Absolutely stunning. This park is another reminder of why we need to invest time, energy, and funds…read moreinto our natural resources. I could spend all day here wandering the trails and walking the beach. I plan to reserve a campsite in their beautiful campground sometime this summer.

Definitely worth the drive to see lake Michigan and the Sand dunes. There is a beautiful boardwalks…read morenext to the visitor center that you can take directly to the dunes. It's a wooden walkway, with a ton of shade from the trees, that takes you through the forest directly to the dunes. The visitor center was closed for remodel when we were there so we could not go inside to enjoy the displays on this trip so I am looking forward to the upgrades.

This is a hidden gem for nature lovers. A fairly new park that conserves nature and lets one…read moreenjoy the beauty of the untouched outdoors. There are a variety of hiking trails, some are a bit rugged and some trails aren't marked very well. But that is the beauty of this park. It is a great way to get away from the noise and commercialization of downtown Grand Haven. It is so quiet too. Except for some distant industrial noise, you will only hear the sound of nature. This is not a place you would want to bring a group of screaming kids....there is no playground, no swing set. You don't throw a frisbee or football around and there is no baseball diamond or picnic table. Go directly across the street to Coast Guard Park if you want to grill a hamburger or let the dog run loose or let kids run around. There is no camping or fishing here either. If you want that activity, go over the Grand Haven State Park. Swimming is not allowed either, but go down the road to the beach if that is your thing. But if you want to get away from the noise, the rowdy campers, the money-grab you will find near the Musical Fountain....this is your peaceful and pristine oasis. I just hope that it doesn't become commercialized like so many other parks in this county have.

We've been on the hunt for some dog-friendly activities in West Michigan, and our time at Kirk Park…read morewas everything we hoped for! The dog beach is about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot, and the trail is very well marked. The weather was great, so there were lots of dogs there enjoying the water. There are changing facilities and restrooms available near the parking lot, but not on the beach, so keep that in mind. We're looking forward to enjoying the water with our golden retriever again soon!

Dog-friendly section of beach? Check Sand dune trails? Check…read moreWell-maintained bathroom facilities? Check Beautiful views of Lake Michigan both high and low? Check This is *the* beach spot for you and your canine.

Beautiful beach! We…read morecame on a windy May weekend to explore. Parking was easy and we were able to walk down the beach to the pier with the lighthouse. We passed several bathrooms along the way. Plus a campground right on the beach.

Nothing but good vibes and experience at Grand Haven State Park. Yes there are large multiple…read moreparking lots that are able to hold a ton of people so on a nice day expect this place to be PACKED. You get in with a park pass or you pay the entrance fee. We have the park pass on our license plate so access was a breeze. There are restrooms, RV camp sites and handicap Mats from the parking lot to the beach. Love the walks on the pier to watch the boats come in or the sunset. Always a good time. Plus the surrounding area has small shops and restaurants so you can make it a day.

Pere Marquette offers exceptional access to beautiful Lake Michigan, one the world's natural…read moretreasures. There is ample paid parking. Weekend day rates are $15. There is a snack stand, offering ice cream, nachos, and other treats, as well as beach equipment rentals. The sand is soft and visitors will enjoy spreading out on the expansive beach. The water is clear and features a sandy bottom. Just north of the snack stand is The Deck, the preeminent dining establishment in this area of Muskegon. The establishment features al fresco dining and stunning views of Lake Michigan. There are swings and other fun view points. If you're in Mitten, Pere Marquette is worth the drive. You simply cannot beat Lake Michigan's splendor.

Beautiful beach, wasn't super busy when we went. A lot of families, great for hanging out in the…read morewater. We got there at 11am everyday and were able to get a spot right by the water. Also the deck is a walk away and has great food & drinks.

I spent a lot of quality time at Windsnest this summer, mainly for the overall convenience. Beach…read moreaccess is the easiest in the area, and note that you'll have to use stairs. There is a fee of $8/day, and there are options for a county park pass for $25/year, totally worth it if you're local or planning to stay for several days. This was my Monday-Thursday beach because the weekends were bananas with crowds/parking woes, even in the evenings. If the lot is full, there are signs that designate where folx can park along the road. However, once that is filled up, I don't recommend parking beyond the bounds. I witnessed the local county sheriff issuing parking tickets more than once. Outside of the glorious beach and Lake Michigan swimming, Windsnest has well-kept bathrooms, rinsing station, and a playground. This is definitely a popular spot for families.

Super clean bathrooms, easy parking, secluded, cute playset. Loved the whole experience.read more

Best place to catch the Michigan sand dunes for the first time. This seems to be an uncommon vista…read moreto get some sand and sun--not too many other people were here. Good for a quick peak at Lake Michigan's sunset or to spend the day on the beach. Be prepared to hike some sandy stairs! I ended up slipping off my shoes and just walked up them barefoot.

Very small beach. The day we went many people made the trek and didn't get in the water because…read morethey thought it was to cold. Family after family came down and just sat there getting eaten by flies....did I mention the flies? Good lord if you weren't in the water be prepared to leave with welts. Good thing for me I like cold water and it felt great! If you are not in good physical shape probably don't come here. These pictures don't show the actual situation. It is very steep! The stairs are covered with sand and there are A LOT of them. What goes down, in this situation must go back up!

Wow what a hidden Gem. Hidden away between Muskegon and Whitehall. You pull into a nice ordinary…read morepark. Then there is a nice boardwalk path that leads to a beach area along side a Duck Lake. A very nice view in itself. Then the boardwalk travels on, then goes under a bridge and next to a sand dune, then Bam! The lake and path funnel into Lake Michigan and the path onto an amazing beach. I had no idea this beautiful public beach was here. The views are outstanding and the sand is pristine. We took the dog, yes on a leash, for a walk of the beach and had a great time. Overall an easy 5 star review. Would I return? Absolutely! A must stop.

This looks to be an awesome and somewhat hidden state park nestled between Lake Michigan and the…read morenorthern shore of Duck Lake. Nice trails with a long paved pathway from the lake front to deep in the woods for wheelchair users. By the bridge and outlet of Duck Lake, this place reminded me of Big Sur California but on a smaller scale. The sunset here was stunning but that's Lake Michigan for you!

This is the second time I've been kayaking at this location and really like it. The kayaks are…read moreclean and maintained, the staff are so kind and helpful; and the route is peaceful and enjoyable. I will def come back when in the area. Thank you for staying in business!

After debate, we chose stand up paddle baording on Spring Lake instead of off Lake Michigan's shore…read moreand are so glad we did. Lake Michigan is cold and looked windy. We wanted something more relaxing with more to look at than just water and a lake shore. Lakeshore Kayak Rental gave us exactly what we wanted. The water was warm, to our surprise, and the trip was so tranquil and calm, with all kinds of close up wildlife. We saw turtles within minutes of being out, there were bullfrogs, otters, blue herons, swans (with babies!) geese, ducks, and at times, you could see fish in the water. The price was great at $45 for 3 hours, the staff was friendly and very helpful in advising us where the good places to go were and gave us accurate times on how long it would take us--we were able to stick to the plan on timing while having plenty of time to stop and watch the wildlife and relax. Spring Lake paddle boarding was the highlight of our trip and is on the top of our list for next tine we come back!

Rosy Mound Natural Area's dunes, forested trails, and shoreline views were stunning!…read more Pulling in there is small parking lot, restrooms, and pay station kiosk for the $8 daily permit. The 2.2 mile trail starts at the parking lot leading you through the woods right to Lake Michigan's shoreline. The trail consist of dirt, dune, and board walk paths with a total of 360 stairs; so get those quads ready! Thankfully there are lots of shaded places to stop and rest with benches along the paths and between flights of stairs. Note to mention: This is a no pet area so keep your furry friends at home! Would definitely recommend Rosy Mound if you're up for a short hike and want to enjoy a breathtaking shoreline view or beach at the end.

Beautiful hike to the beach!…read more The trailhead starts in a parking lot, weaving through the woods. You go up stairs to a dunes overlook and you can continue to follow the trail down to the beach. The beach and the sand dunes are beautiful, especially at sunset. There are bathrooms at the beginning of the trail and near the beach.