Discover a Home on the Harbor in Muskegon, MI
When it comes to water recreation in the Muskegon Lakeshore region, the lakes (and rivers) are all great. Of course, just off Muskegon’s western shore sits the mighty Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume. But the area is filled with other beautiful bodies of water as well, making the entire area a premier boating destination.
“You’re never very far from water in Muskegon. You see it everywhere, even when you’re just driving around,” says Dan Bonner, outdoor adventure specialist at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park and an avid outdoor enthusiast. “There are so many different options for people to sail, fish, kayak, paddleboard, swim and waterski.”
Let’s Cruise
One of the easiest ways to enjoy the water is to take a cruise. Muskegon is a popular stop for such cruise agencies as Pearl Seas (which specializes in Great Lakes and Canada cruises) and the French luxury cruise operator PONANT. In addition, the Lake Express ferry offers a ride that lasts two-and-a-half hours, from Muskegon to Milwaukee four times a day in May through October.
Locally operated Aquastar Cruises has been serving the Muskegon area since 1987, when the boat was known as the Port City Princess. The Aquastar has capacity for up to 150 passengers for both public and private cruises.
“For people who don’t own a boat, the Aquastar provides them with access to the water that they otherwise might not have,” says Patrick McKee, Aquastar Cruises president.
A typical two-hour cruise departs from the West Michigan Dock and Market on Muskegon Lake downtown, cuts across the lake and through the Muskegon Channel into Lake Michigan, then travels along the dune-covered coastline.
The Aquastar offers several themed trips, including a Parrot Head/Jimmy Buffett cruise, Polynesian and Mariachi cruises, a full moon cruise and the popular sunset cruise.
“There’s no better way to take in a Western Michigan sunset than from the deck of the Aquastar,” McKee says.
Float On
Yacht and boat clubs abound throughout Muskegon County in such communities as Montague, Norton Shores and Whitehall, where the White Lake Yacht Club has been welcoming members and guests since 1903.
“The No. 1 goal of most yacht clubs is to be a gathering place for people who enjoy being on the water,” says Kevin Moore, commodore of the Muskegon Yacht Club, which was formed in 1934. “For some people, that means just sitting in a rocking chair and looking at the lake and watching the boats go by.”
But for most yacht club members, the primary appeal is to get out onto the water. Moore says the Muskegon Yacht Club provides an extensive array of sailing programs, including youth training, adult sailing classes and weekly ride-along times. Muskegon Yacht Club also offers classes through local schools as well as the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore.
“Muskegon has some of the best sailing locales in the United States and we want people to get out on them and enjoy the world of sailing.”
Kevin Moore
commodore of the Muskegon Yacht Club
But you don’t have to belong to a club or organization to take advantage of all the water around Muskegon. The only thing you need is something that floats, because water access points are plentiful. These include Black Lake Park, Pere Marquette Park, Dune Harbor Park and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.
“It’s amazing how much public access we have to water in Muskegon County,” Bonner says. “On summer days, there are hundreds of boats parked along the Lake Michigan shoreline. You’ll see paddleboarders and kayakers on the lake.”
Even when it’s colder, Bonner says, people still take to the lakes for kitesurfing and kiteboarding. There also are a number of parks and access points on the region’s inland lakes, and a lot of those lakes connect to Lake Michigan.
“Water can be so refreshing,” Bonner says. “We drink water to refresh our bodies, but we get out on water to refresh our minds. And this is just a beautiful place to be able to get outside on the water and enjoy it.”
Explore More
Outdoor adventures are at your feet in the Muskegon Lakeshore
One of the most popular hiking pathways is the 11.5-mile Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail, where hikers can go all the way from Muskegon to White Lake, Whitehall and Montague.
Popular spots for paved road biking include the 24-mile Hart-Montague Trail and the 26-mile Musketawa Trail. Great places for mountain bikers to enjoy rougher terrain include area state parks that all offer single-track courses.
Looking for a great place to camp? Check out Fisherman’s Landing & Campground on the east end of Muskegon Lake. Wolf Lake Resort and Campground in Muskegon also has a great array of sites.
Mona Lake is ideal for canoeing and kayaking, and White Lake gives paddlers heading to Muskegon State Park an excellent starting point. Much of the White Lake trip runs along a sand dune shoreline.
Sand dunes are abundant here, and a popular activity is climbing The Dune Climb Stairway at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, which features a 193-step hike to a viewing platform perched 190 feet above Lake Michigan.
You can often catch trout and salmon on the Muskegon River or go fishing for bass and walleye on any of the county’s dozens of inland lakes.
Get to Know the Muskegon Lakeshore
Thinking about moving to the Muskegon Lakeshore? Check out the latest edition of Livability Muskegon Lakeshore, Michigan.