Rosy Mound Natural Area: A Hidden Gem on Michigan’s West Coast

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Where: 13925 Lakeshore Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Trail: 1.4 miles of moderate-intensity hiking (round trip), including several flights of stairs.
Hours: March 1 through October 15: 7am to 10pm
October 16 through February 28: 7am to 8pm
Fees: The park itself has no entry fee, but there is a parking fee of $5 for Ottawa County residents or $8 for non-residents.

A map of the area can be found on the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation website.

The Great Lakes Loving team first stopped at Rosy Mound Natural Area in 2017, on our way to enjoy a week-long trip in Grand Haven, MI. While downtown Grand Haven was our ultimate destination, several travel websites and forums had suggested Rosy Mound, a county park located in Grand Haven, as a nearby attraction, so we decided to make the stop to check it out on our drive into town.

Amidst a sea of gorgeous sand dunes along Western Michigan’s coast, Rosy Mound doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention, but if you are in the area or passing through, it is definitely worth a stop, or even a whole day enjoying the secluded beach. Continue reading for photos of our excursion as well as some helpful tips for your own trip!

Prepare for a sometimes strenuous yet enjoyable hike. The trail from the parking lot to Lake Michigan is 0.7 miles. Our group of three adults and two preschoolers completed it in about a half an hour at a leisurely pace on the way there, and about 5-10 minutes longer on the way back, due to tired children and the increasing heat.

We consider this hike to be moderate intensity. The trail itself is fairly simple and easy, with abundant shade throughout most of it, but some people may find the stairs a challenge. The trail is a mix of gravel and dirt paths, with a boardwalk toward the end as you climb down to Lake Michigan.

At the end of your hike is a delightful, sandy beach that feels secluded and quiet. We arrived on a Saturday in July and were pleasantly surprised to have the beach nearly to ourselves. It feels private, and the sand is clean and soft. Lake Michigan tends to stay chilly through most of summer, but after climbing up and down all of the stairs, we were grateful to cool off!

You may also want to pack a backpack with snacks and cold drinks. There is nowhere at the end of the trail to get these, though there is a primitive bathroom nearby. We advise you to pack lightly, since you will be lugging it all back down the trail on your way home.

One Important Note: Rosy Mound has no lifeguard on duty, so be sure to swim safely and swim at your own risk.

Every good traveler comes prepared, so be sure to pack bug spray and sunscreen. Although the trail is very well cleared and clean, you will be hiking through areas of woods and grasses, so it would be smart to pack some bug spray for the hike. We did not notice too many bugs on our hike, but parts of the trail wind through fairly thick forest. At the end of the trail, there is a large stretch of boardwalk that is in the open sun, as well as the beach, which doesn’t really have any shade. If you sit on the boardwalk, there is a nice shade canopy to sit under, but if you plan to stay at the beach for a while, you should remember the sunscreen.

While the trail is pretty kid-friendly, the amount of stairs preclude any travel by stroller or wheelchair. We recommend packing light. As we mentioned, the trail contains several flights of stairs, 1,000 feet of stairs up and down, to be exact. Some of them are built into the dirt trail and the stairs at the end are more modern. Our group contained an adult over the age of 55 and two preschoolers, who were all able to complete the trip without any issues, though one of the children did need to be picked up on the hike back.

Other helpful links: Before heading to Rosy Mound, you may also want to check these helpful websites:

• Ottawa County Parks and Recreation
• Grand Haven Visitors Bureau
• Michigan Beach Guard