Bennett Beach
Angola, New York · on Big Sister Creek · Bennett Beach
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Bennett Beach
Bennett Beach is an Erie County-operated public swimming beach on Lake Erie in the Town of Evans, near Angola, New York. It offers lifeguard-supervised swimming during summer months along with picnicking, fishing, and hiking trails, and is described locally as one of the most scenic beaches in Erie County.
The beach sits directly on the Lake Erie shoreline west of Evans Center, with protected dune areas visitors are asked to stay out of. Erie County's park page and the Visit Buffalo Niagara tourism listing both highlight the beach's open lake views and sunsets, and note wildlife (waterfowl, deer, fish) in the surrounding park.
Swimming at Bennett Beach
This is a designated, lifeguard-supervised Great Lakes swimming beach (open water swimming in Lake Erie, not a river/creek swimming hole), with swim hours of 12pm-7pm during the season and daily water testing before swimming is allowed. Floatation devices, kayaks, and life jackets are not permitted on the beach per posted rules, and the county actively opens/closes swimming day-to-day depending on conditions.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 8276 Old Lake Shore Rd, Angola, NY 14006, on the Lake Erie shoreline in the Town of Evans, west of Evans Center.
Parking: On-site main parking lot at the park, with an overflow lot across the street, per the official Erie County park page.
The hike in
Bennett Beach Trail
- Time on foot
- Swim spot: a few minutes' walk from the parking lot. Full loop trail (optional, not required for swimming): ~41 minutes.
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: Starts at the Bennett Beach parking lot; from I-90 take exit 57A to Eden Evans Center Rd and head west about 3.6 miles to reach the lot.
A separate 2.3-mile out-and-back trail exists at the park (rated easy, ~41 min), but it is a walking/running path through the park/dunes area, not a required approach route to the beach itself, the swimming area is reached directly from the parking lot with only a short walk.
No hike is required to reach the water; the beach is a short walk from the on-site parking lot. Erie County's own park pages list 'hiking trails' as an on-site amenity separate from the beach, for visitors who want to explore further, but swimming access itself is drive-up.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Erie County describes Bennett Beach as having 'a family atmosphere that everyone can enjoy,' and it is a lifeguard-supervised beach (12pm-7pm during summer season) with daily water testing before swimming is allowed, which supports family use. As Lake Erie open water it can have waves and changing conditions, so watch small children at the shoreline; the county prohibits floatation devices (tubes, life jackets, kayaks) on the swimming beach itself.
Parking
Free
On-site main parking lot at the park with an overflow lot across the street; main lot gates lock at 7:30pm, with a note to use the overflow lot after that time. No admission or parking fee is listed on the official Erie County park pages.
Restrooms
Yes
A comfort station is located at the parking area, per a hiking-trail summary drawing on Erie County information; not independently confirmed on the official Erie County park pages, which do not itemize restroom facilities.
Hours
Summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day): 7am-9pm, gates close 7:30pm. Winter (Labor Day-Memorial Day): 7am-dusk, no lifeguards/swimming. Lifeguarded swimming window is 12pm-7pm during the summer season only, and is further gated day-to-day by Erie County's daily water testing/status board.
On the water
Restrictions: Floatation devices, explicitly including kayaks, tubes, rafts, and life jackets, are prohibited on the designated swimming beach itself per Erie County park rules. This does not necessarily rule out kayaking/paddling from other points along the park's Lake Erie shoreline outside the guarded swim area, but no official carry-in launch or watercraft policy for the broader park was found.
Because the swim beach explicitly bans floatation devices, this is not a paddling put-in in the way other listed swimming holes are; treat it as a swim-only designated beach.
Rentals nearby
Kayak, tandem kayak, and paddleboard rentals (hourly, half-day, full-day, and weekly rates), with free delivery to several Lake Erie access points in the area
Prices: $30/hr; $60 half-day (2-4 hrs); $80 full-day (5-24 hrs); +$20 surcharge for tandem kayak
8140 Lake Shore Rd, Angola, NY 14006, about 0.5 mile from Bennett Beach (8276 Old Lake Shore Rd), same stretch of Lake Erie shoreline in Angola · 11am-6pm, June-September (off-hours reservations available)
Bennett Beach: FAQ
Does Bennett Beach charge a fee?
No admission fee is listed on the official Erie County park pages; parking is on-site.
Is Bennett Beach kid friendly?
Erie County describes Bennett Beach as having 'a family atmosphere that everyone can enjoy,' and it is a lifeguard-supervised beach (12pm-7pm during summer season) with daily water testing before swimming is allowed, which supports family use. As Lake Erie open water it can have waves and changing conditions, so watch small children at the shoreline; the county prohibits floatation devices (tubes, life jackets, kayaks) on the swimming beach itself.
Do I need to hike to reach Bennett Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Bennett Beach?
On-site main parking lot at the park with an overflow lot across the street; main lot gates lock at 7:30pm, with a note to use the overflow lot after that time. No admission or parking fee is listed on the official Erie County park pages.
When is the best time to visit Bennett Beach?
Summer, Memorial Day through Labor Day (park summer hours 7am-9pm, gates close 7:30pm); lifeguarded swimming is specifically 12pm-7pm during this season. Winter hours (Labor Day-Memorial Day) are 7am-dusk with no lifeguards/swimming.
What are the rules at Bennett Beach?
Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty and water testing has confirmed conditions are safe (12pm-7pm during summer season); no alcohol or glass containers, no fires or cooking on the beach, no pets on the beach, no floatation devices (tubes, kayaks, life jackets), and visitors must stay out of protected dune areas.
What water body is Bennett Beach on?
Bennett Beach is on Big Sister Creek, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
