Dune Harbor County Park Opens in Norton Shores

Do you love to escape to nature, go on outdoor adventures, breathe the fresh air while staying active? Here in Muskegon County we now have one more place where you can enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer – the new Dune Harbor County Park. For our guests, it's a quick 10-minute drive south of The Pidge Inn to Norton Shores.

Opened to the public in March 2022, Dune Harbor is on a former sand mine that once belonged to Nugent Sand. The first phase of the park, known as South Lake, includes 214 wooded acres with a long stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. There's a 2.2-mile hiking trail that connects woodlands, dunes and an inland manmade lake. The North Lake area of the park (Phase 2) is expected to open to the public in early 2023. It will include canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, camping, pavilions and picnic areas.

This nature park project came to fruition through a combination of community partners and a supportive landowner. Nature enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the protection of the former Nugent Sand property preserves a critical migratory corridor for birds, waterfowl and butterflies. It also sustains habitat for rare plant and wildlife species. Dune Harbor County Park gives West Michigan residents and visitors a fantastic recreational area to enjoy, while at the same time preserves this land for future generations.

Dune Harbor County Park
Lincoln Street and Leif Avenue
Norton Shores, MI 49441

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." —Albert Einstein