P.J. Hoffmaster State Park stretches across 1,200 acres along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline near Muskegon in Ottawa County, offering one of the finest dune experiences in the Great Lakes region. Towering forested dunes rise nearly 200 feet above the lake, connected by a network of trails that wind through interdunal wetlands, beech-maple forests, and open sand blowouts before delivering you to nearly three miles of sandy Lake Michigan beach.

The park’s centerpiece is the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center, a standout among Michigan state parks. Interactive exhibits explain the ecology of dune formation, and the center serves as a launching point for the steep boardwalk climb to the dune overlook — a must-do for the panoramic views of lake and forest stretching in every direction.

Ten miles of hiking trails range from easy loops through the woods to challenging dune scrambles. Birdwatching is excellent during spring and fall migrations, when warblers and raptors funnel along the lakeshore. Winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed and ungroomed routes.

The modern campground tucks into the forest with nearly 300 sites, including options with electric hookups. Sites fill fast on summer weekends, so reservations are essential from June through August.

Visit in late September or early October for fall color against the dunes without the crowds. Summer is prime for swimming and beach days, but the shoulder seasons reveal a quieter, moodier beauty along the shoreline that rewards those willing to layer up.

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