Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance Review

The trails are nice and walking along the dunes gives you some great views, but the beachfront isn't amazing as there's only a few places big enough to even spread out a blanket. And you can bet that there's going to be a hundred other people in those areas as well.

Take Livingston trail to Lake Michigan - so beautiful and the payoff is pretty sweet.

Went here for the first time on Saturday with my parents. It is a beautiful place! I hope I have the time to return here later in the year.

Couldn't get in, too many people. Parking lot full. Cars parked all along the road also.

I've been to this area before, but didn't get to experience a warmer day on the lake. The sun was shining, the sand is white and the trails to get here are just that bit of a challenge that makes it even more special.

I must admit, I was worried for my husband who has COPD and emphysema. We got off on a longer trail than the 3/4 mile trail. This is not the park for those not physically prepared for hiking a done. Glad we made it.

We are lucky to have so many great trails in the area. One of my favorites is the South Loop at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Five miles with a little bit of everything in the area. Because of the distance, there are usually less people at the beach... once you get there.

Beautiful trails. Great for the kids to gwt outside and see some of our beautiful Michigan scenery. The beach was lovely. Friendly hikers and adorable children everywhere. I know we found this place a delightful way to enjoy a summer day.

This park is AMAZING! We were here for the 100 years of Michigan state parks geotour, and the hiking trails are outstanding, definitely a little bit of a challenge. The beach is gorgeous, and the dunes are just awesome. We had a lot of fun here.

Great park with multiple trails and a great beach. Not too far to the water for those with kids or coolers.

My wife and I stopped here while visiting Saugatuck for the day. At first, we thought it was going to be a tiny little park with not much to do simply due to the size of the parking lot. Well, there really isn't that much to "do", but it's perfect. The park is so beautiful and all that is needed are trails. That's what this place has. The trails are well cared for and the scenery is gorgeous. Take your pick of several trails that make loops out to the lake. I believe there are two or three that are 2.5 mile loops and one that is 5 miles?? I don't remember paying too close attention to the map...
I don't recall seeing anywhere that you could grill food, but we weren't looking for that. If there are grills there and I missed it, that's my bad.
Being from out of state (Indiana), we had to pay nine dollars to get in, but that was worth it. The only thing I wished for was more time to be able to spend here as it was really a very beautiful park. Michigan sure has a lot of treasures close by. The dunes that are all along Lake Michigan's coast are all well worth visiting. This park is definitely worth a stop. You will not regret it!

Great beach, fun walk to it. Not the best beach I've ever been too, but the lack of people made it worth it!

Great beach! Have to walk quite a ways so not ideal for wagons/strollers. There is not a lot of shoreline or room to set up chairs/towels for the day but it s also a LOT less crowded than other beaches in the area. Water was great and shallow for quite a ways out.

A variety of trails all leading to quiet enjoyment of frontage on one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world - what a treasure!

In addition to some ice balls and ice volcanoes the stratification colors of the sand and magnetite along the water's edge are very pretty and fascinating.

Gorgeous walk through the woods to a small, private-feeling beach.

It was so amazing that we went back the next day. The winds had shifted , so the water got cold and the biting flies were unbearable. Didn't stay long on day 2. Also the pay system is a joke. The envelope to put the $9.00 is very repetitive. We were there for fun, not a homework assignment.

Amazing and lovely!!!! spray for bugs, bring water, sand is burning hot, a very cool expierence! Attendant was very nice.

Great spot, close to Holland and Saugatuck... highly recommend hiking the Dune of Shame... a humbling experience to say the least!

Have been hiking here my whole life, love this local treasure!

Pristine beach, worth the hike to get there. Bring your own chairs, not commercial at all.

One of the best Lake Michigan parks. The dunes are terrific.

Great place to run or hike year round. The trails lead to multiple smaller beaches.

Beautiful area, although the path is a little tough for seniors. Very natural which is great.

Intermediate trail with a moderate bit of up-and-down to get all the way to the beach, can be busy but even with a full parking lot, the trail wasnt packed and there was still plenty of beach to find a quiet spot

Loved our walk to the beach!! Even in the cold weather, it's beautiful

Little bit of a hilly walk in (1/2 mile or so), but the trails are well marked and maintained and the beach is well worth it.

Social distancing at its finest. Lazy people don't want to hike to the beach.

Fun place for long walk in the woods to reach an enjoyable (but shallow) beach. Cover yourself thoroughly with insect repellent, as mosquitos were plentiful in the wooded areas!

The trail to the beach is beautiful. The beach is nice too, depending especially on lake level. This is a good place to observe the Michigan dunes.

Great place for a hike. Lots of trails to choose from. Beautiful wooded area includes trails leading to the beach and marked ski trails.

Located on Lake Michigan right near the felt mansion beautiful Lakeshore Trails parking area restrooms no charge

Been going to Saugatuck for years- not as much shoreline as before but still good. Sunsets are the best and the super long hike to get there is so worth it. Awesome sand dunes and pines. Enjoy!

Great place for trail walks. A walk to beach is always better with nature. Clear paths that are marked. Great view.

Favorite State Park in Michigan. Beautiful trails, beach, and views of Lake Michigan. Don't be afraid to venture down the shoreline to find a nook that's less crowded for your day at the beach.

Nice beach but not on par with the other beaches in southern MI. It's a long walk to the beach with kids, save energy for the walk back. That said the walk is beautiful. Beach isn't that large, but there are dunes to play on.

A while to the beach for walking, but a nice beach with disc golf close by. A fun natural experience. Bring a state park pass or pay for one there.

We visited after a winter storm in April so the forest had a wonderful frosting of snow. There was also next to no one else on the paths. I have to imagine it could get pretty crowded during the summer months.

Have been going here since I was a child. A really nice place to get away and enjoy what Michigan has to offer.

One of the best hikes with different trails for different difficulty. When you get to the beach, so secluded and quiet. It's wonderful to go!

We had limited experience with the park. We only hiked the beach trail and visited the beach. If we had planned on exploring the park and trails the rating might be higher, however, we were only interested in the beach and dunes. I've never been there before so I did not know when we parked there would be a 15 +minutes hike to the beach and from there if we wanted to get to the big dunes to climb almost another 20 minute walk along the shoreline. With three kids and beach stuff this was a bitter disappointment. The water was also disappointing. Perhaps it was this occasion only but there was an overwhelming amount of algae in the water.

A great fall hike thru the woods, dunes and along the lakeshore

Pretty small park but had some nice short trails and fun dunes. I didn't see any trails longer than a mile

After a ten minute, maybe half mile walk, you end up at your beach destination. It s not a difficult hike, nor is quick or direct. There are easier ways to park and swim, but this adds a nice nature hike. The elevation changes are not dramatic, so it s accessible to almost all ages. There is a minimalist restroom just before you arrive at the beach.

Absolutely beautiful... great trails. Would be nice if they had better bathrooms.

Great park! West ankle supporting shoes for hiking in sand!

2.5 miles of beautiful Michigan shoreline, wonderful place!

We came around 6 pm and stayed till 9:30 pm till sunset. Although it was a holiday weekend it was not crowded. Beach was nice and has a remote feeling. The only problem was that we got a little lost on the way to the beach: forest doesn't have clear signs or directions. On the way back we just follow Google map on the phone and met a group of people who got lost and couldn't find parking

My favorite place to go. I got married at Felt Mansion overlooking the park, and the hiking trails are by far the best in the area.

Beautiful trails and a great beach! Really well maintained. Could do with some real bathrooms.

Very well groomed trails. Nice beach to hang out on and looks like a nice disc golf course

Lovely 1/2 mile hike through the woods to a nice beach with good dunes to run up and down.

Just passing through and they charged me $9 extra as a non resident. Apparently, this goes for every state park. I will NOT be staying in any Michigan state parks again. They make you feel incredibly unwelcome.

My favorite beach in Michigan, puppies love the hike.

The trail from the parking lot to the beach is pleasant. The last leg is a steep, loose sand dune climb. Pit toilets in the parking lot and one near the beach. Water pump in the parking lot.

A great hike if you take the longest path which is about 2.5 miles one way. The forest area has mosquitoes so carry a bug spray. I'd rate it as a moderately difficult hike. Lots of ups and downs but inside is great and the beach to welcome is the best. They allow alcohol on the beach but only cans , no glass bottles. Sunsets are beautiful from this beach.

Nice family friendly hike (would not recommend stollers) to lakeside Beach, note its not much of a beach with about 20ft tops of sand but enough.

This place requires you to hike for about a mile to actually touch the water. But the inviting waters of Lake Michigan makes it all worth it! Loved watching the sunset!

Ready to walk a couple miles through forest uphill to beach?

Great trails, great dunes, great beaches. Definitely worth the cost of a state recreation passport.

Beautiful place, but unfortunately just a bit segmented. Sledding on the dune climb was nothing short of thrilling. If starting on the secondary hill, you can honestly hit what feels like 40mph. Watch out for the small mounds at the bottom of the hill because at that speed you will fly a good 10-20ft

The beaches are narrower than usual because of the unusually high water. Many trees have fallen toward the lake in the storms so some restricted access for walking the beach but most open and beautiful. The picnic area only has two tables out so not as nice for many families. Still a great stop.

Looks like a good place to camp. No cell service though.

Just beautiful pure Michigan, but be prepared for long walk to beach with lots of hills.