Saint Josephs Lake
Notre Dame, Indiana · on Saint Josephs Lake
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Saint Josephs Lake
St. Joseph's Lake is a small lake on the University of Notre Dame campus in Notre Dame, Indiana, best known for St. Joseph Beach, an official swimming facility operated by Notre Dame RecSports on its east shore. It is a campus swimming hole rather than a public one, a lake to swim in only for the Notre Dame community rather than the general public.
The lake sits on Notre Dame's historic campus grounds alongside its companion, St. Mary's Lake, surrounded by university buildings, wooded shoreline, and walking/jogging paths that circle the water.
Swimming at Saint Josephs Lake
Swimming is confined to the designated St. Joseph Beach area on the lake's east end, a waterfront recreation site with a dock and open swim area intended for casual recreational use by Notre Dame community members rather than open-water or long-distance swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
St. Joseph Beach is reached via two trails leading from the Notre Dame campus to the east side of St. Joseph Lake; the campus is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, adjacent to South Bend.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is an on-campus walk, not a backcountry hike. RecSports' official map link places the beach at the east end of St. Joseph Lake near the Compton Family Ice Arena / Stadium side of campus (coordinates ~41.70662, -86.23752), reachable via paved/gravel campus walking paths rather than a dedicated trailhead. The prior dossier notes two paths lead from central campus to this east-shore beach, but no source with a specific trail name or one-way distance to the water was found despite multiple search attempts this session.
Plan your visit
Hours
Per Notre Dame RecSports (checked for the 2026 season): St. Joseph Beach is closed for the 2026 summer season starting Monday, June 15, and listed as 'Available for Request' rather than open on a public schedule; no Family Hours are scheduled for Summer 2026. When open, the beach closes at 7:00 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, and closes automatically if the outdoor heat index exceeds 90F, falls below 60F, or during inclement weather. A separate Staff Training closure is scheduled Thursday Aug 20 - Saturday Aug 22, 2026.
On the water
Restrictions: RecSports' official facility page states plainly that 'Boat rentals are not available' at St. Joseph Beach. No source was found confirming or denying whether visitors may bring their own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard onto St. Joseph Lake.
St. Joseph Lake is a small, university-owned campus lake (paired with adjacent St. Mary's Lake) with access controlled by Notre Dame RecSports; it functions as a swim/waterfront facility rather than a public boating lake, and no commercial watercraft rental business appears to operate on this specific lake.
Backstory
St. Joseph Beach last operated for swimmers in 2019 before undergoing renovations during 2020-2021, and reopened in 2023 as part of a RecSports initiative to expand campus recreation.
Saint Josephs Lake: FAQ
Do I need to hike to reach Saint Josephs Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
When is the best time to visit Saint Josephs Lake?
Summer, when the beach is operated by RecSports (subject to seasonal opening/closing dates that vary by year).
What are the rules at Saint Josephs Lake?
Use of St. Joseph Beach requires a valid RecSports waiver (valid August 1 to July 30) and signing in through RecRegister before visiting; access is governed by Notre Dame RecSports facility policies and eligibility rules, and the beach appears intended primarily for Notre Dame students, faculty, staff, and affiliates rather than the general public.
What water body is Saint Josephs Lake on?
Saint Josephs Lake is on Saint Josephs Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
