Ottawa Sands
*Photos by GEI Consultants
Directions
From US-31, take the Ferrysburg exit west on to 3rd Street to North Shore Drive. Turn west on North Shore and travel just over one mile to the Ottawa Sands entrance (a tenth of a mile west of City of Ferrysburg's Coast Guard Park). Overflow parking is available at North Beach Park (lot not plowed in the winter) and Coast Guard Park.
18280 North Shore Drive
Ferrysburg, MI
Hours
7am to 10pm year round
Fees
There are no entry fees.
Amenities & Activities
- Paved 1.6 lake loop trail
- Modern restrooms
- Accessible kayak launch
- Benches
- Paved parking lot
- Idema Explorers Camp – Coming Soon!
Map
This map shows the trail system and natural features at Ottawa Sands. The 345-acre property is nestled within a 2,479-acre corridor of interconnected dune lands. The site has long been used for sand mining, but has been inactive in recent years. In 2024, ecological enhancements and access improvements were completed. The park includes a paved path around the lake, a day-use area featuring a paved parking lot and modern restrooms, as well as connections to regional trail systems. The property features forested dunes, an 80-acre inland lake, interdunal wetlands, and riverfront land with wetlands.
Rules
- No swimming. For the safety of park users, swimming will not be allowed until a safe beach and necessary support facilities are developed.
- Catch and release fishing only. Ottawa County Parks is partnering with the DNR and MSU Extension to study the lake’s fishery and may revise this rule in the future.
- No live bait. Live bait can introduce invasive species; only use artificial bait while fishing.
- Boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, inner tubes, and other watercraft on the lake are prohibited. Watercraft can introduce invasive pests like zebra mussels, sea lamprey, and New Zealand mud snails.
- Dogs must be on a 10' leash and in control. There are no off-leash areas at this location.
- Hunting by special permit lottery only.
- All other Ottawa County Parks rules and regulations are in effect
Ottawa Sands County Park Master Plan
Following months of public input and information gathering and the development and revision of multiple ideas and concepts, a final master plan for Ottawa Sands was approved at the December 2020 Parks Commission meeting. See the Ottawa Sands County Park Master Plan report for a complete description of the process and results.
