What makes southwest Michigan such an inviting summer playground? Plenty.
The region features some of America’s finest freshwater beaches, stretching for more than 100 miles from Muskegon to the Indiana border, in addition to remarkable coastal marshes that are worth exploring and endless trails that meander through scenic, diverse landscapes and over massive sand dunes that often lead to breathtaking views.
Water sports such as boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing, and water skiing abound on Lake Michigan, countless inland lakes, and miles of rivers. The fishing is legendary. And don’t overlook Michigan’s Adventure, the state’s largest amusement park.
Here are a few ways to indulge in this summertime paradise.
Hit the Beach
Grand Haven State Park and the lively village of South Haven are two of the best options for enjoying the sun, sand, and surf.
Grand Haven State Park’s beach has been drawing nationwide attention. It made Fodor’s list of the 15 best lake beaches in the United States, USA Today readers voted it the nation’s second-best freshwater beach, and Travel + Leisure magazine called it one of the 25 best beaches in the U.S.
The beach features a half-mile of golden sand along Lake Michigan and the mouth of the Grand River, and visitors can soak in views of Lake Michigan, Grand Haven Pier, and two lighthouses. There’s also access to a boardwalk leading into town.
“The beach’s location within walking distance of Grand Haven and its spectacular sunsets, with the Grand Haven south pier and lighthouses in the background, make for memorable experiences,” says Pat Whalen, the Michigan DNR’s Plainwell District supervisor.
South Haven’s South Beach made afar.com’s list of 8 Great Lakeside Beaches in the USA. It’s one of seven public beaches within a five-mile stretch and offers the most amenities, including grills, picnic areas, playgrounds, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and access to South Haven’s historic lighthouse, perched along a pier extending out into Lake Michigan.
North Beach also has a pier and the longest stretch of sand of South Haven’s beaches, as well as beach volleyball courts, and kayak and paddleboard rentals. Packard Park Beach features picnic facilities, small dunes, and a deck overlooking Lake Michigan.
“Our North and South beaches are where you’ll find seminal American beachscapes with concessions, volleyball, other recreational activities, splash pads, and a festive atmosphere,” says Trenton Bulat, southhaven.org’s digital media manager. “For those seeking a more quiet and natural escape, the beaches at the North Point Conservation Area and Deerlick Creek Park offer two of the most distinctive vantages of Lake Michigan.”
Explore the Wetlands
Coastal marshes are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the state, supporting a rich variety of animal and plant life.
Near New Buffalo, the Galien River Marsh Preserve can be accessed via the 86-acre Galien River County Park and the 150-acre Louis J. Sima Preserve. At Galien, an elevated canopy walkway takes visitors above the treetops and leads to a 60-foot-high overlook tower. A 600-foot-long, marsh-level boardwalk gives you the feeling of walking on water, as well as opportunities for close-up views of turtles, deer, birds, and other wildlife. The 1.2-mile Ridge Trail loops its way under a shady canopy and features steep ravines leading down to the marsh and river. Kayaking through the park is another option.
The Louis J. Sima Preserve is accessible only by kayak from a public boat launch in New Buffalo and features emergent wetland plant species and a variety of wildlife, including more than 200 bird species.
“Galien River Marsh is a unique wetland that’s hydrologically connected to Lake Michigan through the Galien River,” says Dan Engel, stewardship manager for Chikaming Open Lands. “That means when the water levels in the lake are high, the water levels in the marsh are high, and vice versa. This habitat is critical to many wildlife and has been designated an important bird area by the Audubon Society. It even has a nesting bald eagle pair.”
The 800-meter loop trail at Grand Beach Marsh Preserve south of New Buffalo winds along a coastal plain marsh to an oak forest, wet prairie, and sand prairie. There’s also a pond-like depression in the middle of the preserve and remnants of an old sand dune with oak, maple, and sassafras trees growing from it.
“The coastal plain marsh here is a habitat that only exists in a handful of places in Michigan and contains many unique species,” Engel says. “Many plants found there are considered disjunct, meaning they’re separated from the main body of their population along the Atlantic Coast.”
Adventures & Thrills
A single ticket provides access to more than 60 rides and the other attractions at Michigan’s Adventure and WildWater Adventure Park near Muskegon.
Shivering Timbers and Thunderhawk are the park’s signature roller coasters, each offering a different kind of experience. The wooden Shivering Timbers climbs 125 feet before plunging down the same distance at a 55-degree angle and reaching a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Thunderhawk is Michigan’s only suspended looping rollercoaster and climbs 120 feet before an 86-foot freefall followed by barrel rolls and inverted wing loops while reaching 50 miles per hour.
Cool off at the Adventure Falls and Loggers Run, which are wet rides.
Younger guests flock to Camp Snoopy, which features the Woodstock Express rollercoaster, a hot air balloon ride, a petting zoo, a huge playground, and other rides like Mud Buggies and Trailblazers.
WildWater Adventure Park, meanwhile, has the Funnel of Fear waterslide, where visitors race down on rafts, in addition to three wave pools, body slides, and speed slides. Younger children will want to check out the Half Pint Paradise and Beach Party attractions.
Hike the Dunes
Southwest Michigan’s sand dunes offer some of the state’s most scenic hiking trails, and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Norton Shores, North Ottawa Dunes County Park (Ferrysburg), and Warren Dunes State Park (Sawyer) are three of the best places to take in gorgeous scenery.
Hoffmaster State Park and North Ottawa Dunes border each other, and their 20 miles of trails connect through forested and more open dunes, complete with stunning overlooks and beach walking.
Hoffmaster’s Gillette Nature Center, where you’ll find exhibits telling the story of Michigan’s dunes, is a good place to access trails including the Lake Michigan Trail, with a climb of 193 steps to reach an amazing panorama of the lake and much of the park’s 1,200 acres. The path continues through forest and dunes before reaching the beach.
The 2.7-mile Homestead Trail loops through wooded dunes and a short stretch of beach. Black Creek Trail (1.7 miles) runs along a creek and climbs to the top of a dune for another breathtaking view before ending where Black Creek empties into Lake Michigan.
“A fun feature of Hoffmaster State Park is that all trails lead to the open dune and Lake Michigan beach,” notes Whalen, of the DNR Plainwell District. “The abrupt change from forest to scenic vista and lake views is memorable to new visitors.”
The 593-acre North Ottawa Dunes can be reached from Coast Guard Park or North Beach County Park. Enjoy eye-popping topography with an elevation change of 185 feet in forested dune formations. Eight dunes exceed 750 feet in height. Stairs lead to a sweeping view of Lake Michigan and the Grand River near the southwest corner of the park.
Warren Dunes’ most popular path is the 4-mile Mount Randall loop, which ascends to the summit of a 260-foot dune. The trail offers descents, forested dunes, and beach walking.
At the Warren Dunes Trail (a 5.1-mile loop), there’s a mile of beach walking, forested sections, and an old water tower. The Beach Trail (a 3.6-mile loop) takes hikers over wooded dunes before a 3-mile walk along Lake Michigan.
“Majestic, towering dunes at Warren Woods offer just the right amount of challenge and plenty of rewards, with breathtaking views and three miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline,” says Collette Kemper of New Buffalo Explored, a southwest Michigan tourism organization. “You’ll encounter forest, dunes, steep open bowls, and more.”
Riding the Waves
“Whether you’re after an active experience on Lake Michigan, a river, or dune, we have the gear and knowledge to ensure families experience the caliber of adventure we know is possible,” says Liz Goossen, manager of Third Coast Surf Shop in St. Joseph. Third Coast is ideal for anyone who wants to cross Great Lakes surfing off their bucket list. The shop offers lessons, and surfboard and wetsuit rentals.
“We connect people with everything they need for the current surfing conditions and share tips on where to chase waves,” Goossen adds. “For an activity entire families can participate in, surf lessons are the way to go.”
Third Coast can also hook people up with sandboarding opportunities at the towering dunes of nearby Warren Dunes State Park. Sandboards and sand sleds, which are exclusively designed for riding down or across the face of a dune, are available for rent.
“If there was ever a bucket list item to check off, it’s sandboarding,” Goossen asserts. “You can slide down a sandy slope with views of sprawling dunes and vast Lake Michigan.” Through its affiliated outfitter, Third Coast Paddling, the company offers kayak and standup paddleboard rentals for use on Lake Michigan or area rivers at five sites: the Paw Paw River in St. Joseph, the Galien River (New Buffalo), Silver Beach (St. Joseph), Wade’s Bayou (Saugatuck), and Warren Dunes. “Our river rental sites are picked based on ease of access and the mellowness of currents,” Goossen explains. “Our routes are out-and-backs. There’s no need to arrange shuttles.”
Charter Fishing
For nearly 40 years, anglers of all ages and skill levels have spent time on Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River reeling in significant catches with Capt. Russ Clark.
Clark operates Sea Hawk Fishing Charters out of Benton Harbor, with Lake Michigan outings from April through September and year-round river trips. During the summer months he’s joined by Capt. Jeremee Curtis, who has won his share of fishing tournaments during the past decade.
“We put our knowledge to work to offer the best experience,” Clark says. “We know where the fish are and are all about keeping things fun, with no pressure.”Clark and his crew have everything covered, including equipment, bait, boxed lunches, photos with the day’s catch, and coolers in which to transport fish home after they’ve been cleaned and bagged.
Clients can also opt to have their freshly caught bounty cooked at one of the local restaurants with which Sea Hawk partners.
Sea Hawk offers Lake Michigan outings of five and seven hours, as well as a two-day package of fishing. St. Joseph River trips last seven hours (7 a.m.-2 p.m.).
“During the summer season, people are mainly catching a good mix of salmon, lake trout, and steelhead,” Clark says. “Summer is also when Lake Michigan is usually calmest. We get people from all over the country. Sometimes we might take the Great Lakes for granted, but for people from other areas, it’s like being on the ocean.”
Plan It!
Grand Haven/South Haven
southhaven.org
visitgrandhaven.com
shorelinevisitorsguide/grand-haven-state-park
Southwest Marshes
chikamingopenlands.org
newbuffaloexplored.org
Michigan’s Adventure
miadventure.com
Southwest Dunes
shorelinevisitorsguide/hoffmaster-state-park
miottawa.org/parks/dunes
shorelinevisitorsguide/warren-dunes-state-park
Third Coast Surf Shop
thirdcoastsurfshop.com
Sea Hawk Fishing Charters
fishseahawk.com
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