Keep cool at Lake George public beaches

Even here in the Adirondacks, summer heat gets brutal when an unrelenting sun is burning overhead; some days, the humidity is so thick it obscures the peak of Prospect Mountain. Nothing can relieve a feverish body and revive a weary soul better than a deep plunge into the cool waters of Lake George. Sandy beaches on the southern end of the Lake give the public access to these cooling waters.

Lake George Beach (Million Dollar Beach)

On a rainy day in September of 1949 Governor Thomas E. Dewey overturned a shovelful of earth and dedicated the state beach on Beach Road calling it a sound capital investment which will pay dividends for years to come. The tremendous cost of hauling in sand to create the beach earned it the name Million Dollar Beach. Million Dollar Beach features a bath house (built in 1988 at a cost of over $3.5 million), a concession stand for food and drinks, a dining terrace and over a million dollars worth of sand. Lifeguards are on duty during operating hours.

The beach is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Admission to the beach is free; full-day parking in the adjoining parking lot is $10 for cars ($6 after 5 p.m.) New York State residents who are age 62 or older may park for free on non-holiday weekdays under the NYS Golden Park program. The beach is open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Shepard Park Beach

Located on Canada Street, this beach is operated by the Village of Lake George. It features rest rooms, lifeguards, a pier, and a small playground. Beverages are available from vending machines. The beach is along the Lakefront Walkway where several restaurants with outdoor patios offer food and drinks. The beach is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Admission to the beach is free; metered parking is available on the street.

Delong – Usher Beach

Usher Park Beach is located on Route 9L (East Shore Drive) approximately 300 feet north of the intersection with Beach Road. A winding path through the picnic grounds of Usher Park leads to this stretch of sand that features lifeguards and bathrooms. Usher Park, operated by the Town of Lake George, has a large playground, picnic tables, pavilions and Barbeque pits. The beach is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Parking is free.

The “Dog Beach”

This strip of sand between the Lake George Steamboat Company and Million Dollar Beach on Beach Road is not an official beach – swimming and wading by humans is prohibited – but dogs are allowed, hence its unofficial name. The property is owned by the state and it has become a favorite spot along the lake for taking Fido for a walk in the sand. The Dog Cabin, a shop on Beach Road, has adopted the Dog Beach, keeping it clean and safe for man’s best friend.