Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Located between Saugatuck and Holland with towering dunes, 2.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline, and no crowds–this is one of the great Lake Michigan parks.
Read MoreCastle Park Reserve protects nearly 400 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline in a designated Critical Dune area. Together with Dune Pines Nature Preserve and an adjacent privately-held conservation easement, Castle Park Reserve is part of a natural area that protects more than 50 acres of lakeshore habitat.
The Land Conservancy is working on a long-term restoration effort at Castle Park Reserve to re-vegetate and stabilize a dune that has been degraded by past human activity.
Several research projects have been conducted at Castle Park Reserve in recent years to study innovative dune restoration techniques being implemented on the reserve. One study focused on the relationship between dune movement and an invasive species, while others focused on using sand fences and vegetation planting to stabilize eroding dunes.
Located between Saugatuck and Holland with towering dunes, 2.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline, and no crowds–this is one of the great Lake Michigan parks.
Read MoreLocated just south of Holland, Dune Pines Nature Preserve protects a forested dune ecosystem. A loop trail leads hikers through rolling backdunes that feature mature trees and good opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife.
Read MoreThis little-known park features a hardwood-pine forest with mature tulip trees. There are also pockets of wetlands and in the northwest there is an open “blow-sand” area that is a good reminder of how the land was left after the logging era.
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