Stone Lake Beach
La Porte, Indiana · Soliders Memorial Park
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Stone Lake Beach
Stone Lake Beach is a city-run public swimming beach on the eastern shore of Stone Lake within Soldiers Memorial Park in La Porte, Indiana. Operated by La Porte Park and Recreation, this lifeguarded swimming hole is an officially designated swim beach staffed each summer and equipped with a full beach house, playground, and kayak rentals.
The beach sits along the eastern shore of Stone Lake, one of La Porte's three lakes, inside Soldiers Memorial Park, which also contains the Park and Recreation office, a gazebo, a veterans walkway, and (on the Pine Lake side of the park system) the separate Ski Beach.
Swimming at Stone Lake Beach
This is a developed, supervised lake swimming beach rather than a backcountry hole: a sandy swim area with lifeguards on duty, suited to families and casual swimmers rather than open-water or adventure swimming. The city's page describes activities as 'swimming, sand sculptures and family fun.'
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, developed city beach inside Soldiers Memorial Park; no trail or hike is involved in reaching the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Developed, lifeguarded sandy lake beach with an ADA-accessible beach entrance, playground, and concession stand; no hike, cliffs, or river current to manage. Lifeguards are on duty daily 10:30am-4pm from Memorial Day weekend through the La Porte Community School Corporation's summer break.
Parking
Free
Free dedicated parking lot adjacent to the beach within Soldiers Memorial Park at 300 Grangemouth Drive, La Porte, IN 46350. The lot can fill up on hot summer weekends, so arriving earlier in the day is advised.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms located in the on-site beach house, along with a concession stand and outdoor showers/rinse stations.
Water clarity
Clear
Stone Lake (and neighboring Pine Lake, connected by a channel) is described by visitors as 'extremely clear and sparkling,' with crystal-clear water good for canoeing and kayaking, though the clarity is due in part to an invasive zebra mussel infestation. One early-morning visitor described 'beautiful mirror images in the very still lake,' consistent with calm, clear conditions.
Hours
Beach itself has no posted general operating hours found; lifeguards are on duty 10:30am-4pm daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of the La Porte Community School Corporation's summer break (some exceptions apply).
On the water
Restrictions: Stone Lake is a no-wake lake (roughly 5 mph limit); higher-speed activities like water skiing, wakeboarding, and sailing take place on the connected Pine Lake rather than Stone Lake itself. A public, handicap-accessible canoe/kayak launch is located at the beach.
Stone Lake covers about 149 acres and averages roughly 36 feet deep, connected to Pine Lake (543 acres) via a channel; a Stone Lake Boat Ramp also provides launch access nearby.
Rentals nearby
On-site self-service kayak rental station with 8 kayaks, located across from the beach's ADA-accessible kayak/canoe launch
Prices: $20/hour
At Stone Lake Beach, 300 Grangemouth Dr, La Porte, IN 46350
Pontoon boat and kayak rentals; boats ranging 20-26 ft (e.g. Crest 220, Harris Cruiser 250); half-day and full-day discounted rates advertised
718 Lakeside St, La Porte, IN - on Pine Lake, which connects to Stone Lake via a channel
Maple City Adventure
Kayak and electric bike rentals (advertised as La Porte's first kayak and e-bike rental location)
222 Pine Lake Ave, La Porte, IN 46350 · Thu-Sun 10am-7pm; closed Mon-Wed
What regulars say
Visitor reports describe Stone Lake's water as notably clear compared to the murkier, weedier lakes elsewhere in the La Porte lakes chain, attributed in part to a zebra mussel infestation, and one early-morning visitor described the lake as calm and mirror-still. Firsthand commentary on crowds and cleanliness is otherwise thin, so treat that as a data gap rather than a verdict.
Backstory
The beach house was renovated in 1999. The playground was updated in 2018 with two new play structures funded by the La Porte Park Foundation.
Stone Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Stone Lake Beach charge a fee?
No admission fee for Stone Lake Beach is listed in the city's official 2025/2026 Park Department fee schedule; the fee schedule covers only shelter, lodge, amphitheater, and gazebo rentals.
Is Stone Lake Beach kid friendly?
Developed, lifeguarded sandy lake beach with an ADA-accessible beach entrance, playground, and concession stand; no hike, cliffs, or river current to manage. Lifeguards are on duty daily 10:30am-4pm from Memorial Day weekend through the La Porte Community School Corporation's summer break.
Do I need to hike to reach Stone Lake Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Stone Lake Beach?
Free dedicated parking lot adjacent to the beach within Soldiers Memorial Park at 300 Grangemouth Drive, La Porte, IN 46350. The lot can fill up on hot summer weekends, so arriving earlier in the day is advised.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Stone Lake Beach?
Stone Lake covers about 149 acres and averages roughly 36 feet deep, connected to Pine Lake (543 acres) via a channel; a Stone Lake Boat Ramp also provides launch access nearby.
When is the best time to visit Stone Lake Beach?
Summer, corresponding to the Memorial Day weekend through La Porte Community School Corporation summer break lifeguard season.
What are the rules at Stone Lake Beach?
Lifeguards are on duty 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend and then daily throughout the La Porte Community School Corporation's summer vacation (some exceptions apply). The lake is tested for water quality on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Beach Alert program; an advisory is posted if E. coli exceeds Indiana's Recreational Water Quality Standard of 235 cfu/100ml.
