With 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, second only to Alaska, Michigan is a paradise for people seeking a beautiful place to swim, paddle board, launch a canoe or kayak or just soak in the extraordinary beauty of the freshwater lakes. Finding a quiet place to enjoy the ultimate Michigan summer experience along the shoreline away from crowded beaches may take a bit of a hike, but the payoff will be worth it.
State and federal public lands and nature preserves along the Great Lakes offer the best opportunities for accessing the less visited shoreline areas. Please review all of the information at the end of this article to make sure you know the land managers” requirements for your visit and the potential dangers to avoid visiting remote shoreline areas.
Here are just a few of the opportunities waiting for you.
Negwegon State Park is a rustic, undeveloped park on Lake Huron near Ossineke. The park has seven miles of shoreline, including a one-mile-long, beautiful sandy beach. Driving to the park entrance from the south requires travel along a two-track dirt road. Remote hike-in or paddle campsites are available through the Department of Natural Resources reservation system. The park is Dark Sky reserve and offers excellent bird-watching opportunities and has rare shoreline plant species that includes pitchers thistle.
Big Sable Point is the home of the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness and Ludington State Park, on Lake Michigan. The remarkable sand dunes of Big Sable Point on Lake Michigan are considered the world's largest complex of freshwater coastal dunes. The Forest Service Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness to the north and the Department of Natural Resources’s Ludington State Park to the south encompass the entirety of Big Sable Point, providing seven miles of uninterrupted sand beaches. While both areas are very popular, the sheer extent of the publicly owned beaches offers an opportunity for those willing to hike a distance to find a quiet place to enjoy Lake Michigan.
Lying at the tip of the mitten, Wilderness State Park has 26 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan, unbroken by development or roads. Sturgeon Bay and Waugoshance Point on the western part of the park offer an opportunity to experience the undisturbed shoreline and beautiful waters.
Bete Grise beach is a mile-long beach on the south side of the Keweenaw Peninsula is described as having "singing" sands that provide a lovely sound when stirred or walked on. The Nature Conservancy’s Bete Grass preserve also includes 4,000 feet of lakeshore, with the Bete Grise Beach and Roadside Park.
Horseshoe Bay Wilderness is an easily accessible Forest Service wilderness lies on Lake Huron just north of St. Ignace. The southern third of the long narrow shoreline is a sandy beach that can be reached by road or by parking at the Foley Creek campground and then hiking through the woods.
Big Pine Picnic Area, Hiawatha National Forest, Lake Superior. Just west of Sault St. Marie along the Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway, visitors will find a beautiful sandy beach on Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay, reached by walking through tall white and red pines. In addition to enjoying the water, visitors can look for agates along the beach.
Before You Go, Review This Information:
Most Great Lakes beaches, including those listed here, do not have lifeguards on duty, so swimming and other water-based activities are at your own risk. Check on weather conditions before heading to the beach. Become proficient in understanding the potential for dangerous currents in the Great Lakes and how to avoid being caught in them.
If you plan to camp, you must check with the managing agency to make sure you have gotten necessary permits, made reservations, and are familiar with the rules around fires and other camp-related activities. Links in the article above can connect you with the correct land managing agencies.
Many remote shoreline areas are home to threatened and endangered plants and creatures, including piping plovers, the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly and the Dwarf Lake Iris. Visitors need to stay on trails and sand or rock only, avoiding walking on vegetated dunes to prevent erosion and harming plants. Any pets need to be kept on a leash to avoid potential damage to wildlife found on the shoreline.
Under the public trust doctrine, all Michigan shoreline areas are open to the public below the “ordinary high water mark” for that area. Be aware, however that it is illegal to trespass on private property to reach those sites.