Beaches and Parks
Click here for a map of all beaches/parks!
Grand Haven
Grand Haven City Beach
P: 616.842.3210 A: Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI
A smaller beach just south of the state park on Harbor Drive and is pet friendly with a concession stand.
Grand Haven State Park
P: 616.847.1309 A: 1001 South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417
The largest beach in Grand Haven with playground equipment, volleyball courts, picnic tables, charcoal grills, public restrooms, a store and restaurant. Good Morning America named it one of the top five best family beaches to visit.
Kirk Park
P: 616.842.0634 A: Located along Lakeshore Avenue, two miles south of M-45
Kirk Park has a beautiful sandy beach with several dunes. There is also a covered pavilion, hiking trails, playground, and cross-country ski trails.
North Beach Park
A: Off of North Shore Drive
A popular 20 acre park with 745 feet along Lake Michigan with a barrier free beach walkway in the summer, picnic shelter, wooden dune stairway and children’s playground.
Pigeon Creek Park
P: 616.738.4810 A: East of 120th on Stanton Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417
This is a beautiful quiet park that covers over 430 acres of natural wooded trails to ride horses, walk, ski or snow shoe; a heated lodge is also available in the park.
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park
P: 616.798.3711 A: US 31 N to Pontaluna Road West
Located 5 miles north of Grand Haven, this beach has sand dunes, hiking trails, a nature center, cross country skinning trails and camping.
Rosy Mound Natural Area
A: From US 31 turn west on Rosy Mound Drive then south on Lakeshore Avenue
A classic Great Lakes dune system consisting of wooded dunes and a .7-mile hiking trail to the beach with 1,000 feet of stairs up and down. Scenic views of the dunes, a dune blowout, and Lake Michigan are available with places to sit and enjoy the view.
Holland
DeGraaf Nature Center
P: 616.366.1133 A: 600 Graafschap Road, Holland, MI 49423
W: www.degraaf.org
Visit this 18 acre preserve of woodlands, marshes and pond trails; the information center has hands-on activities for kids and be sure to check their special events calendar for activities to do with the whole family.
Holland State Park
P: 616.399.9390 A: 2215 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland, MI 49423
Holland State Park offers a spacious, beautiful beach along Lake Michigan, which is a popular place to be in the summer with volleyball courts, picnic areas, concessions stands and a great place to watch the sunset. It also has two large campgrounds and is also home to Big Red, the Holland Lighthouse located on the south pier.
Laketown Beach
P: 616.355.3050 A: 6710 142nd Avenue, Holland, MI 49423
The beach is very secluded and can often be had to yourself due to the long stairway providing incredible view of Lake Michigan. Laketown Beach is a great place to get away.
Tunnel Park
P: 616.738.4810 A: 66 Lakeshore Drive, Holland, MI 49424
W: www.miottawa.org/ParksVI/Parks/tunnel.htm
A popular park with a beautiful beach for swimming and sunbathing, the park also has a picnic area with a children’s playground, trail up the dunes. The prominent feature and namesake for the park is the wooden tunnel through the dune that connects the beach with the picnic area.
Saugatuck
Mount Baldhead Park
You can’t go to Saugatuck without climbing up Mt. Baldhead, a 600’ dune with 282 steps up to get to the observation deck, overlooking a beautiful view of the Saugatuck, Kalamazoo River Valley and Lake Michigan; the park also has picnic tables available.
Oval Beach
P: 269.857.3316 A: 690 Perryman Street, Saugatuck, MI 49553
Voted one of the top two freshwater beaches in the USA by National Geographic and one of the world’s 25 best by Conde Nast’s Traveler. Best reached by taking a the Saugatuck Chain Ferry across the Kalamazoo river from Saugatuck, the beach is located along Lake Michigan and has grassy, coastal sands and clear blue water. You can also drive, but parking is limited!
Saugatuck State Park
P: 269.637.2788 A: 6575 138th Avenue, Saugatuck, MI 49453
Saugatuck State Park contains 1,000 acres and 2.5 miles of Lake Michigan Frontage. The park has rolling sand dunes over 200 feet high and is regularly frequented by hikers and wildlife watchers with. The beach is .6 miles from the parking area and the area is largely undeveloped.
South Haven
Kid’s Corner – Monroe Park
P: 269.6337.5252 A: Monroe Boulevard, South Haven, MI
This is a great place for young kids, especially since it was designed and built by kids! A huge wooden play area with a maze, boat, slides, rope bridge and tire bridge for kids to play on; the site also has picnic areas and restrooms and right across the street from the beach!
Kal-Haven Trail State Park
P: 269.674.8011 A: South Haven Trailhead off of Blue Star Hwy at Wells Street
W: www.kalhaventrail.org
Kal-Haven is a 34-mile long trail connecting South Haven and Kalamazoo; wandering through woods, past farms, and over rivers and streams and is great for any time of the year. The trail includes a camelback bridge and covered bridge.
South Beach Park
P: 269.637.0772 A: Water Street, South Haven, MI 49090
A very popular beach in South Haven. The beach features beautiful fresh water sands, a lighthouse, and concessions.
Stanley Johnston Park
P: 269.637.0772 A: Dyckman Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090
This large wooded park is in the heart of South Haven, overlooking the harbor. The park houses basketball courts, swing set, picnic tables, and restrooms. The site of the All Crafts Fair over Labor Day Weekend, and the Fine Arts & Crafts Fair in July.
Van Buren State Park
Van Buren State Park has high dunes and 1 mile of frontage on Lake Michigan. The park has a campground with modern facilities.
Van Buren Trail State Park
P: 269.637.2788
Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, this 14 mile trail is great for biking, hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. The entrance is through the Van Buren State Park.
Deerlick Creek Park
A little harder to find than most parks. This is a small, brand new beach in South Haven. Located on 13th ave, just south of the city, there is a small trout fishing stream that runs through the park and empties into the lake.
St. Joseph
Grand Mere State Park & Nature Area
P: 269.426.4013 A: Thorton Drive, Stevensville, MI 49127
A nice place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Walk across sand dunes along the shoreline, great for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and bird-watching.
Jean Klock Park (kids, water)
A: Benton Harbor, MI
Located in Benton Harbor and has a wonderful beach and many different activities such as; volleyball, a picnic area, boardwalk, and observation tower.
Silver Beach County Park (kids, water)
P: 269.982.0533 A: 101 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085
This is the place to be at in the summer. A very large and very clean beach, it has extensive play areas for the kids and a guarded swimming area, volleyball courts, pier fishing, access to the South Pier, a picnic area and sometimes you can catch an outdoor concert.
