Michigan Trail Tuesday is our attempt to showcase a different trail or trail segment each week. The Mitten State is home to thousands of miles of trails, including the new Iron Belle Trail that runs from Detroit in the southeast to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula and more miles of the North Country Trail than any other state.

Spring is finally here and we are once again out trying to visit and explore Michigan’s parks and trails. Back in March we headed out to Muskegon County to check out one of the newest and largest parks in the area, Dune Harbor Park. Located on the site of a former sand mine, this beautiful property has two inland lakes, miles of trails, frontage on Lake Michigan, and plenty of opportunities for watching birds and other wildlife!

There are multiple parking lots for Dune Harbor Park. You can park on Seminole Rd. (less than a mile west of Roosevelt Rd.) and have easy access to the trail that loops around the south lake, or you can park off of Lincoln St. (between Norton Ave. and Sherman Blvd.) for quick access to both lakes. We parked at the Lincoln lot and immediately had a great view of the partially frozen south lake.

The trail that loops around the south lake is around two miles in length. We headed off to the west and then shortly saw a side trail that crosses Winnetaska Rd. and leads to the north lake. Just a few feet in to the trail around the north lake we spotted quite a few birds flying overhead and decided this was going to be where we spent most of our time.

We first headed east, following the trail around the lake. There were lots of bluebirds flying around the smaller pine trees here, and some larger birds circling the lake overhead. Along the shore of the lake there were Canada geese, while a few ducks and a swan could be seen out in the water.

After climbing one of the dunes we found that it was not possible to go all the way around the lake as there is still private property to the north. We headed back the same way we came in, noticing some remnants of this property’s former life in the sand.

I was curious about the views from the Lake Michigan shore, so we took the path following the north lake to the west next. A trio of whitetail deer were curious about our presence before bounding off down the trail. We continued to be amazed by how beautiful this property was and how the presence of minimal trails still gave it a wild and unspoiled feel.

The side trail leading to Lake Michigan revealed that a shelf of snow and ice still remained in the water offshore. On this windy day, the waves hitting put on a great show and we watched for a few minutes before starting the trip back to the parking lot.

We covered around four miles during our time at Dune Harbor Park, and that was without exploring most of the south lake shoreline. It will be great to return later on this year to see how the landscape has changed with the seasons and what other birds and wildlife we might encounter. If you’re looking for a beautiful hike in Muskegon County, this needs to be at the top of your list! Future plans for this park include a possible campground, kayak rentals, and more fishing opportunities (this is currently a catch-and-release only park).

A vehicle permit is required for those visiting Dune Harbor Park. There is a kiosk in the parking lot, or passes can be obtained at Pioneer Park, Norton Shores City Hall, or the Muskegon Visitor Center. A yearly pass is $25 while a day pass runs $7.