Loch Lomond South Beach
Mundelein, Illinois · on Loch Lomond
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Loch Lomond South Beach
Loch Lomond South Beach is the main swimming beach on Loch Lomond, a 75-acre artificial lake in Mundelein, Illinois, created in 1955 by damming the south branch of Bull Creek. It is the primary recreational beach and neighborhood swimming hole of the private, roughly 600-home Loch Lomond subdivision, managed by the Loch Lomond Property Owners Association (LLPOA), and features a sectioned swimming area, diving board, and fishing pier. For members it is a convenient lake to swim in close to home.
The lake sits within a residential subdivision between Route 45 and Midlothian Road in Mundelein (Lake County), Illinois, and is described by its managers as the headwaters of a chain of three lakes draining into the Upper Des Plaines River. It is a shallow, nutrient-rich (eutrophic) man-made lake surrounded by homes rather than a wild or forested setting.
Swimming at Loch Lomond South Beach
Swimming happens off a sectioned swim/diving pier at South Beach, in shallow, warm, eutrophic (algae-prone) lake water typical of a small Midwestern impoundment. The beach is set up for casual, family recreation, sand, a diving board, and a designated swim zone separated from the boat launch and fishing areas, rather than for long-distance or wilderness swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Loch Lomond subdivision lies between Route 45 and Midlothian Road in Mundelein, IL; South Beach is one of two beaches on the lake reached via the private subdivision's internal roads, gated by resident key-card access.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No hike or trail is involved. South Beach is reached directly via the private Loch Lomond subdivision's internal roads (between Route 45 and Midlothian Road in Mundelein); entry requires an LLPOA resident key card, so this is a drive-up/walk-up beach for members and their guests, not a public trailhead access point.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sectioned, marked swim area with a diving board (one person at a time; no diving off piers) and a rule that children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent at all times. Lifeguard coverage is inconsistent across the HOA's own sources: the current /beaches/ rules page states 'there are no lifeguards on duty during any flag conditions,' while the HOA management portal (kalmanmanagement.com) lists lifeguards 10am-8pm daily, Memorial Day-Labor Day, weather permitting. Non-swimmers are barred from taking flotation devices past the pier. Given the conflicting lifeguard info, families should not assume supervision and should verify current-season coverage with LLPOA directly.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
No first-hand visitor reports on clarity were found. The HOA runs a lake water-quality flag system and tests water twice monthly for E. coli, and publishes 25 years of Secchi-disk transparency data (1999-2023) plus 2025 three-site testing, though the published figures could not be reviewed for this write-up. As a shallow, 75-acre man-made impoundment with an active algae/nutrient-management program, clarity likely varies by season and recent rainfall or algae bloom status rather than being consistently clear.
Hours
Beach area is closed to all use from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. year-round (per lochlomondlake.com/beaches/), i.e. open roughly 5am-11pm daily. Seasonal lifeguard coverage, where offered, runs 10am-8pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting (per kalmanmanagement.com).
On the water
Restrictions: Gas-powered motors are prohibited outright. Electric motors are allowed only after a permit application is approved by the LLPOA. All watercraft must carry an LLPOA registration sticker. Access to the lake for any boating is restricted to LLPOA members/residents and their guests (private, key-card-gated lake).
Per lochlomondlake.com/our-lake/, permitted vessel types are listed as 'sailboats and sailboards, paddleboards, canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, small pontoon boats.' This is a private residential lake, not a public boat-launch site.
Backstory
The lake was created in 1955 by damming the south branch of Bull Creek. According to a real-estate history summary, the lake was originally owned by Arthur McIntosh, and Roscoe Homes began building U.S. Steel homes around it in the mid-1950s, forming the current Loch Lomond subdivision, established in 1955 by the community's own account.
Loch Lomond South Beach: FAQ
Does Loch Lomond South Beach charge a fee?
No public admission fee is advertised; access is gated to LLPOA members (residents) and their guests via key card. Large group picnic reservations (15+ people) require approval and a deposit.
Is Loch Lomond South Beach kid friendly?
Sectioned, marked swim area with a diving board (one person at a time; no diving off piers) and a rule that children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent at all times. Lifeguard coverage is inconsistent across the HOA's own sources: the current /beaches/ rules page states 'there are no lifeguards on duty during any flag conditions,' while the HOA management portal (kalmanmanagement.com) lists lifeguards 10am-8pm daily, Memorial Day-Labor Day, weather permitting. Non-swimmers are barred from taking flotation devices past the pier. Given the conflicting lifeguard info, families should not assume supervision and should verify current-season coverage with LLPOA directly.
Do I need to hike to reach Loch Lomond South Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Loch Lomond South Beach?
No parking information (lot size, location, or cost) is published on lochlomondlake.com, the beaches subpage, or the kalmanmanagement.com HOA portal. Since South Beach sits inside a private, key-card-gated subdivision, any parking would be on the internal community roads/lot for members and their registered guests, not public parking.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Loch Lomond South Beach?
Per lochlomondlake.com/our-lake/, permitted vessel types are listed as 'sailboats and sailboards, paddleboards, canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, small pontoon boats.' This is a private residential lake, not a public boat-launch site.
When is the best time to visit Loch Lomond South Beach?
Summer; a third-party HOA management page lists lifeguard coverage from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am-8pm daily, weather permitting.
What are the rules at Loch Lomond South Beach?
Private HOA-managed lake; swimming is restricted to residents and accompanied guests (key-card gated), not open to the general public. South Beach rules include no diving off piers, only one person on the diving board at a time, no running/horseplay on rafts or piers, non-swimmers may not take flotation devices past the pier, and no glass containers or alcohol in the swimming area. No fishing is allowed in the designated swim zone, and the dam/spillway is off-limits to everyone except authorized personnel. North Beach (the lake's other beach) does not permit swimming at all. Electric-powered watercraft require prior application; gas motors are prohibited outright.
What water body is Loch Lomond South Beach on?
Loch Lomond South Beach is on Loch Lomond, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
