Nature is grand! If you like hiking, this is a great location to visit. There are lots of stairs,…read moresome elevation, and sand! It was peaceful, especially by the water. I'd return if I was in the area. You need a parking permit- so come prepared. It wasn't very busy, which is a plus.

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.

Nice Park - easy to get to, good amount of parking, nice pavilion, the sand was nice, fountains to…read morewash your feet, good amount of space on the sand. First time here - The bugs today were outrageous. These little flies were unbearable and therefore didn't stay long.

This beach is operated by Ottawa County. During the summer months, you are required to pay to…read morepark. They probably have room for 100 cars. You can get an annual tag from the county. A Michigan state park tag will not work. Weekends the lot can fill up. In that case you can park for free less than a mile down the road at Coast Guard Park, or even Fire Barn Park for that matter. If you're going to do that, drop off your family and friends along with your beach supplies at the entrance. That way only one of you have to walk back and forth. They have a nice wide asphalt path. Good excersise plus you saved about $8. Park no longer allows dogs, no alcohol either. They have a nice pavillion that sometimes get reserved in the summer. There are grills and picnic tables too, but not many. There are outdoor showers and feet washing stations and a convenient bathroom. But last time I was here, the beach has been extended way out. So if you are on the water with you blanket and umbrella, it is quite a hike to the johns. This is a good family beach too with the playground. Downside to some may be there are no touristy shops that you can walk to like Grand Haven SP. But to me, that is blessing. Not a whole lot of teenagers come here and never been any fights break out like they have at GH. I hope this beach stays how it is and the county doesn't try to commercialize it.

What a find. This is definitely a neighborhood park. Public Boat launch, dog park, basketball…read morecourt, baseball field, playground, board walk, nature, restroom and hopping. We saw so many families come and go in the short time it took us to grill and chill it would have made your head snap. Lots of people with cameras, and children on the boardwalk. Wishing the restrooms worked or they would have had a port a jon. Regardless such a great find and an amazing tailgate by my man JMAC

Where to begin? Grand Haven State Park is a Sandy beach location full of young adults and some…read morefamilies that play volleyball, fly kites, walk the pier, and wear itty bitty bikinis while frying in the sun. I had the privilege to change in the bathroom, where a gaggle of girls walked in talking loudly about making out with different boys and hooking up. When I came out of the stall, these young looking women were in their thong bikinis adjusting their makeup and deciding what they were planning to do next. I remember being their age, but I don't remember bragging about my sexual conquests. Are these the spoils of feminism? Objectifying and gaining body counts like some frat boy club? I suppose if it is, the beach is a good place for it and Grand Haven does have a storied history of late night cruising to pick up walkers along the strip. I remember in my youth listening to our CD player jam to Eminem and Chronic 2001 while we cruised the strip being "cool" and admiring people's car kits with hydraulics and black lit lighting. I remember thinking cut off shorts and a bikini top were revealing then. I suppose, culture keeps pushing the limits and I should just be happy that people are still wearing something over their private parts. Right? My family did love the huge kites. My children loved playing in the waves. Parking can be a bear, but once you find a spot most things are within walking distance including an interesting boardwalk with shops, restaurants and ice cream. Don't miss a walk on the pier to admire the Big Red Lighthouse and see if a lucky fisherman caught anything.

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.

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.

Didn't know this place was even here until someone told me about it the other day. I stopped by…read morewith the pooch last night and was thrilled to know there was a place where my little guy could run and play. Located on the East End of town, the dog park was a little tricky for me to find out how to get to it. Not being from here originally, I'm not quite familiar with everything. I figured it out though by entering the park off Franklin and driving towards the boat ramp. The entrance to the dog park is right next to the boat ramp. Separate areas for small and large dogs, although while I was there, the small dog area (which is also smaller in size) was the only area with dogs in them.. and they were larger dogs. My guy will play with anyone though and he was happy to have someone to play with. Great little free park and I'm sure I'll be back quite often.

This is a nice dog park that has separate areas for both big and small dogs. It's located on the…read moreriver by the boat launch, so it's scenic. However it's also located right next to the sewer treatment plant, so if there's a stiff wind, watch out! The large-dog area is HUGE and has a nice rolling hill for dogs to run over. It doesn't have water stations like other parks in the area, but just outside of the fenced area there is a dog water station. It could use a bench or two for seating, but it's nicely maintained and a spacious spot for dogs to burn through their energy. I would recommend visiting!

When visiting Grand Haven, Michigan, Chinook Pier is a popular place to go. There were not many…read moreparking spaces when we got there and had to hunt to find a parking spot. Once out of our car, we enjoyed walking on the pier and seeing the historic train and loading tower. There are many things to do at the pier including lake rentals, play on the playground, and mini golf. Chinook Pier is a popular place, and there's a reason why. I highly recommend Chinook Pier!

Right on the water with games. Again another location with cement corn hole, cement ping pong and…read morewood foosball tables. So bring your own balls or bags if you want to play. All the big boats are down this way and the pere Marquette train can be found down here. 25mph streets, tight parking and lots of people watching.

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.