Bronson/Kruse Park

A dog beach on the pristine shores of Lake Michigan — sounds pretty good, right? And that's exactly what you'll find in Kruse Park, a pretty waterfront park in Muskegon.

The park itself covers about one mile of Lake Michigan beach, with the northern end only reserved for dogs. The dog-friendly section is well signposted, and dogs need to remain leashed while on the sand. But if your furry friend wants to take a dip, they can do so off-leash.

Originally known as Bronson Park, a moniker still favored by many maps and GPS navigation systems, this beautiful lakefront park was purchased by Muskegon from the Bronson family way back in 1890. The northern half of the park was added in 1960, with the current name of Kruse Park adopted in 1994. It wasn't until the year 2000 that the city designated an area of the park just for dogs, but Kruse Park has since become a favorite haunt for dog lovers and their furry friends.

Your dog will likely find plenty of opportunities to socialize with other canines, and the calm waters are perfect for swimming. There's lots of sand for your dog to sniff around and explore, and your pooch will also enjoy exploring the large dunes that back the beach.

If you're willing to climb some stairs, there's a lookout behind this northern end of the beach that guarantees some spectacular water views, particularly at sunset. Other facilities include picnic shelters, restrooms, basketball court, wheelchair-accessible dune walkways, and a great little playground for the kids.

There's plenty of parking available, but finding a spot can be a little more difficult on the weekends during the busiest times of year. It's well worth the visit, however, as the beach is clean, the scenery is beautiful and your dog will love nothing more than dipping their toes in the water.