Keewahdin Beach
Port Huron, Michigan · on Lake Huron
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Keewahdin Beach
Keewahdin Beach is a public, township-owned sand-and-pebble beach on Lake Huron in Fort Gratiot Township, just north of Port Huron, Michigan. Established in 1899, it is the oldest park in the township and remains an active, officially monitored swimming hole today, one of the longest-serving places to swim on this stretch of Lake Huron. It has no lifeguard, so swimmers are on their own for safety.
The beach sits on the Lake Huron shoreline in Michigan's Thumb region, described by a visiting travel writer as transitioning from suburban surroundings into a more serene, natural setting. The shore is coarser sand mixed with pebbles and beach glass rather than powdery sand, bordered by dune grasses, wild beach roses, and seasonal wildflowers, with a small concrete pier extending into the lake.
Swimming at Keewahdin Beach
Swimming is in the open water of Lake Huron off a gradually sloping sandy/pebbly shore, described as suitable for both waders and swimmers, including children, with crystalline water that is cool in early summer and warmest in July-August. There is no lifeguard on duty, so it is a self-supervised swim.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is reached via Keewahdin Road off Gratiot Avenue in Fort Gratiot Township, just north of Port Huron; a small, modestly signed parking area leads via sandy paths directly to the beach.
Parking: A modest, unassuming on-site parking area at the beach entrance; Fort Gratiot Township also notes limited street parking nearby.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up beach; the on-site parking area connects to the shoreline via short sandy paths with no formal trail or hike involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Gradual sandy/pebbly drop-off is described as suited to both waders and swimmers, including toddlers and teens, but there is no lifeguard on duty (posted 'swim at your own risk'), and St. Clair County Health Department has issued E. coli swimming advisories here in the past (e.g., May 2024). Fine for kids with active adult supervision.
Parking
Lot
Modest, unassuming on-site parking area at the beach entrance off Keewahdin Road; township page notes some limited additional street parking nearby. No parking fee is mentioned on the official township page or elsewhere, but this was not explicitly confirmed as free.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are present at the park; a visiting travel writer described them as 'clean restrooms.' Fort Gratiot Township's own park page does not specify whether they are flush or vault-style.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
One first-hand visitor account describes 'crystalline water' with visibility 'straight to the bottom, where rippled sand and the occasional darting minnow create a natural aquarium.' This is a single account with a promotional tone, not independently corroborated by a second visitor report, so it is treated as directionally reliable rather than fully verified.
Hours
6 AM to 10 PM daily (per Fort Gratiot Charter Township park page)
On the water
No official watercraft policy for the beach itself was found, it is managed and signed as a swimming beach with a small fishing/swimming pier, not a boat launch, and a first-hand account specifically notes the absence of on-site rental stands or personal watercraft like jet skis. Boaters (freighters, sailboats, fishing boats) are visible passing offshore on Lake Huron, but no rules on hand-carried kayak/canoe/SUP launching from the beach were published by the township.
Rentals nearby
Self-service kayak rentals (app/QR-code access), paddles and life vests included
Prices: $25 for under 2 hours; $40 for under 4 hours; GO Membership $50/day or $60/week; summer promo $99 unlimited kayak/SUP annual membership
3055 N River Rd, Fort Gratiot, MI 48059 (on the St. Clair River, roughly 3-4 miles from Keewahdin Beach) · Every day, sunup to sundown
Self-service single kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, paddles and life vests included
Prices: $25 for first 2 hours then $5 per additional 30 minutes; 6-month season pass $50 with first 2 hours free
231 Erie St, Port Huron, MI 48060 (Black River/St. Clair River waterfront, a few miles south of Keewahdin Beach) · Every day, sunup to sundown
Staffed single kayak, tandem kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals; gear and safety briefing included
Prices: Single kayak $20/hr, $35/2hrs, $50/4hrs; tandem kayak $30/hr, $50/2hrs, $80/4hrs; SUP $20/hr, $35/2hrs, +$25/additional hour
CAN Marina, 1913 Riverside Drive, Port Huron, MI 48060 (on the Black River, roughly 4-5 miles from Keewahdin Beach) · Wed-Fri 4pm-6pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-6pm
Backstory
Established in 1899, Keewahdin Beach is the oldest park in Fort Gratiot Township. The name may derive from an Ojibwe word meaning roughly 'up north.'
Keewahdin Beach: FAQ
Is Keewahdin Beach kid friendly?
Gradual sandy/pebbly drop-off is described as suited to both waders and swimmers, including toddlers and teens, but there is no lifeguard on duty (posted 'swim at your own risk'), and St. Clair County Health Department has issued E. coli swimming advisories here in the past (e.g., May 2024). Fine for kids with active adult supervision.
Do I need to hike to reach Keewahdin Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Keewahdin Beach?
Modest, unassuming on-site parking area at the beach entrance off Keewahdin Road; township page notes some limited additional street parking nearby. No parking fee is mentioned on the official township page or elsewhere, but this was not explicitly confirmed as free.
When is the best time to visit Keewahdin Beach?
Summer (July-August) for the warmest, most comfortable swimming; water is described as bracing in early summer and holding warmth into September.
What are the rules at Keewahdin Beach?
Beach hours are 6 AM to 10 PM daily. No lifeguard is on duty (swim at your own risk). Fires and fireworks, pets/dogs, alcohol, and smoking are all prohibited. St. Clair County Health Department has issued swimming advisories in the past (e.g., May 2024) when E. coli levels were elevated.
What water body is Keewahdin Beach on?
Keewahdin Beach is on Lake Huron, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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