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Lake Harbor Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,134 Google reviews · Running trail in Norton Shores, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- 2 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Harbor Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Lakeside 189-acre park with a beach, scenic walkways, wooded trails, picnic areas & fishing.
What runners say about Lake Harbor Park
“she plans on placing it this spring,I imagine Alexis mother picking a beautiful sunny day with a Michigan breeze and the smell of our beautiful spring air.”
“It gets plenty of use, so it is well-maintained but not so overused that you cannot find a quiet spot to yourself if that’s what you want, or need.”
“Family friendly as our 7, 10 and 11 year olds just went up 3 and down 3 dunes with energy to spare!”
Just one of my favorite places in the world... Some friends brought me here 20 or so years ago and I thought it was such a cool place. I've always been used to huge public beaches with tons of people, or rocky private beaches on the east side. This beach/park is better than either.
This was a beautiful park I visited with my children and my dog. If you go right, you can take a nice nature hike all the way down to Lake Michigan. With amazing views both ways at the end. The kids can run up and down the dunes in areas if they would like. Turn around and go left, and you are at Mona Lake.
There is a nice sized parking lot. We have never had a problem finding a parking spot. The path is wide and level. It is an easy walk to the beach. The park is always clean as well. There are Porter potties on site.
I lived in Muskegon, Michigan for about 7 years and including a few summers (back from college) beyond those seven. Almost without exception Lake Harbor Park is one of the places that I return to every single time I visit (which is often, to see family). I love the trails that wind through Whitey's Woods.
Trail conditions & character
“she plans on placing it this spring,I imagine Alexis mother picking a beautiful sunny day with a Michigan breeze and the smell of our beautiful spring air.”
“It is a little walk from parking lot to the beach, but the main path offers an easy walk part crushed limestone part paved.”
“The park has access to the sandy Lake Michigan beach with a relatively flat 0.”
“There are definitely some intense hills to climb if you're up for the challenge.”
“It gets plenty of use, so it is well-maintained but not so overused that you cannot find a quiet spot to yourself if that’s what you want, or need.”
“It is a little walk from parking lot to the beach, but the main path offers an easy walk part crushed limestone part paved.”
“It is a little walk from parking lot to the beach, but the main path offers an easy walk part crushed limestone part paved.”
“That path also continues West, traveling through the woods before meeting the boardwalk which goes by the canal to the beach There is also a stairway leading up to the bluffs.”
“This was a beautiful park I visited with my children and my dog.”
“Additional bathroom facilities (port-a-johns) have been added along the path, but there is nothing close to the beach anymore.”
Plan your run at Lake Harbor Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Distance2 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenortonshoresparksandrecreation.com
- Phone+1 231-799-6802
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 5 am–10 pm |
Running trails near Norton Shores
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Dune Harbor Park Muskegon County
4.4 ★★★★☆ 75 reviews
Lakeside park offering a trail for walking, plus on-leash dogs.
P. J. Hoffmaster State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,558 reviews
Park features the Dune Climb stairway, lake-view observation deck & miles of hiking & skiing trails.
Beachwood Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 822 reviews
Recreation area with basketball and pickleball courts, trails, and picnic tables, plus a playground and beach.
Muskegon Lakeshore Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 85 reviews
Long trail for walking and biking, offering scenic views, wildlife encounters and boardwalks.
