City Hall (269) 857-2603

Find a Park

© OpenStreetMap contributors

The City’s beach, parks, preserves, and trails, with the City limits dashed

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Downtown, from the chain ferry landing to Kalamazoo Lake, with City Hall at 102 Butler Street
  1. Oval Beach

    Beach · 690 Perryman Street

    Lake Michigan sand under the dunes, open year-round.

    8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No dogs Memorial Day weekend through September 30

  2. Chain Ferry

    Ferry · 528 Water Street

    Hand-cranked across the river every 10 to 15 minutes.

    Every 10 to 15 minutes, as riders come Dogs ride free

  3. Mt. Baldhead Park

    Park · Park Street, across the river by chain ferry

    303 wooden steps to the top of the tallest dune in town.

    Closes at 10:00 p.m. No dogs

  4. Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area

    Natural area · Oval Drive, from the Oval Beach parking lot

    173 acres of dunes where the river once met the lake.

    8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No dogs

  5. John A. Woollam Trail

    Trail · Park Street and Bliss Street

    A walk through the woods from the ferry landing to the beach.

  6. Wicks Park

    Park · 502 Water Street

    The gazebo, the Seurat mural, and Music in the Park.

  7. Village Square Park

    Park · Butler Street and Main Street

    The children's playground, new in 2024, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day festivities.

    Playground closes at 10:00 p.m.

  8. Rose Garden

    Garden · Butler Street and Mason Street

    An accessible walk through the roses downtown.

  9. Jones Park

    Park · Butler, Water, and Culver Streets

    The half-acre corner park named for Chief Lyle A. Jones.

  10. Cook Park

    Park · 40 Water Street

    A river-view lawn for the art fair, picnics, and fireworks viewing.

  11. Coghlin Park

    Park · 60 Griffith Street

    Riverside open space for weddings and festivals, with a gazebo.

  12. Mildred A. Peterson Nature Preserve

    Nature preserve · Mill Street and Simonson Drive

    Pond, birds, and a chip walkway on Goshorn Creek.

  13. Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve

    Nature preserve · 63rd Street and 134th Avenue, Saugatuck Township

    169 acres of forest and wetland on the river, leashed dogs welcome.

    Leashed dogs welcome

  14. Willow Park

    132 feet of frontage on the Kalamazoo River. The existing elevated wooden boardwalk with benches offers fishing opportunities as well as scenic views along the river.

  15. Parking

    Beach passes, the Interurban when the lot is full, and the free lot on summer weekends.

Getting to Oval Beach

  1. The white Saugatuck Chain Ferry at its landing with passengers aboard, under the red Saugatuck Chain Ferry sign.

    Chain Ferry

    If you're looking for the ultimate in small town charm, take a ride on the Saugatuck Chain Ferry.

  2. The wooded dune of Mt. Baldhead, a white dome at its top, rising behind the marina and the boats on the Kalamazoo River.

    Mt. Baldhead Park

    From there you can walk to Mt. Baldhead Park to climb the 303 stairs to the top of the tallest sand dune in town, then follow the beautiful winding paths to the beach.

  3. A white fishing kayak with two rods upright rests on the sand at the edge of Lake Michigan, the beach curving away north.

    Oval Beach

    Any way you get there, you're sure to enjoy what is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

If stairs aren't your speed, take a stroll down the John Woollam Trail to the beach.

The John A. Woollam Trail

Parks, Preserves, and Trails

  • Looking down from the dune grass and a split-rail fence onto Oval Beach, with swimmers in Lake Michigan and beachgoers along the sand.

    Beach

    Oval Beach

    690 Perryman Street

    Lake Michigan sand under the dunes, open year-round.

    8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No dogs Memorial Day weekend through September 30

  • The white chain ferry Diane, trimmed in gingerbread railings, tied up at its landing under the red Saugatuck Chain Ferry sign.

    Ferry

    Chain Ferry

    528 Water Street

    Hand-cranked across the river every 10 to 15 minutes.

  • Looking down from Mt. Baldhead over treetops to the marina, downtown Saugatuck, and the Kalamazoo River winding inland.

    Park

    Mt. Baldhead Park

    Park Street, across the river by chain ferry

    303 wooden steps to the top of the tallest dune in town.

  • Golden dune grass rolls across open dunes toward Lake Michigan under a sky of gray and white clouds.

    Natural area

    Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area

    Oval Drive, from the Oval Beach parking lot

    173 acres of dunes where the river once met the lake.

  • A paved path by the river passes a bench and the trail's signboard and map, with a dock and the red ferry landing sign beyond.

    Trail

    John A. Woollam Trail

    Park Street and Bliss Street

    A walk through the woods from the ferry landing to the beach.

  • A crowd fills the Wicks Park lawn around the white gazebo along the river seawall, a small boat passing in front.

    Park

    Wicks Park

    502 Water Street

    The gazebo, the Seurat mural, and Music in the Park.

  • Children climb the rope pyramid and play towers of the new Village Square playground under tall trees.

    Park

    Village Square Park

    Butler Street and Main Street

    The children's playground, new in 2024, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day festivities.

  • Two small children walk hand in hand down a brick path between pink and white rose bushes.

    Garden

    Rose Garden

    Butler Street and Mason Street

    An accessible walk through the roses downtown.

  • Park

    Jones Park

    Butler, Water, and Culver Streets

    The half-acre corner park named for Chief Lyle A. Jones.

  • Shoppers crowd an art fair tent on the lawn beside the carved City of Saugatuck Cook Park sign, under shade trees.

    Park

    Cook Park

    40 Water Street

    A river-view lawn for the art fair, picnics, and fireworks viewing.

  • Children and adults stand in deep white foam under the Coghlin Park gazebo roof as a foam cannon pours out more.

    Park

    Coghlin Park

    60 Griffith Street

    Riverside open space for weddings and festivals, with a gazebo.

  • A mown grass path runs along the edge of the pond, with reeds at the water and fall color across it.

    Nature preserve

    Mildred A. Peterson Nature Preserve

    Mill Street and Simonson Drive

    Pond, birds, and a chip walkway on Goshorn Creek.

  • Tall, slender hardwoods and green undergrowth on a sunlit slope in the Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve.

    Nature preserve

    Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve

    63rd Street and 134th Avenue, Saugatuck Township

    169 acres of forest and wetland on the river, leashed dogs welcome.

Park Hours and Dog Rules

PlaceOpenDogs
Oval Beach 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No dogs Memorial Day weekend through September 30
Chain Ferry Every 10 to 15 minutes, as riders come Dogs ride free
Mt. Baldhead Park Closes at 10:00 p.m. No dogs
Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. No dogs
Village Square Park Playground closes at 10:00 p.m. Not posted
Saugatuck Wilds Not posted Leashed dogs welcome

In Every Park

  • No overnight sleeping or camping in any park, natural area, beach, or associated public parking area.
  • The City Manager may restrict access or close any park or portion thereof when necessary for maintenance, habitat preservation, construction, safety, or public welfare.
  • Entry into restricted or closed areas is prohibited.

Other regulations such as possession or consumption of alcohol, skateboarding, injury to park property, noise, fireworks, trash deposits in waste containers, ball game restrictions, hawking/peddling, hunting, Oval Beach parking passes, and motorized vehicle location and operation are currently established in the City Code of Ordinances.

The City Council may, by motion or resolution, temporarily waive park rules for a designated period or special event.

Code of Ordinances

Parks and Recreation Plan

The City of Saugatuck's Five-Year Parks & Recreation Master Plan is intended to be used as a guide for City of Saugatuck officials on all future recreational and parks projects within the City as an advisory document. It is a starting point for engineering studies, cost analysis, and to help engage public involvement to determine financial feasibility (tax payer capacity) of projects.

Park Questions

Public Works, 3338 Blue Star Highway, (269) 857-2638

Mark Ondersma

Director of Public Works

(269) 857-4137

mondersma@saugatuckcity.com