Photo Gallery Friday: Saugatuck Dunes State Park in Winter

Photo Gallery Friday is a regular feature on Travel the Mitten that will help showcase photos from places where one post just isn’t enough to show off everything.

On Wednesday we made a trip out to the Lake Michigan shore to check out the ice and snow formations in Holland and Saugatuck. Some of the best scenery we encountered was at Saugatuck Dunes State Park, where we hiked some of the same trails that we had visited in the summer, though they were a bit more difficult to traverse while covered in ice and snow. The end result of reaching the lake was well worth the effort it took to get there, so we thought we would share some of our pictures from this adventure. Waves on the lake that freeze have left some incredible formations, adding a completely different feel to this popular dune-covered area. If you plan on visiting, use appropriate caution and definitely plan on having some good hiking boots or snowshoes and warm clothing. Ice spikes that strap on to boots and/or hiking poles would be a great addition as well.

In the summer months the beach here is incredibly popular and hiking the various trails can be quite a workout. Other nearby attractions include the Felt Mansion (you’ll drive by it on your way to the state park), Saugatuck Brewing Company, and the famous Saugatuck Chain Ferry that crosses the Kalamazoo River.