The water is just like any water on Lake Michigan. It can go from crazy and super narly overhead on a northeast gale to flat calm glassy water on a SSW wind. Sometimes after it rains the water will smell bad from Milwaukees so called water treatment plant that dumps shit in the lake but just wear a wetsuit and you whould be fine. Up by the north jettie its very shallow for a long way out but be careful since on the Zion end of the north buoy theres a nasty rip current so stay away.
The widest beach in the area. It is very wide and long and a great kiting beach (sand too loose for land kiting unless it just rained). There is a little creek that you have to walk across to get to the beach but once you are there its worth it. The beach has a few people in the dead of summer but is never really crowded unless it is a holiday. And in the off season it is only kiters.
SW wind is ridable but gusty and SSW wind is pretty clean for the most part but is cleanest on the most south end of the beach. SSW can bring some calm water. East is strait onshore and can be tough to get out of the surf go to Montrose on an East. North is side shore but gusty and NNE is cleaner but still a little gusty. If it is North or NNE just go to Zion.
Take I294/94 North almost to Great America. You will exit Route 120 heading East. Route 137 is the exit just before 120 so watch for 120 after you pass Route 137. You will take Route 120 East until it dead ends at the beach. You will see the water from the deadend. You can go only left or right, turn left and drive North on Pershing Road. You will go through a stop sign. At the second stop sign (just before going up a big ramp) make a right on E Clayton St over the train tracks. Take your first left even though it says deadend (E Sea Horse Dr). You will be going through a boat-yard. It will hook around to the right to head East to the beach and end at a stop sign. Make a right at the stop sign and go left into the parking lot. Park at the North end - so you will do a U-turn. Walk your gear to the beach along the sandy path which is about 200 yards. This is the Northern-most area of the beach, away from the main bathing area.
