Taking the 303 steps to the top will reward you with an amazing view of Saugatuck and the Kalamazoo River! Along the climb there are several areas with benches to rest. As a bonus, when we stopped about halfway up we saw a couple of deer. The climb was not as difficult as we thought it would be. Keep in mind that there is very limited parking. You may want to consider taking the ferry from Saugatuck. read more

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303 gang, rise up! That's for all those who make it up the 303 steps to get great views of the Kalamazoo river. My five year old made it, so I hope you can too. It's just steps away from the chainferry, so if you're in downtown Saugatuck, a lot of people will chainferry it over and explore this park. We had a beautiful weather day that was just chilly enough to now want to park at the beach. This ended up being a ton of fun because we could essentially hike up a dune, make our way to Oval Beach and get the unique experience of nature here. The steps are not as crazy as I'm making it out to be, and there are nice little rest benches as you go, if needed. Bonus, there are so few if any mosquitoes here. We didn't really know what to do after we got to the top. We ended up just letting whatever sounded fun happen, which ended with us dunking feet in the waters at Oval Beach. *Important tip! If you do this, do NOT head back up the same dune you come down to return to town. It's a steep, hot, sandy dune that will zap all your energy. Instead, take the "John Woolam Trail" as you come out of Oval Beach for a nice, flatter, solid, wooded experience. read more

I love how they make 303 stairs sound like a scary and steep ascent worthy of celebration, but you better believe that we leaned right into that and decemated them in under 151 steps! Seriously, this is a great little climb to the top with some amazing payoff views overlooking Saugatuck/Douglas and the Kalamazoo river and everything beyond. I did it with my 8 year old, going every other step, and my 70+ yr old father, who took it a little slower but got there just behind us. From the top you have two choices, stairs down OR run the dunes down to Oval Beach, and we chose the latter. Running down sand dunes is a blast and I encourage anyone able bodied enough to try to go for it. There was a QR at the top that took you to a cute page of stickers and swag you can buy to recall your accomplishment, but you can get a lot of it in the museum at the bottom of the stairs as well. The parking area is ample and there are also two very clean bathrooms there you can use. The museum shares the history of the area and is free to visit. The park also has a large picnic pavilion and it looked like there may be a dock behind the museum that was accessible as well. Great experience! read more

Loved climbing Mount Baldhead. If I lived close by I would climb this all the time for exercise - it really got my heart rate going and I climbed it all in one shot w no breaks. Great views at the top!! We walked down the sand on the backside - and met 2 women that were walking back up the sand for exercise. read more

Entry for non residents day is $15.00. It was totally worth it. Very clean. Softest sand. Very clear water. Can walk a loooong way. Water not too cold in June. Certainly warmer than the Atlantic in Rhode Island. I would love to live near there and go all the time. Good for little kids as there were no waves. Not sure if it gets wavy as I'm not used to lakes like this. read more

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Mount Baldhead Park is connect to Oval Beach. If you want to go to Oval Beach, there are other paths too 303 wooden steps up 250 feet to the top of the Mt. Baldhead dune. Very challenging indeed especially in the summer. There are some shades along the staircase and breakpoint. Once you get on top to the observation platform, you can get a nice view of the Kalamazoo river bend. Come here early because parking lot is small. After lunch, people swamp in and police have to close the street. read more

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Free activity that is an amazing workout. 600 or so steps round trip. Stop at the museum/store to learn about the history of the area. read more

Mount Baldhead Park - Parks Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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Mount Baldhead in relation to Oval Beach is what, in neighboring Holland, Mount Pisgah is to Ottawa Beach. For the uninitated, that means that inland from the beautiful beaches are very large mounds formed from the same drifting sand, high enough that the stairways to the top are a challenging workout for weekend warriors. Parking at the bottom was pretty good, but the restrooms were a nasty mess. But the view at the top was beautiful. read more

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Good news! You can climb a mountain in Michigan! Ok, it's not REALLY a mountain, but it is a 600 foot ascent up the dunes of Saugatuck, topped by a big white globe that is a remnant of the Cold War Era (aka-a Soviet detecting radar), We've done the climb up the 300 stairs to the top multiple times, as recently as this past week. It does look like the steps have been replaced and repaired since the last time we were there, which is great. They're very sturdy and well built. And best of all, if you're like me and have spent your pandemic lockdown on the couch, you'll find lots of seating on the way up to catch your breath. Hah. The steps are surrounded by the beautiful woods. On our recent climb up I heard a stick crack and saw an adorable deer staring right at me. I watched her look for a snack for a little bit and kept climbing. Squirrels and other critters also abound. But that also means it's a tick breeding ground so bring your bug spray. At the top you have a beautiful view of the Kalamazoo River, all of downtown Saugatuck, and, turning west, a trail down the dune will take you straight to Lake Michigan. We used to do the climb up, the hike down, then spend the afternoon on the beach, but there isn't much beach left these days as the rising water levels have drowned the sandy beach and has even begun to erode the dunes once again. But it's not a far stroll to Oval beach which still has ample area for relaxing. read more

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The 303 stairs lead to a beautiful view (see pics) and there are well-placed platforms for rest along the way. But the "1 mile walking trail" is just a trail of sand down the other side of the hill - not really suitable for hiking. read more

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Great place for some exercise and great views. You will have to walk up 302 steps, but it isn't too strenuous. You can take breaks and even sit before you get going again. The views on both sides are beautiful. Once you're up there and if you want to go further, it will get sandy. Parking is available on site, but limited read more

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I will say it's a good workout! Not sure what folks expect to see when they get to the top. If you have a bad knees don't bother but you need exercise go for it. I wasn't impressed with the viewing point either. The restrooms at the entrance are basic and not bad for a park. read more

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Nice little park offering incredible views of downtown Saugatuck and the harbor. Quite the hike up several steps but definitely worth the view at the top. Parking was convenient and practically right at the start of the steps. If your the adventurous type it's definitely worth your time to check out. They have several side bump outs with seating for rest stops along the way up. Would definitely visit again when in town. read more

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This is the ultimate training for a camp gladiator or if you want to do a serious cardio workout. 300 steps to the top. Bring a partner. This is intense. There are seats off to the side where you can rest. Be careful if its warm out. Bring powerade or water. The reward is at the top as the views of Saugatuck are beautiful. Take pictures. Once at the top, keep going down the sandy hill 1,500 feet toward Lake Michigan to enjoy the beautiful Oval Beach. The climb back up the hill is harder than the stairs, do it with bare feet. Have fun. read more

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The view is not worth the effort. Maybe I missed something but the only thing I saw was a limited view of the river. Was expecting a view of Lake Michigan but didn't find one at the top. Not sure what all the excitement is for this place. read more

Mount Baldhead was soo pretty. We went in early November and the fall foilage was still in full effect. The stairs are pretty long so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. As far as I could see the stairs were the only way to get to the top to see the view. They were long and steep. Luckily, there are benches scattered throughout if you want to take a photo break or just rest your legs. Once you got to the top, you were greeted with the most amazing view of the fall foliage. It was breathtaking looking at the beautiful colors of the trees. It was a little chilly when we went, so we weren't able to enjoy the hike down as much as we may in the summer. The trees were dense, which makes it hard to see in front of you and can be easy to get lost if you venture off the path. However, when you stick to the path, it will lead you to a beach. In fall the beach was empty, but still pretty. The hike back up was difficult since you are walking through sand rather than dirt, but it was doable. I would do the hike down to the beach in summer, but definitely walk up the stairs to get the beautiful view in the fall, it was a one of a kind view. read more

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I would recommend stopping by and climbing up the stairs. It is a steep climb up and will give you a great workout for the weekend - you'll feel the burn in your quads and calves. (If you have bad knees or ankles, I would skip it and just drive down to Oval Beach). There are benches to rest on if you get winded, which I totally did. Once you get to the top, you can get a really nice view. There is a sandy path that leads down to Oval Beach on the opposite side, but you may not want to walk back up (it'll probably take twice as long since it's basically a huge sand dune). read more

This was amazing according to my son who climbed the 300 steep steps to see a pretty view of the Saugatuck/ Douglas riverfront. There are benches to rest in between flights which helps those with challenges. I couldnt personally get past about 50 steps due to a knee sprain. read more

The park and town of Saugatuck both are pretty amazing, beautiful and lively. The main attractions are stairs up to the top; 302 steps to be precisely and then a sandy way to the bottom on the other way which leads to the oval beach. Views from top are beautiful and breathtaking. You can see whole town up there . Trekking up there are some benches on the sides of stairs every 20 steps, so you can catch up your breath. On the bottom of steps opposite side is a museum and shore of the lake to relax and enjoy the view and boats. So we enjoyed every parts. Except a few, like the parking is not sufficient, it's a dead end ahead as well so be prepared to circle around or not finding any spots at all. There are not a lot of business parking where you can park and walk up to. Secondly, the park has been found to have ticks that causes Lyme disease, so be prepared with sprays and full clothing. I was devastated as no warning signs were up on the sites, while there was a sign that we found on the bottom. Be prepared! read more

Grueling climb to the top of the stairs - someone said it was 322 steps; felt more like 500. Even as a non-smoker it made me feel like my lungs were shot and needed some exercise - no need to fear there is plenty of opportunities to rest along the way up/down on the stair bench nooks..Thank you thank you!!! !! There is a beautiful lookout of the marina and then an optional and fun walk down an estimated 1/4-1/2mi stretch of sand to the beach. So if your interest in a nice view and a short kick in then butt climb garnished with a beautiful rest at the beach, this place is for you! Definitely a place worth checking out! read more

Excellent work out. Harder than I thought but so glad I took the time to get to the top! A real outdoor gem!

302 stairs for a view of Saugatuck. Quite a climb but worth it for some nice views. Little to no parking available.