Spring Mill Pond Beach is one of the two buoyed swim areas in Island Lake Recreation Area, a 4,000-acre state recreation area run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Green Oak Township, Livingston County, a few miles southeast of downtown Brighton. The beach is on the south shore of Spring Mill Pond, a small spring-fed pond in the western end of the park, set apart from the Huron River and the busier Kent Lake beach. The DNR describes the pond as a swimming area with a large beach, and the sand runs along the shoreline right beside the parking lot.

Enter the park from Kensington Road just south of I-96 (the park address is 6301 Kensington Road, Brighton). Past the entrance booths, turn right and follow the winding park road a little over two miles. Signs mark the turnoff for Spring Mill Pond, and there is a large lot next to the beach with a picnic shelter and restrooms. The park roads are popular with cyclists, and a paved path of about 4 miles links Island Lake with Kensington Metropark and the Huron Valley Trail, so you can also ride in.

The swim area is a buoyed section off the sand. Because springs feed the pond, the water stays cooler and clearer than the river lakes nearby, which feels good in August and bracing in June. The pond is small enough that parents can keep an eye on kids from the beach, and strong swimmers sometimes cross the whole thing. The DNR does not list lifeguards here, so plan on swimming without one. Scuba divers also use the pond for practice dives, so you may see dive flags and groups in the water. The modern restroom at Spring Mill Pond is open daily from mid-April through October.

Entry is not free. Every vehicle needs a Michigan Recreation Passport. For Michigan-registered vehicles it costs $15 a year when added at license plate renewal through the Secretary of State, and a $5 convenience fee applies if you buy it anywhere else, including at the park; there is no daily pass for Michigan plates. Out-of-state vehicles pay $12 for a day or $42 for a calendar year. Island Lake has a self-serve kiosk for passes. The park page does not post beach hours, so call the park office at 810-229-7067 if you need them.

The DNR has issued 'Do Not Eat Fish' and 'Avoid Foam' advisories for the Huron River, including Kent Lake, because of PFAS. Spring Mill Pond is a separate spring-fed pond and the advisory text does not name it, but stay out of any foam you see in the park. The pond is also a stocked trout lake: the DNR puts in large brown and rainbow trout every year, often 2 to 5 pounds, and anglers wade out from shore, so expect fishing lines off the beach early in the season. Alcohol is not allowed in the park outside rented shelters and lodging. Michigan posts beach closures and E. coli results on EGLE's BeachGuard map; check it after heavy rain.

The picnic area at the pond has tables and charcoal grills on a first-come basis, and a sand volleyball court is a few steps from the beach. The Blue mountain bike trail runs close to the pond, and the 5-mile Hickory Ridge Trail is the park's dedicated hiking path. Kent Lake beach, across the park, adds a playground, a beach house and self-serve kayak and paddleboard rentals. Two paddle-in campsites on the Huron River and two rustic bunkhouses are the only overnight options.