How is the swimming at the beach? I heard it is kind of mucky....a friend who was there a couple years ago said she sunk into muck up to her thighs.

Ellen Wright | Feb 17, 2019 | Category: State park

Bay City State Park - All questions

Address: 3582 State Park Dr, Bay City, MI 48706, USA

Invader Lizzo | Feb 18, 2019

S.O.S....save our shoreline, fights to keep from interfering with any natural aspect of the coast, so there is alot of seaweed type growth and that makes the swimming area quite mucky from old growth decaying and new growth living off of it, and they wont clean it up... although the sand of the beach is quite nice , there are plenty of features that make the visit worth it, the incredibly awesome State Park including the Tobico Marsh and there viewing towers and hike are Awesome, and there is a water park for kids near the entrance to the park that's not small and has lots of sprayers and toys etc..in case you're grossed out by a little muck, it reminds me of swimming in a pond like OASIS Beach in Standish MI,

Bay City State Park (Owner) | Feb 18, 2019

The swim beach has made an incredible turn-around since 2015 when the park began grooming the swim beach on a consistent basis. An intricate summer program that combines filtering, raking, and disking has been used nearly daily. This has resulted in a dramatic disappearance of the muck at the swim beach and a huge increase in swim beach attendance. On one visit to the swim beach at 6PM on a June Tuesday, staff counted 500 people there, with about a third of them in the water. Because of water quality issues that exist throughout Saginaw Bay, there are rare days when our beach, as well as adjacent swim beaches, are closed for generally only a day. These occur when the County Health Dept, gets a bad result but when they re-test, the water quality always has been fine again. Department tests the water four times a week and all the other times, the tests results are great. For photos of how beautiful the beach looked last summer, go to the park’s Facebook page (BayCityStatePark).

Larry Carlson | Feb 18, 2019

Totally natural and undredged. It is a little organic but the Sandy coastline is quite attractive! The Nature House and Park Headqtrs. are very well done!

Dan Cady | Feb 18, 2019

There's a lot less muck the last couple years with the rise of lake levels. The State Park is grooming more of the beach than in years past.

Joe Burzynski | Feb 18, 2019

Beach isnt what it used to be. I forget which government agency wont let them do something about the water. Only are allowed to groom a small section of beach to use. Beach that is groomed is good. Actually to use water you have to wade through muck to get to nice water for swimming.

M Carr | Feb 18, 2019

Yep, have to agree with Sarah, silt is quite deep. In the 70's the park had a rigorous maintenance plan for swimming and the beach was a go to place. Not so much anymore.

ozone Dick | Feb 18, 2019

Swimming is wonderful

Sarah Flatt | Feb 18, 2019

Yes! Swimming is awful! There are often warnings not to go into the water... but that is likely why they constructed a wonderful spray pad! It's really big and free to use with a park passport or camping reservation!

Breanna Prince | Jun 22, 2021

It’s really nice. It doesn’t bother me and I’m very picky!

Erin Wichmann (Erin Quinn) | Feb 17, 2021

This year barely any muck. There are a few shallow mucky spots between sandbars but not even deep enough to be ankle deep and there is not on the actual shore.

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