Grand Haven State Park
Encyclopedia
Grand Haven State Park is a 48 acre (0.19424928 km²) state park
in Michigan
. The park is located in Grand Haven, Michigan
on the coast of Lake Michigan
on the south side of the mouth of the Grand River
and harbor.
The park has 174 campsites and a very popular beach area. The park is quite sandy throughout and is not wooded. Many campsites have direct views of the lake and lighthouses.
A large pier is next to the state park. The pier is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
while the lighthouse
and pier
head fog signal building are maintained by the Coast Guard
. The pier connects to a boardwalk
on the south side river revetment
. The boardwalk extends approximately a mile upstream toward the center of town and features many restaurants and shops. The lighthouse
was originally built in 1839 and rebuilt in 1905 at its present location.
The beach and state park were created by the interruption of the littoral drift of sand along the coast caused by the navigation structure which was installed to protect the entrance to the harbor. The harbor and channel are also maintained by the Corps of Engineers, which has a local administrative office located near the east end of the boardwalk.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The park is located in Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven, Michigan
Grand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the...
on the coast of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
on the south side of the mouth of the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
and harbor.
The park has 174 campsites and a very popular beach area. The park is quite sandy throughout and is not wooded. Many campsites have direct views of the lake and lighthouses.
A large pier is next to the state park. The pier is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
while the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
head fog signal building are maintained by the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. The pier connects to a boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
on the south side river revetment
Revetment
Revetments, or revêtements , have a variety of meanings in architecture, engineering and art history. In stream restoration, river engineering or coastal management, they are sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs in such a way as to absorb the energy of incoming water...
. The boardwalk extends approximately a mile upstream toward the center of town and features many restaurants and shops. The lighthouse
Grand Haven Light
The Grand Haven Breakwater lighthouse is located in the harbor of Grand Haven, Michigan.Grand Haven Lighthouses are two different lighthouses on the south pier of the channel where Grand River comes in to Lake Michigan. A lighthouse was first established there in 1839...
was originally built in 1839 and rebuilt in 1905 at its present location.
The beach and state park were created by the interruption of the littoral drift of sand along the coast caused by the navigation structure which was installed to protect the entrance to the harbor. The harbor and channel are also maintained by the Corps of Engineers, which has a local administrative office located near the east end of the boardwalk.
Facilities and activities
- Swimming
- PlaygroundPlaygroundA playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
: Shoreline fishing is available from the pier. - Picnicking
- Picnic Area
- Picnic Shelter
- CampingCampingCamping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
: Overnighters will find 174 modern campsites, plus the former park residence, a three-bedroom, ranch-style house now known as Grand Haven Lodge. - HikingHikingHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
- Cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...