Looking for a sandy adventure that leads to a dip in a Great Lake? Saugatuck Dunes State Park has got you covered. With over 10 miles of hiking trails, beautiful beaches, and access to Lake Michigan, this state park is an excellent place to enjoy the hot summer months.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is located 5 miles north of downtown Saugatuck, Michigan. The park encompasses 1,000 acres, including 2.5 miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline. Along with the sandy beaches, the park features dunes that are over 200 feet in height.
Visitors must have a Michigan Recreational Passport to park at the trailhead. Here, people can find access to 4 hiking trails (all pet-friendly), picnic tables, and toilets (vault toilets and portajohns).
We took advantage of the picnic tables and found it a perfect location for us to stop and have lunch for the day.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park Trails
The park is home to four trails. The Beach Trail, which we hiked, is the most direct route to the beach and is 1.5 miles, round trip. This is a relatively easy hike with a little walkable sand and a few small hills to climb. It winds through a pine tree forest, providing shade from the afternoon sun. The hardest part of this trail is once we arrived at the beach, we had to descend (and ascend to leave) a small, very sandy hill.
In addition to the Beach Trail, there is also the Livingston Trail (2.5 miles round trip), the North Trail (2.5 miles round trip), and the South Trail (5.5 miles round trip).
The Beach
Lake Michigan is well known for its super sandy and beautiful beaches. Saugatuck Dunes State Park is no exception. Despite being a very busy area, the beach was incredibly clean.
Along with being an excellent location for swimming, the beach is also pet-friendly. We didn’t bring the beagles along (Brisco in particular hates water) but it’s nice knowing there is a location where they are welcomed.
Overall
This park is a wonderful place for a weekend on the beach or for hitting the trails. Offering the beauty that I have come to expect from Michigan State Parks, it is no wonder why it is a popular vacation spot.
Take a dip in the cool waters of Lake Michigan or explore the trails. Saugatuck Dunes State Park is definitely a place to check out on Michigan’s sunset coast.
Learn more at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.