Friendly Valley Beach
Washburn, Wisconsin · on Lake Superior · South Shore of Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area - Sioux River Unit
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Friendly Valley Beach
Friendly Valley Beach is a public sand beach on Lake Superior along Wisconsin Highway 13 between Washburn and Bayfield, Wisconsin, within Bayfield County, and one of the region's recognized places to swim. It is officially monitored for water quality by Bayfield County as 'Sioux River South (Friendly Valley Beach)' and listed on Wisconsin DNR's statewide beach list, confirming it as a recognized public swimming beach rather than an informal, undocumented swimming hole.
The beach sits on the Chequamegon Bay/Lake Superior shoreline of the Bayfield Peninsula, part of a long, continuous stretch of sandy lakeshore near the Sioux River area between the towns of Washburn and Bayfield. Sources describe views out toward Madeline Island and Long Island, and note the setting is relatively undeveloped and quieter than the more visited beaches closer to the City of Bayfield.
Swimming at Friendly Valley Beach
Swimming here is in open Lake Superior water off a long sandy beach. Multiple sources describe the water as shallow for a considerable distance from shore, allowing extended wading, and as running warmer and calmer than neighboring beaches, making it a family-friendly swim spot. There is no lifeguard on duty.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Washburn, follow Wisconsin Highway 13 north toward Bayfield and turn onto Friendly Valley Road; the beach is accessed directly off this road, with the developed address given as roughly 33245 Friendly Valley Rd, Washburn, WI 54891.
Parking: Free informal roadside/street parking along Friendly Valley Road near the beach entrance; no dedicated parking lot is described in sources.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up/roadside beach off Friendly Valley Road (just off WI-13 between Washburn and Bayfield), no trail or hike is needed. Parking is essentially at the sand, so it's a walk of well under a couple of minutes from car to water, not a hike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Water stays shallow for a long stretch offshore, allowing extended wading, and multiple sources describe it as warmer and shallower than neighboring Bayfield-area beaches, which is why it's marketed as a family spot. However there is no lifeguard on duty, no restrooms or other amenities on site, and Lake Superior can turn cold/choppy quickly, so young kids need active supervision rather than being a fully hands-off drive-up beach.
Parking
Free
No dedicated parking lot; visitors park along the shoulder of Friendly Valley Road just off Highway 13, then walk directly onto the beach. Access is essentially at the roadside, so the walk from a parked car to the water is minimal (well under a couple minutes).
Restrooms
None on site
Multiple sources (Sandee, Swim Guide) agree there are no restrooms, showers, or picnic facilities on site; it's described as a natural, unimproved beach access.
On the water
There is no boat ramp or developed launch here, access for any watercraft would be carry-in from the sand beach/roadside pullout. The site turns up as a listed put-in on generic paddling directories (Paddling.com's put-in database, plus aggregator sites PaddlePal and 'Board and Kayak'), but those listings are boilerplate ('find launch points, amenities, directions') rather than a firsthand description of this specific spot, and the actual Paddling.com page could not be loaded directly (403/paywall at the time of research). Treat this as weak evidence of informal carry-in kayak/canoe/SUP access rather than a confirmed, developed launch. No source mentions motorized boats or jet skis at this beach, and open Lake Superior conditions here can get rough/windy, which matters more for small paddlecraft than a sheltered inland lake.
Rentals nearby
Single and tandem kayak rentals (self-guided, sized for Meyers Beach access) plus guided sea-cave kayak tours (Houghton Point, Chequamegon Bay, night paddle, Romans Point, Meyers Beach)
Prices: Guided tours from $78-$105/person depending on route/length; specific self-serve rental rates not published on the page found
888 East Loop Road, Washburn, WI 54891, in Washburn, the same town as the beach, making it the closest outfitter found
Self-guided single kayak rentals for 1-7 days, all ages/skill levels, with island recommendations by paddling ability
Prices: "Call for pricing", no rates published on the page
117 S 1st St, Bayfield, WI 54814, in downtown Bayfield, roughly 8 miles north of the beach via Highway 13
Single and tandem fiberglass sea kayak rentals (full safety package: paddle, life jacket, wetsuit, spray skirt, pump), plus stand-up paddleboard rentals
Prices: $70/24hr single kayak, $130/24hr tandem kayak; late-return fees $40 (single) / $90 (tandem) for up to 8 extra hours; SUP pricing not published
22475 Hwy 13, Cornucopia, WI 54827, roughly 20+ miles north of the beach via Highway 13, farther than the other two but a well-known regional outfitter · Mid-May-June 11: 9am-3pm; June 12-Sept 7: 8am-5pm; Sept 8-14: 9am-3pm
Friendly Valley Beach: FAQ
Does Friendly Valley Beach charge a fee?
No fee mentioned in any source; access appears free and open to the public.
Is Friendly Valley Beach kid friendly?
Water stays shallow for a long stretch offshore, allowing extended wading, and multiple sources describe it as warmer and shallower than neighboring Bayfield-area beaches, which is why it's marketed as a family spot. However there is no lifeguard on duty, no restrooms or other amenities on site, and Lake Superior can turn cold/choppy quickly, so young kids need active supervision rather than being a fully hands-off drive-up beach.
Do I need to hike to reach Friendly Valley Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Friendly Valley Beach?
No dedicated parking lot; visitors park along the shoulder of Friendly Valley Road just off Highway 13, then walk directly onto the beach. Access is essentially at the roadside, so the walk from a parked car to the water is minimal (well under a couple minutes).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Friendly Valley Beach?
There is no boat ramp or developed launch here, access for any watercraft would be carry-in from the sand beach/roadside pullout. The site turns up as a listed put-in on generic paddling directories (Paddling.com's put-in database, plus aggregator sites PaddlePal and 'Board and Kayak'), but those listings are boilerplate ('find launch points, amenities, directions') rather than a firsthand description of this specific spot, and the actual Paddling.com page could not be loaded directly (403/paywall at the time of research). Treat this as weak evidence of informal carry-in kayak/canoe/SUP access rather than a confirmed, developed launch. No source mentions motorized boats or jet skis at this beach, and open Lake Superior conditions here can get rough/windy, which matters more for small paddlecraft than a sheltered inland lake.
When is the best time to visit Friendly Valley Beach?
Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), which aligns with the county's official beach-monitoring season for this site.
What are the rules at Friendly Valley Beach?
No lifeguard is on duty (swim at your own risk per Sandee). Bayfield County samples the beach for bacteria/water quality at least once (and per the county's monitoring page, twice) weekly during the Memorial Day-Labor Day season, with results reported via the Wisconsin DNR Beach Advisory Map; no other posted rules were found in sourced material.
What water body is Friendly Valley Beach on?
Friendly Valley Beach is on Lake Superior, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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