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Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Michigan is renowned for its beautiful beaches, especially on the shores of Lake Michigan. Some of the most famous dunes on our shores are the Sleeping Bear Dunes. These massive dunes are one of my favorite places to bring visitors.

Another beautiful location for endless dunes is Silver Lake, which borders Lake Michigan. In the summer, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes are packed with visitors who swim, sunbathe, and go on sand buggy rides, but in the winter it proves to be a wild, empty expanse for exploration. These dunes are also not well known outside of Michigan and are often only frequented by locals.

What to bring

I visited the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in December, which are open all year round. If you are planning on visiting the dunes in the winter, I suggest wearing snow gear to protect yourself from the elements. Another good idea might be ski goggles. We were wind blasted so badly in some sections that I really wished for some protection for my eyes. Three days later I was still digging sand out of my eyes!

Overall, we had the dunes to ourselves and spent an entire afternoon barely scratching the surface of this wild expanse. You could easily become lost in if you did not keep your bearings.

Where to go

We made our way across the dunes from the main parking lot towards Lake Michigan and wandered along the shore admiring the beautiful turquoise color of the freezing waves. The sand had also frozen in interesting shapes and patterns and icicles hung from trees and driftwood.

Lake Michigan winter near the Silver Lake Sand Dunes

On our way back we climbed along the dunes that overlooked Silver Lake. The wind battered us about, with some gusts so strong that we could lean backwards into the wind and not fall over! The entry and exit to the dunes is not for the faint of heart, as there is a massive dune to climb and then descend. Thankfully there was a rope to help us pull ourselves up when we entered the dune area.

Check out some lighthouses!

Driving back, we stopped at the Petite Point Au Sable Lighthouse, which proved to be another beautiful area that was largely deserted. As it was nearing Christmas, someone had also hung a wreath on the door of the century-old lighthouse.

Petite Point Au Sable Lighthouse

Michigan is a beautiful place to explore and enjoy in the summer, but it also has much to offer in the winter. If you don’t mind the cold weather, the shores of Lake Michigan and its dunes are stunning in all seasons. Let me know in the comments below what time of year is your favorite time to visit Michigan!

Silver Lake Sand Dunes winter greenery