where are the sand dunes in michigan

Michigan’s best-known sand dunes are mostly along the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially in west Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The biggest names to look for are Sleeping Bear Dunes, Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Warren Dunes, Saugatuck Dunes, Nordhouse Dunes, Arcadia Dunes, and Grand Sable Dunes.

Main dune areas

• Sleeping Bear Dunes near Glen Arbor and Empire on Lake Michigan.

• Silver Lake Sand Dunes near Hart, Mears, and Pentwater.

• Warren Dunes State Park near Sawyer, in southwest Michigan.

• Saugatuck Dunes State Park near Saugatuck.

• Nordhouse Dunes near Free Soil, south of Manistee.

• Arcadia Dunes near Arcadia.

• Grand Sable Dunes near Grand Marais / Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula.

Quick map sense

If you’re thinking in broad strokes, most of Michigan’s famous dunes line the Lake Michigan coast , with a smaller but important dune system on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Michigan is also described as having the largest collection of freshwater dunes in the world.

Easy picks

• For the most famous view: Sleeping Bear Dunes.

• For driving on sand: Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

• For a quieter hike: Nordhouse Dunes or Saugatuck Dunes.

Would you like the dunes grouped by closest city , best for hiking , or best for off-road driving?