Hoffmaster State Park

Hoffmaster State Park is a protected area along Lake Michigan near Muskegon, featuring about 1,200 acres (486 hectares) of forest, beach, and sand dunes. The terrain includes several miles of shoreline and offers hiking trails, camping areas, and sandy beach access throughout the park.

Indigenous communities lived on this land before it became a state park, and their history is woven into the landscape itself. The area was later designated for protection to preserve its natural dunes and forest for future generations.

The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center presents exhibits about local plant and animal life in the dune ecosystem and how people interact with this coastal environment. The site serves as a gathering place for those who want to understand how wind and water shape the landscape they walk through.

The park is easiest to visit if you arrange the required access permit before arriving. The best time to explore is from spring through fall, when the trails are in good condition and the beaches are most accessible.

The Dune Overlook Trail takes visitors up about 220 steps to viewpoints where the lake and surrounding forest come into full view. These elevated spots reveal how sharply the dunes drop away and showcase the dramatic slopes that define this coastal landscape.

Location: Michigan

Website: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=457&type=SPRK

GPS coordinates: 43.12390,-86.26500

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42