While snow may be blanketing the Silver Lake Sand Dunes at the moment, summer will be here sooner than you think! Here in Silver Lake, many area campgrounds are already taking reservations, making now the perfect time to reserve your spot.

 

Why Choose Silver Lake as Your Summer Camping Destination?

Never camped at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes before? Here’s why seasonal visitors keep coming back every year.

 

The Dunes

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes are one of the most unique landscapes in the entire Midwest. The area boasts more than 850,000 visitors annually! With acres upon acres of sand (over 2,900!) and four miles of freshwater shoreline, this natural landform is a literal playground for a range of fun outdoor activities. You can rent an ORV and drive the dunes, trek the sand on foot, or take a Mac Woods Dune Ride tour — just to name a few.

 

Lake Living

Around here, lake living is a way of life. Not only is Lake Michigan the backdrop to all we do in the Silver Lake Area, we also have many inland lakes to enjoy. No matter what your personal taste is, you’ll find something fun to do in or around the water. Boating, canoeing, fishing, and swimming are always on the agenda.

And if you’re not up for heading in the waves? Simply stake out your spot on the beach, lay back, and soak up the sun!

 

Shopping and Attractions

Even at the dunes, rainy days happen. And when they do, it’s always nice to have some indoor activities lined up as a backup plan. Luckily, in the Silver Lake Area, there’s as much to do inside as there is to do outside. For starters, there’s shopping for every interest — from clothing stores and gift shops, to general stores and antique shops.

And when you’re not in the mood for simply browsing, just head to our Things to Do page. There, you’ll find a long list of indoor activities to pique your interest: Arcades, historic sites, museums, art galleries, wineries, and more.

 

3 Steps to the Perfect Camping Trip

Ready to start making your summer camping trip a reality? Putting your vacation in motion takes just 3 simple steps:

 1. Choose your dates.

The best camping spots at the dunes go fast — especially as spring rolls around. So, it’s wise to schedule your trip [ https://thinkdunes.com/plan-your-trip/ ] as early as possible. This is especially true for popular dates such as opening day at the Silver Lake State Park, Memorial Day weekend, the 4^th of July, and Labor Day.

2. Select your lodging.

How do you like to camp? Silver Lake Sand Dunes has it all. Choose from rustic cabins, tent camping sites, RV spots, and more. Camping not your thing? If that’s the case, not to worry. The Silver Lake Area boasts a range of lodging options and things to do for non-campers as well.

3. Start filling up your vacation days with fun activities in the Silver Lake Area!

At this point, all that remains of your plans is to fill up your schedule with fun things to do. Check out our Attractions and Places to Eat pages to start making your arrangements now.

A relaxing and memorable summer camping trip awaits at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes — Start planning today!

Whether you’ve been planning your trip to Silver Lake for months or have just decided to stop by on a whim, we’ve got the perfect summer-fun ideas for your visit!

Summer Amusement at the Dunes…

How could we not put the Silver Lake Sand Dunes first on the list? This extraordinary landmark remains the main attraction in our neck of the woods. Here are some ways we recommend enjoying these huge sand hills of amusement:

1. ORV

The Dunes are divided into three distinct areas — the first of which is just for ORVs (off-road vehicles). You can bring your own or rent one when you get here. Learn more about personal ORV requirements or rent a vehicle when you get here at:

• Silver Lake Buggy Rentals
• Parrot’s Landing
• Wild Bill’s ATVS

2. Walk in the pedestrian area

No vehicles are permitted in the pedestrian area of the Dunes, so it’s the perfect place to meander along the sand hill peaks and take in the breathtaking views. Go at your own pace. Kids love this area, and it’s perfectly safe from the ORV and tour buggy zones.

3. Take a Dunes tour

Don’t feel like walking? Not to worry. There’s a designated third area of the Dunes that’s only for Mac Wood’s Dune Rides. These rides take you and your group on a thrilling 7-mile tour of the Dunes, bringing you all the way to the beaches of Lake Michigan and back again in an exciting 40-minute trip.

At the Beach for Swimming & Watersports…

Travel along the entirety of the 1,640-mile shoreline of Lake Michigan, and you’ll notice one thing right away: The Silver Lake stretch of coastline has the best beaches. Take your choice as you schedule a day of fun in the sand and surf, along the big lake or beautiful inland Silver Lake:

4. Swim

Want to go swimming, lay on the beach, and build sand castles? We recommend these local beaches:

• Dune Beach on Silver Lake
• Little Sable Point Lighthouse Beach
• Silver Lake Sand Dunes ORV Beach
• Silver Lake State Park Campground

5. Enjoy a day of watersports

Rent a wide range of fun water sports equipment (plus accompanying instruction) at Wave Club Water Sports, located right on Silver Lake. Rentals are available for ski boats, pontoons, wave runners, sail boats, kayaks, canoes, and more!

Amusement & Entertainment for the Whole Family …

6. Shop ‘till you drop

Throughout Downtown Hart and Silver Lake (and everywhere in between!), our area boasts a number of fantastic locations to browse and buy this summer. Check our Shopping page for complete shop & store listings.

7. Plan a day of amusement

Craig’s Cruisers has been a staple destination in Silver Lake for decades. Head here with the whole family for a full day of mini golf, kiddie karts, arcade games, bumper boats, paddle boats, go-karts, and much more!

8. Take part in agritourism

Our inland area of the coast covers acres upon acres of beautiful countryside, orchards, and forest, making it ideal for families who want to get away from the city and enjoy a bit of the farm life. Our agritourism visitors especially enjoy:

• Country Dairy, a working dairy farm with tours, a play area for kids, fresh-from-the-dairy ice cream, a full-service café and store, and much more.
• Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo, a 700-acre farm with local produce and treats, plus a petting zoo, gift shop, and an ever-changing list of awesome games and activities for kids.

Psst! Looking for places to eat while you’re out and about? We can recommend the best eateries and ice cream shops in the Silver Lake area.

And if you’re looking for even more local entertainment and attractions, rest assured it’s all here on our list of things to do. We hope to see you soon!

As winter fades away, we find our sweet reward for surviving another frigid season: the opening of Silver Lake Sand Dunes. While you may recognize four seasons, around here we only know two: Silver Lake Sand Dunes Season and its offseason.

On April 1^st, the only true fools are the ones not at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes celebrating 2,000 acres of ever-changing sand dunes that stretch nearly three miles long and one and a half miles wide. Every year on April 1^st, sand-riding enthusiasts descend upon the dunes, nestled in between Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, to celebrate their playground re-opening. And if you can’t make it April 1^st? Don’t fret: the dunes remain accessible through October 31^st.

But let’s not linger on the closing date – we’re here to revel in its opening. As the season kicks off, there’s much excitement ahead. The northern area of the dunes is reserved for off-road vehicles for sand-driving fun. Don’t have your own and don’t want to miss out on the fun? Good news: there are a handful of locations in the area from which you can rent a vehicle. The center of the dunes essentially functions as one giant sandbox, where visitors can explore and have fun by foot – beaches are also accessible in this area. Finally, the southern end of the dunes is home to Mac Woods Dune Rides, which offers visitors a seven-mile tour of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Mac Woods is a Michigan summertime staple and opens May 11^th.

The fun isn’t solely found on the dunes and the water, however. The area boasts attractions like Country Dairy, Lewis Farm Market & Petting Zoo, Craig’s Cruisers, golf courses, Rainbow Ranch horseback riding, and much more.

The area also features a full lineup of events and festivals that celebrate everything from the arts to asparagus. View the lineup here.

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes present a unique Michigan excursion. You can connect with nature and really use its beauty for fun. Whether it’s a day-trip adventure for a ride or an extended stay chockfull of riding, golf, swimming and other amusements, you want to ensure a visit is locked into your calendar before Halloween gets here. Start planning here. www.thinkdunes.com