Michigan State Beaches, with their many miles of shoreline, are among the finest beaches in the U.S. Pets are allowed along the shoreline with the exception of designated bathing/swimming areas within state parks and areas signed otherwise (ie. piping plover nesting habitat). Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash even if they are in the water. The following parks have sections of pet-friendly shoreline:
Algonac State Park – 8732 River Road, Marine City MI, 48039; the entire length of the St. Clair River.
Baraga State Park – 1300 US-41 South, Baraga MI, 49908; the entire length of the Lake Superior shoreline (.25 miles).
Bewabic State Park – 720 Idlewild Rd., Crystal Falls MI, 49920; the entire length Fortune Lake shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
Brighton Recreation Area – 6360 Chilson Road, Howell MI, 48843; section of shoreline on Chilson Pond.
Brimley State Park – 9200 W. 6 Mile Road, Brimley MI, 49715; the Lake Superior shoreline outside of the designated swimming area.
Burt Lake State Park – 6635 State Park Dr., Indian River MI, 49749; section of shoreline on Burt Lake on the south end of the park.
Clear Lake State Park – 20500 M- 33 North, Atlanta MI, 49709; the Clear Lake lakeshore other than the designated swim beach.
Craig Lake State Park – Intersection of Nelligan Lake Road and US 41, Champion MI, 49814; along any of the park’s shoreline.
Dodge #4 State Park – 4250 Parkway Drive, Waterford MI, 48327; section of shoreline located to the west of the rock jetty and just outside the designated swim area.
Duck Lake State Park – 4733 N. Scenic Dr., Whitehall MI, 49461; the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline (.5 miles) and Duck Lake.
Fayette Historic State Park – 4785 II Road, Garden MI, 49835; the Lake Michigan shoreline other than the designated swim beach.
Fisherman’s Island State Park – Bell’s Bay Road, Charlevoix MI, 49720; a section of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Grand Mere State Park – Stevensville MI, 49127; along the Lake Michigan shoreline (.5 mile).
Harrisville State Park – 248 State Park Road, Harrisville MI, 48740; section of shoreline located on the north end of the camper’s beach; accessible via foot trail near site #103.
Hoffmaster State Park – 6585 Lake Harbor Road, Muskegon MI, 49441; the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline apart from the designated swim area.
Holland State Park – 2215 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland MI, 49424; in the designated dog beach in the Lake Macatawa day-use area directly across from the Lake Mac Campground.
Holly Recreation Area – 8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly MI, 48442; section of shoreline south of the designated swim beach on Heron Lake.
Leelanau State Park – 15310 N. Lighthouse Point Rd., Northport MI, 49670; the Lake Michigan shoreline near the lighthouse and campground in northern park unit. Pets are not permitted along the shoreline in Cathead Bay (accessible via trail system) due to piping plover habitat.
Ludington State Park – 8800 W. M-116, Ludington MI, 49431; the majority of the park shoreline is closed to pets to protect endangered piping plover habitat; however, a pet-friendly beach is located between the beach house and the Big Sable River.
McLain State Park – 18350 Highway M-203, Hancock MI, 49930; a portion of Lake Superior shoreline.
Mears State Park – 400 West Lowell Street, Pentwater MI, 49449; the southernmost section of shoreline.
Menominee River State Recreation Area – Norway MI; the entire length of the Menominee River.
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area – 3871 Herd Road, Metamora MI, 48455; along the Lake Minnawanna shoreline other than designated swim beach.
Mitchell State Park – 6093 E. M-115, Cadillac MI, 49601; the entire length of Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell, except for the designated swim beach.
Muskegan State Park – 3560 Memorial Drive, North Muskegon MI, 49445; along the Lake Michigan shoreline outside of the designated swimming area (with the exception of marked piping plover nest habitat).
Negwegon State Park – Harrisville MI, 48740; along the majority of Lake Huron shoreline.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – 33303 Headquarters Road, Ontonagon MI, 49953; along the Lake Superior park shoreline.
Port Crescent State Park – 1775 Port Austin Road, Port Austin MI, 48467; the entire length of the Lake Huron shoreline (3 miles) with the exception of the designated swim beach in the modern campground.
Proud Lake Recreation Area – 3500 N. Wixom Road, Commerce Twp. MI, 48382; the entire length of the Huron River and Proud Lake shorelines other than the designated swim beach in the modern campground.
Rifle River Recreation Area – 2550 E. Rose City Road, Lupton MI, 48635; along the park’s lakes, river and stream, with the exception of the designated swim area.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park – 6575 138th Ave., Saugatuck Dunes MI, 49453; the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Silver Lake State Park – 9679 W. State Park Road, Mears MI, 49436; the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline (3 miles) and the park’s inland lake, Silver Lake, in all areas other than the designated swim beach.
Sleeper State Park – 6573 State Park Road, Caseville MI, 48725; the entire length of the Lake Huron shoreline except for the designated swim beach.
Sleepy Hollow State Park – 7835 E. Price Road, Laingsburg MI, 48848; section of shoreline located 100 yards north of the Lake Ovid swimming beach; follow ‘Dog Beach’ signs from the main beach parking lot.
South Higgins Lake State Park – 106 State Park Drive, Roscommon MI, 48653; two pet-friendly beach areas, one along a section of shoreline in the day-use area (along the east park boundary) and a campers-only area (along the west boundary of the campground).
Straits State Park – 720 Church St, St Ignace, MI 49781; along the Lake Huron shoreline.
Tawas Point State Park – 686 Tawas Beach Road, East Tawas MI, 48730; section of shoreline, enclosed by fencing, on Tawas Bay between the campground and the lighthouse. Pets are allowed off leash within the designated area but must be on a 6-foot leash elsewhere in the park.
Twin Lakes State Park – 32650 N. Hwy M-26, Toivola MI, 49965; pet friendly area.
Van Buren State Park – 23960 Ruggles Road, South Haven MI, 49090; the entire length of the Lake Michigan shoreline except for the designated swim area.
Van Riper State Park – 851 County Road AKE, Champion MI, 49814; the entire length of the Lake Michigamme and the Peshekee River with the exception of the designated swim beach.
Warren Dunes State Park – north of the northernmost swim buoy at the designated swim beach (2.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline).
Wilderness State Park – 903 Wilderness Park Drive, Carp Lake MI, 49718; the majority of park shoreline is closed to pets to protect endangered piping plover habitat; however, a pet-friendly beach is located down a small path in the picnic area (just east of the headquarters building).
Young State Park – 2280 Boyne City Road, Boyne City MI, 49712; section of shoreline southeast of the boat launch.
More information on Michigan State Beaches
