the beaches (away from the swimming areas) at:
Branbury State Park – 3570 Lake Dunmore Rd., Salisbury, VT 05769.
Lake Shaftsbury State Park – 262 Shaftsbury State Park Rd., Shaftsbury, VT 05262.
Silver Lake State Park – 20 State Park Beach Rd., Barnard, VT 05031.
Camp Plymouth State Park – 2008 Scout Camp Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149; pets are allowed to swim only at the cartop boat launch.
Camp Plymouth State Park
2008 Scout Camp Rd.
Ludlow, VT 05149
Pets may swim only at the cartop boat launch.
Little River State Park
3444 Little River Rd.
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
Pets can swim at the boat launch area in section A.
Niquette Bay State Park
274 Raymond Rd
Colchester, VT 05446
Pets may swim off-leash at the Calm Cove area only.
WISCONSIN
In Wisconsin State Parks pets are only allowed on designated “dogs allowed” beaches. The following state parks and forests have designated pet swim areas:
Brunet Island State Park – 23125 255th St, Cornell, WI 54732; has a designated pet picnic and swim area.
Buckhorn State Park – W8450 Buckhorn Park Ave., Necedah, WI 54646; has a pet swim area on Water Street, west of the Buckhorn Bridge.
Copper Falls State Park – 36764 Copper Falls Road, Mellen, WI 54546; has a designated pet area adjacent to the main picnic area in the park. The pet picnic area abuts the Bad River, allowing water access for pets.
Devil’s Lake State Park – S5975 Park Rd., Baraboo, WI 53913; has an on-leash pet swim area located near the north shore boat launch and an off-leash pet swim area near the south shore boat launch.
Governor Dodge State Park – 4175 State Highway 23 N, Dodgeville, WI 53533; has a pet swim area next to the Cox Hollow swimming beach.
Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest – N10008 Paust Ln, Crivitz, WI 54114; has a designated pet picnic and swim area.
Governor Nelson State Park – 5140 Cty Hwy M, Waunakee, WI 53597; has a designated pet picnic and swim area north of the beach/picnic area.
Governor Thompson State Park – N10008 Paust Lane, Crivitz, WI 54114; pets allowed in the Woods Lake picnic area and beach, and at Boat Landing 13 (South Bay) in the park.
Harrington Beach State Park – 531 County Road D, Belgium, WI 53004; has a designated pet swim area at south beach.
High Cliff State Park – N7630 State Park Rd, Sherwood, WI 54169; has two pet picnic areas. One is in the lower park, near the park office, with a swimming area in the pond.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit – Eagle, WI 53119; has two pet swim areas; at Ottawa Lake on the left side of the boat launch; and at Rice Lake on the right side of the boat launch.
Kohler-Andrae State Park – 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081; has a pet picnic and swim area.
Lake Kegonsa State Park – 2405 Door Creek Road, Stoughton, WI 53589; has a pet swim area. Normally the beach has a pier to teach pets to jump into the water, but the pier is out when water levels are high.
Lake Wissota State Park – 18127 Co Hwy O, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729; has a designated pet picnic and swim area.
Northern Highland American Legion State Forest – 4125 County Highway M, Boulder Junction, WI 54512; has a designated pet picnic and swim area.
Pike Lake Unit-Kettle Moraine State Forest – 3544 Kettle Moraine Rd, Hartford, WI 53027; has a pet picnic and swim area.
Whitefish Dunes State Park – 3275 Clark Lake Road, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; has a designated pet swim area. Access is a 0.75-mile walk from the parking lot. Pets are not allowed on the section of the beach from the nature center to the third beach access from April 1 to Nov. 1.
Pets must be on a leash at all times when not in the water.
