Second Sand Beach Park
L'Anse, Michigan · on Lake Superior · Second Sand Beach Park
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Second Sand Beach Park
Second Sand Beach Park is a Lake Superior swimming beach on Keweenaw Bay's Sand Bay, on the Pequaming peninsula in L'Anse Township, Baraga County, Michigan. It is a township-maintained day-use park with a sandy shoreline, picnic facilities, and accessible parking, located about 2 miles from the small community of Pequaming.
The beach sits on the Pequaming peninsula, a narrow point of land jutting into Keweenaw Bay that historically was described as shaped like a bear, with 'two sand beaches' forming its legs; Second Sand Beach is one of these two beaches, reached via 2nd Sand Beach Road off Pequaming Road, past the historic lumber town of Pequaming and its Ford-era water tower. The shoreline is sandy with trees along the back of the beach and some private homes/summer residences nearby.
Swimming at Second Sand Beach Park
Swimming is in the open, sheltered waters of Sand Bay on Lake Superior/Keweenaw Bay: shallow near shore and described by a first-hand visitor as cold even in late spring. Official and travel-guide sources describe it as suitable for families, with shallow water near the beach; it is a natural Great Lakes beach rather than a river or creek swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Pequaming Road, drive into Pequaming past First Sand Beach and the town's Ford-era water tower/Pequaming Point, then turn onto 2nd Sand Beach Road, which curves to the park entrance; one described route exits via Aura Road back to Pequaming Road.
Parking: Van-accessible parking is provided, with an accessible ramp/walkway out to the beach, per L'Anse Township's own tourist information page.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up beach, not a hike-in swimming hole. No trail or trailhead exists for this location.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Multiple sources (Lake Superior Circle Tour, Sandee) describe shallow, gently sloping water near shore as safe for children, and the beach is shaded with picnic tables. However, there are no lifeguards, no on-site food, and it is open Lake Superior/Keweenaw Bay water (cold, and conditions can change), so supervision is warranted rather than a flat 'yes.' One aggregator (Sandee) even flags the lack of lifeguards/restrooms/food nearby as a 'not family-friendly' caveat in the same breath it calls the water kid-safe -- treat as generally fine for careful families, not a hands-off kiddie beach.
Parking
Free
Small van-accessible parking area at the park with an accessible ramp/walkway leading directly to the beach (per L'Anse Township). Access roads (2nd Sand Beach Road/Pequaming Road) are dirt/gravel and can hold standing water after rain, per a first-hand visitor account; no fee is mentioned by any source, and there is no formal paved lot described.
Restrooms
Yes
Handicapped-accessible porta-potty at the park, per L'Anse Township's own tourist-information page. No indication of flush toilets, running water, or additional restroom buildings from any source.
Water clarity
Clear
One source describes 'crystal-clear waters,' consistent with typical Lake Superior/Keweenaw Bay clarity, but no independent first-hand account corroborates it, so treat this as a single-source, moderate-confidence claim rather than well-verified.
On the water
Sandee.com and Lake Superior Circle Tour both describe the beach as usable for paddling/kayaking/canoeing (hand-carry, launch-from-shore style). Sandee additionally claims a 'boat ramp' is available, but this is not corroborated by the official L'Anse Township page or any first-hand account, so it should be treated as unverified -- practically, expect a carry-in launch from the sand rather than a formal ramp. No official regulations (motor restrictions, no-wake zones, etc.) specific to this park were found; as open Keweenaw Bay/Lake Superior water it would fall under general Michigan boating law rather than a park-specific rule.
Rentals nearby
Kayak (single and tandem), canoe (3-person), and stand-up paddleboard rentals, plus camping gear and snowshoes.
Prices: SUP: $35/2hr, $50 daily, $75/24hr, $175/5-day, $215/7-day. Single kayak: $30/2hr, $40 daily, $57/24hr, $150/5-day, $180/7-day. Tandem kayak: $35/2hr, $65 daily, $80/24hr, $250/5-day, $320/7-day. Canoe (3-person): $45/2hr, $75 daily, $90/24hr, $280/5-day, $350/7-day. 1-hour rentals ($15-$30) available Sundays only. Delivery: free within 5 mi of their Houghton store, $15 (6-10mi), $25 (11-25mi), $35 (26-50mi).
220 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI 49931 -- roughly 35-40 miles from Second Sand Beach Park by road; within their paid delivery radius (26-50mi tier, $35) or available for pickup at the Houghton store.
Sea kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards (also mountain bikes), plus guided Lake Superior sea kayak tours.
Prices: Kayak/SUP/canoe rental prices not published online (contact for quote); comparable mountain bike rentals run $25-$100 for 2 hours and $60-$175 for a full day, given as a rough sense of the shop's pricing tier.
155 Gratiot St, Copper Harbor, MI 49918 -- roughly 90 miles from Second Sand Beach Park, well outside a casual day-trip radius but the nearest full-service paddlesports outfitter in the broader Keweenaw region. · Daily 10am-6pm (Eastern), closing an hour earlier after Labor Day; seasonal, open roughly May 22-Oct 18.
What regulars say
Little candid discussion of this specific park could be found, consistent with it being a small, lightly-trafficked township beach rather than a widely-discussed destination. The closest thing to a candid visitor account remains the first-hand trip report already captured in the prior dossier (quiet/few visitors in spring, cold water, dirt access roads with standing water after rain).
Backstory
The Pequaming peninsula was originally the site of an Ojibwe settlement (Pequaquawaming, 'the headland'), abandoned by the 1830s. Charles Hebard and Edward Thurber established a lumber operation there in 1877 for its harbor and timber access; Ford Motor Company later purchased the peninsula and town in the 1920s and ran mill operations until 1942, after which the area transitioned to recreation and summer homes.
Second Sand Beach Park: FAQ
Is Second Sand Beach Park kid friendly?
Multiple sources (Lake Superior Circle Tour, Sandee) describe shallow, gently sloping water near shore as safe for children, and the beach is shaded with picnic tables. However, there are no lifeguards, no on-site food, and it is open Lake Superior/Keweenaw Bay water (cold, and conditions can change), so supervision is warranted rather than a flat 'yes.' One aggregator (Sandee) even flags the lack of lifeguards/restrooms/food nearby as a 'not family-friendly' caveat in the same breath it calls the water kid-safe -- treat as generally fine for careful families, not a hands-off kiddie beach.
Do I need to hike to reach Second Sand Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Second Sand Beach Park?
Small van-accessible parking area at the park with an accessible ramp/walkway leading directly to the beach (per L'Anse Township). Access roads (2nd Sand Beach Road/Pequaming Road) are dirt/gravel and can hold standing water after rain, per a first-hand visitor account; no fee is mentioned by any source, and there is no formal paved lot described.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Second Sand Beach Park?
Sandee.com and Lake Superior Circle Tour both describe the beach as usable for paddling/kayaking/canoeing (hand-carry, launch-from-shore style). Sandee additionally claims a 'boat ramp' is available, but this is not corroborated by the official L'Anse Township page or any first-hand account, so it should be treated as unverified -- practically, expect a carry-in launch from the sand rather than a formal ramp. No official regulations (motor restrictions, no-wake zones, etc.) specific to this park were found; as open Keweenaw Bay/Lake Superior water it would fall under general Michigan boating law rather than a park-specific rule.
When is the best time to visit Second Sand Beach Park?
Summer for swimming; a first-hand account notes the site is also visitable (though very cold and quiet) in May.
What water body is Second Sand Beach Park on?
Second Sand Beach Park is on Lake Superior, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
