Montrose Beach Dunes (in Lincoln Park)

At the eastern end of Montrose Beach, Chicago’s largest public beach, is 11 acres of dedicated natural habitat referred to as Montrose Beach Dunes. When the Chicago Park District stopped grooming a small segment of this manmade beach, dunes began to naturally form at this location. Now Montrose Beach Dunes contains foredune and globally-imperiled panne habitat, supports state-listed and locally-rare plant species, and over 150 bird species, including the federally endangered Piping Plover. In 2005 the Dunes were designated an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) Site by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Heritage. Also in 2007, the National Audubon Society designed the Chicago lakefront as an Important Bird Area.

Continue to watch Montrose Beach Dunes as nature returns to Chicago’s shoreline.