Silver Lake Sand Dunes

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes are a natural phenomenon that attracts more than a million visitors to western Michigan each year. Sand, sun and fun await you at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes nestled between the shores of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake in Oceana County. Tourism in this area dates back to the early 1920’s. At that time people usually travelled by train to the station located in Mears, Michigan. From there visitors and their trunks would be brought to the lake by horse and buggy. The area quickly flourished and before long cottages and campgrounds were popping up while stores and restaurants moved into town.
The dunes are composed of over 2,000 acres of sand dune. The park itself measures 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long. The dunes were and continue to be formed by a process known as saltation. The wind, a key component of
During this process, the sand can exert considerable abrasive action on metal, wood, glass and boulders. Many dead tree trunks, some said to be 2,000 years old, are scattered throughout the dune and bear testament to this process as they have been sharpened to points by the abrasive action of the moving sand. The magnificent dune is divided into three sections. The first, commonly known as the northern area, is reserved for off-road vehicles. Here a person can test his/her vehicle and their sand driving skills. Whether you rent or take your own vehicle this is a thrill you need to experience. The central region is for hiking, walking, or simply enjoying the beaches of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake. Within the dune are wetlands with tree growth of many kinds which provide