I live within a short bike-riding distance of four lakeside county parks, and Olive Shores is my…read morenumber one destination. It's also quite the worthwhile workout to get to the beach, as one has to trek over a dune (aka climb up and down a lot of stairs). Expect plenty of beach to go around, beautiful views of the lake, and burning quad muscles (but like I said, it's totally worth it).

Gorgeous park. Very clean and well maintained. I just saw a man do a late winter clean up along…read morethe shore. He dumped his bucket of trash in the parks trash. Gotta love when the community takes initiative. From a landscape perspective, the pine and beech forest is breathtaking. As you approach Lake Michigan, the forest transitions into a maple, hemlock and beech community, which is beautiful even in the most dormant times of the year.

Hidden in the upscale lake shore neighborhood this public park is one you want to get to early…read more Today we did not need to pay but there is a pay to park station there. This is a gated lot so be respectful of the hours. No pets, no smoking and no alcohol allowed. Lots of rules posted. Loved the ADA walkway to the top. Every 30' was a flat spot on the ramp to the overlook. Perfect for wheel chairs. Unfortunately it's stairs to the beach but still a great view if you can't touch the water. The place is definitely snuggled among personal homes so be respectful.

From the owner: "Starting in 2023, Kouw Park will be managed by Ottawa County Parks. This will no longer be a free…read morepark. You can purchase a parking pass on the Ottawa County Parks web page - purchase your parks pass. Dogs are only allowed in the off season."

We stumbled upon Pigeon Lake driving on Lakeshore Drive for miles looking for public access to the…read moreLake. The drive up is absolutely gorgeous and lined with dense trees and forests including paved trails for running or biking. There are mostly private homes here with gated access so this is your best bet if you want to get some beach time or hiking in...Or maybe you plan on camping here for a few days... There is a park daily entrance fee of $5.00 for residents, $8.00 non for vehicles. Camper's are also allowed for an additional fee. Dogs are welcome and can be unleashed through a separate beach entrance. The park itself is densely populated with trees and just incredible. Watch out for ticks here.. This is a little paradise. Take the 57 steps up the Outlook for amazing views. Walk up the hilly sand dunes and explore...this is a fresh water sand dune park and worth the destination. Amazing landscapes here.. Park itself is very well kept and clean. Showers and restrooms are located at entrance with vending machine. A few small grills and picnic tables are on site... I can't say enough good things about our experience here... Amazing park. Stay for the sunset!

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.

I love this park! My dog and I frequent this park often. Lots a beautiful trails that are shaded…read moreand well groomed. Lots of wildlife present too. Beware of ticks! My dog always leaves with a few. Tons of parking and maps along the way to the way to help guide you!

Long time patron of pigeon creek park. Many things to do and try at affordable prices including:…read moresledding, snow showing and cross country skiing. I find the rentals to be incredibly fair and affordable with a 3 hour rental costing $8. You will need a form of payment and license for rentals fyi. Staff is friendly and helpful. Even available to take the time to help you Don on your skis outside. The trails are well groomed and lit. Many people participating from all different level experiences. People are generally kind and respectful. Trails are clearly marked with easy, moderate and difficult trails. The difficulty is never more than the equivalent of a bunny hill. The lodge is super cozy and has indoor and outdoor door fireplaces to warm up at. They have a cafe for warm drinks and some various forms of chilli. I chose to have mine in the form of a chili dog for $2.25. Drinks are also reasonably priced, I bought two cappuccinos for $3.25. They have maps and only some of the trails are lit so take care of noting those if you choose to night ski. Enjoy and have fun!! Here is a link to check the trail conditions: https://www.miottawa.org/TrailConditions/retrievePublicList.action

This boardwalk that runs along the shore of Lake Macatawa is located just west of the boat launch…read moreat Kollen Park. Although you can hear some factory sounds from the Heinz pickle factory that borders this walkway trees and other vegetation make it practically unseen. I was tempted to knock off a star due to the very strong smell of pickles but this wouldn't be here if Heinz didn't make it possible. The walkway is well maintained and well lit up at night.

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.

I can't believe we just recently found this place. My hubby came across it first walking the dog…read moreand told me about it. I have enjoyed coming here since then with my hubby and the dog. You wouldn't even know it is here. They have a walkways with railings that lead out to trails with lush and peaceful views. People also come out here to fish. There is so much great nature and animals to see. We got to see a turtle on a log, fishes, birds. We thought we missed a possible beaver.

Great trail to walk or bike! This is an easy trail for all…read moreskill levels, has a mix of green and water views and is great for bird watching.

I always adore Michigan's state parks. And Holland's holds its own. Huge sandy beach to plunk down…read moreyour towel and take a dip in the Big Lake. Lots of walkable space, too, for beachcombing or watching boats cruise through the channel. Excellent views of Holland's famous "Big Red" lighthouse. Camping available, too. Sand seems more littered these days with washed up debris. On busy days Ottawa Beach Road backs up for miles. For the best chance to avoid traffic arrive super early or wait until late afternoon when the families have headed home. No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk. Motor vehicle permit required.

The campground is along a busy road that seemed to be the drag-strip for locals. Traffic and loud…read morecars made for a less than stellar experience. I tend to camp to find nature and peace, don't want to camp on a drag strip! If you don't care about camping with constant road noise, then this may be what you would like. We had company who paid for a visitor tag the one evening we were there during "shoulder" season. Most of the sites were empty, yet rangers issued a ticket for parking incorrectly! No warning! No gentle "even though we're practically empty, we will issuing tickets". The rangers patrolled though routinely never spoke to us, or acknowledge our presence. Just seemed to cop an attitude. They wouldn't even make eye contact much less talk to us. We were 4 sixty plus individuals checking out the park, not rablerousers trying to cause problems. We didn't clearly understand the strictness of the rule enforcement, would think rangers might be considerate of first time visitors especially during the slow season. Instead by ruling with a heavy hand and large fine we would not go back. While restrooms and showers were relatively clean, as campground bathrooms go, regular maintenance was being ignored, one sink and one toilet ran continuously and several of the showers had broken plumbing parts. We'd paid for two nights up front, but the rangers managed to irritate me enough that we left after one. I would hate to be there during busy season, will not return, and would never recommend staying at this campground! Found the dune behind the campground to be full of litter and just did not find anything good about our trip to Holland town or park!