North Beach Park
Spring Lake, Michigan · on Lake Michigan · North Beach Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About North Beach Park
North Beach Park is a 7-acre Ottawa County park in Ferrysburg, Michigan, with 745 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan. Its designated, unguarded swimming beach makes it a genuine big-lake swimming hole, backed by a developed picnic and dune-overlook area, and it remains one of the county's most straightforward places to swim on Lake Michigan.
The park sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline just north of the Grand River mouth near Grand Haven, with wooden dune stairs climbing to an overlook deck that gives panoramic views of the lake and shoreline dunes.
Swimming at North Beach Park
Swimming takes place directly off the open Lake Michigan beach with no lifeguards on duty, so it suits confident, self-sufficient swimmers; a seasonal barrier-free beach walkway and beach wheelchair make water access possible for visitors with mobility needs.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 18775 North Shore Drive, Ferrysburg, MI 49409, about a 9-minute drive from downtown Grand Haven.
Parking: On-site parking lot; motor vehicle parking fees apply from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, payable online or as a citation.
The hike in
No hike is needed to swim, it's a drive-up county beach park with an on-site lot. Visitors do walk/climb down a short hill from the parking and picnic area to reach the beach. Separately, the park has an informal ~0.67-mile round-trip dune-stairs walking trail up to a lake-view overlook deck, but that is a scenic side excursion, not required to access the swimming area.
Seasonal barrier-free beach walkway and a beach wheelchair are provided for step-free access to the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Family amenities are strong (playground with toddler swings, beach wheelchair, barrier-free walkway to the sand), but this is open, unguarded Lake Michigan water. Locals familiar with the lake warn that 'water currents in Lake Michigan can pull even good swimmers under' and recommend understanding rip currents before swimming since no lifeguards are posted. Fine for kids with active adult supervision; not a sheltered or shallow inland swim spot.
Parking
Paid, $8/vehicle/day (credit-card pay station; per grkids.com family-guide article; a Yelp reviewer cited $7); annual Ottawa County park permits also accepted (~$15 resident/$25 non-resident per grkids.com)
On-site lot with credit-card pay station; fee in effect Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend only (free rest of year). Enforcement is described as strict, with tickets issued to unpaid vehicles. Lot can fill on holidays/peak summer days. A free alternative is Coast Guard Park ~0.6 mi away, which requires a short woodland walk to reach the beach.
Restrooms
Yes
Modern, barrier-free restrooms on-site near the picnic/parking area; closed in winter months.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
Multiple independent visitors describe 'clean sand, clear water'; one recent visitor separately called it 'clean, quiet and comfortable.' As open Lake Michigan water, clarity can vary with wave action and wind, but no reports of persistently murky conditions were found.
Hours
7:00am-10:00pm (March 1-October 15); 7:00am-8:00pm (October 16-February 28)
On the water
No boat launch exists at this park and no official Ottawa County or tourism-board source states a specific kayak/paddleboard/watercraft policy for this beach. This is open, wave-exposed Lake Michigan shoreline rather than sheltered water, so hand-launching small craft here means open-lake paddling conditions. Commercial rental outfitters in the immediate area instead operate on the calmer Grand River/Spring Lake channel a few miles inland (see rentals).
Rentals nearby
Single kayaks, tandem kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and bikes, for use on the Grand River
Prices: Single kayak $32-$68 (1-8 hrs); tandem kayak $47-$80; paddleboard $37-$78; canoe $47-$80; single bike $15-$70
15378 Cleveland St, Spring Lake, MI 49456, about 2-3 miles from North Beach Park · April-May & Sept-Oct: weekends 11am-5pm; June-Aug: 10am-6pm; appointments possible outside hours by phone
Kayak rentals/guided trips on the Grand River with curated routes; reservation required
14600 144th Ave, Spring Lake, MI (Indian Channel Boat Launch), a few miles from North Beach Park
Kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals (pet-friendly); one of their Michigan rental locations operates out of Grand Haven State Park
Grand Haven State Park location, ~2-3 miles south of North Beach Park across the Grand River channel · Posted hours vary by location/season; site hours listing appeared inconsistent, so confirm locally
What regulars say
One visitor called it 'a great beach - clean, quiet and comfortable' with 'super clean' bathrooms, and noted the day-pass cost. Locals familiar with the lake flag that Lake Michigan currents here 'can pull even good swimmers under' and that people drown in the lake every year, reinforcing the no-lifeguard caution despite the otherwise calm, clean-sand reputation. Regulars also note the beach sits down a short hill from the parking and picnic area, and point to nearby Coast Guard Park as a free-parking alternative reached via a short woodland walk.
North Beach Park: FAQ
Does North Beach Park charge a fee?
Seasonal vehicle entry/parking fee (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend); no fee outside that window.
Is North Beach Park kid friendly?
Family amenities are strong (playground with toddler swings, beach wheelchair, barrier-free walkway to the sand), but this is open, unguarded Lake Michigan water. Locals familiar with the lake warn that 'water currents in Lake Michigan can pull even good swimmers under' and recommend understanding rip currents before swimming since no lifeguards are posted. Fine for kids with active adult supervision; not a sheltered or shallow inland swim spot.
Do I need to hike to reach North Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for North Beach Park?
On-site lot with credit-card pay station; fee in effect Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend only (free rest of year). Enforcement is described as strict, with tickets issued to unpaid vehicles. Lot can fill on holidays/peak summer days. A free alternative is Coast Guard Park ~0.6 mi away, which requires a short woodland walk to reach the beach.
When is the best time to visit North Beach Park?
Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), when the beach is staffed for parking fee collection and vending/restroom facilities are open; restrooms close in winter.
What are the rules at North Beach Park?
Swimming beach has no lifeguards. Dogs prohibited May 1-September 30; outside that period dogs permitted on a leash no longer than 10 feet and excluded from buildings/picnic shelter (service dogs allowed year-round). General Ottawa County park rules apply. Park hours: 7am-10pm (Mar 1-Oct 15) and 7am-8pm (Oct 16-Feb 28).
What water body is North Beach Park on?
North Beach Park is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
