Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach
Crystal, Michigan · on Crystal Lake
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach
Crystal Township Park and Beach is a public township park and swim beach on the east shore of Crystal Lake, a 724-acre inland lake in Crystal Township, Montcalm County, Michigan, near Carson City. The lake has long been the community's go-to swimming hole and its boating and fishing hub, and the beach is the subject of an active, community-funded redevelopment project to expand the swim area and improve hillside access.
The park sits on the east side of Crystal Lake, a roughly 4-mile-shoreline inland lake in southeastern Montcalm County, with cottages and homes ringing much of the shore and a sailing club (Crystal Sailing Club, 1001 N Shore Dr) nearby. Historical accounts describe the lake's shores rising to modest, oak- and pine-covered elevations, with a small island once used for picnics.
Swimming at Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach
The lake has a sandy bottom with a gradual slope historically described as allowing wading 'a great distance' before the water exceeds six feet, making it well suited to casual and family swimming; a modern travel write-up likewise calls out clear, sparkling blue water and fantastic swimming conditions at the designated public beach here.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located at approximately 300-398 Co Rd 510, Crystal, MI 48818, on the east shore of Crystal Lake, within Crystal Township near Carson City, Michigan.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up township park/beach, not a trail-access swimming hole. The park's own redevelopment materials note that current access to the water crosses a hillside, and the funded project is meant to terrace that slope for 'improved safety and access', so expect a short, somewhat sloped walk from the parking area down to the shoreline rather than any real hike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The lake has a sandy bottom with a gradual, shallow slope, historical accounts describe wading 'a great distance' before exceeding six feet, which favors young swimmers, and a 2023 travel write-up calls the water clear and the beach good for swimming. However, no source confirms a lifeguard on duty, and the park's own redevelopment materials describe the current path down to the beach as crossing a hillside that the community is actively re-terracing for 'improved safety and access,' implying the existing slope to the water is a real supervision/footing concern for small kids.
Parking
Available
The park sits at approximately 300-398 Co Rd 510, Crystal, MI 48818, on the east shore of Crystal Lake; as a public township park it has some form of visitor parking, but no source specifies lot size/surface, roadside vs. lot, or any fee.
Water clarity
Clear
A 2023 mid-Michigan lake-activities write-up (Thumbwind) describes Crystal Lake as having 'crystal clear, sparkling blue waters.' An older Montcalm County history account separately describes a sandy lake bottom that stays shallow far from shore, consistent with clear, sediment-light water near the beach. No independent 2020s-era visitor/photo confirmation was found, so treat as reported-clear rather than freshly verified.
On the water
Lake data aggregator LakeHomes.com states jet skis, motorized boats, and houseboats are all allowed on Crystal Lake with no boating or dock restrictions noted, and lists a public boat landing on the lake's northern shore. Thumbwind's write-up separately describes swimming, boating, kayaking, and water skiing as popular here and places a public boat launch on the lake's southern end, the two sources disagree on which shore the launch is on, so the exact launch location is uncertain, but general watercraft access is not in question.
Backstory
Crystal Lake was a resort destination by the early 1900s, with three hotels (Park, Lakeside, and Shafter House), boat liveries, lakeside pavilions, and beaches operated by the Peterman Brothers, per a Montcalm County history archive. Since at least 2019, Crystal Township and a community group have run a fundraising campaign (crystal-park.org) for a roughly $695,000 'Crystal Township Park Redevelopment Project' to build an expanded lakefront public beach and terrace the park's hillside, funded through community donations, a Crystal Township contribution, and a Michigan DNR Trust Fund grant application; as of the most recent site snapshot (March 2026) this fundraising was still ongoing.
Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach: FAQ
Is Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach kid friendly?
The lake has a sandy bottom with a gradual, shallow slope, historical accounts describe wading 'a great distance' before exceeding six feet, which favors young swimmers, and a 2023 travel write-up calls the water clear and the beach good for swimming. However, no source confirms a lifeguard on duty, and the park's own redevelopment materials describe the current path down to the beach as crossing a hillside that the community is actively re-terracing for 'improved safety and access,' implying the existing slope to the water is a real supervision/footing concern for small kids.
Do I need to hike to reach Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach?
The park sits at approximately 300-398 Co Rd 510, Crystal, MI 48818, on the east shore of Crystal Lake; as a public township park it has some form of visitor parking, but no source specifies lot size/surface, roadside vs. lot, or any fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach?
Lake data aggregator LakeHomes.com states jet skis, motorized boats, and houseboats are all allowed on Crystal Lake with no boating or dock restrictions noted, and lists a public boat landing on the lake's northern shore. Thumbwind's write-up separately describes swimming, boating, kayaking, and water skiing as popular here and places a public boat launch on the lake's southern end, the two sources disagree on which shore the launch is on, so the exact launch location is uncertain, but general watercraft access is not in question.
What water body is Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach on?
Crystal / Crystal Township Park and Beach is on Crystal Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
