Pere Marquette Park Beach is a popular city beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. Take a walk or a bike ride along winding nature trails, play beach volleyball or simply relax on the sand.
The park is named after Jacques Marquette, a 17th-century French Jesuit missionary and explorer who, among other famous exploits, founded the first European settlements in what is now Michigan. Explore the park’s roughly 28 acres (11 hectares) of land, located where Lake Michigan meets the channel into Muskegon Lake.
Join the locals making their way to the public beach, which stretches for about 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers) down the shore. A wheelchair-accessible walkway runs from the parking lot to the beach. Enjoy the scenery and the water at what is considered to be one of the cleaner beaches in the region.
A little south of the main beach is a dedicated dog beach at Kruse Park, where you can bring your canine pal or admire the antics of someone else’s. If you are feeling energetic, try beach volleyball on the courts provided. Pere Marquette also has playground facilities to entertain the kids. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the snack bar or settle in at the picnic area and grills.
From the beach access the Lakeshore Trail bike and hiking path, which loops around the park and continues for 12 miles (19 kilometers) around the city of Muskegon and its surroundings.
Walk north to see Muskegon’s two historic lighthouses, both of which date back to the early 20th century. Continue your stroll along the Muskegon Channel to see the USS Silversides, a World War II submarine that has been converted into a public memorial and naval history museum.
Pere Marquette Park Beach is located off Lakeshore Drive, just south of the Muskegon Channel. The drive from central Muskegon takes around 15 minutes. Entry to the park does not require a fee. On-site parking is also free. There are public restroom facilities available at the park.