Michigan’s Silver Lake Sand Dunes is a great destination for a family vacation. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, explore the sand dunes, and swim in the lake (weather dependent of course). There are also plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and off-roading (several vehicle rentals nearby).
To cap off the kids’ spring break we took them up to Mears, Michigan for the opening weekend to the ORV area of Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Overall, the boys had a blast for this weekend’s getaway and rode the dunes. The weather was the biggest hindrance with that first day having a very cold and rainy/snowy morning which meant we didn’t rush to leave first thing. By the time we got up to the dunes it was just cold and overcast but the winds were brutal with gusts up to 30+ mph. Unfortunately, the weather conditions definitely impacted the amount of time and what we had originally planned on doing that first day. But it did result in more pool time at the hotel we stayed at, so the boys were thrilled with that. Especially because there were two other families that had kids their ages down at the pool area, so they had other kids to swim and play with. The second day was a vast improvement but still cold and windy enough that we all had to layer up a bit. It was nicer to the point that we could get out of the Ranger and go explore and eat lunch on the Lake Michigan shoreline. We are looking forward to the summertime and heading back up when it is warm enough to jump in the lake! As well as having all of the seasonal businesses opened up!
For those that are looking at planning your own vacation or weekend getaway up to the dunes here is some important information to get you started. The first important note is you do not have to own an ORV or 4×4 vehicle to enjoy Silver Lake Sand Dunes. They have a pedestrian-only area that will allow you access to enjoy the area on foot. If you do want to experience the dunes at a slightly faster pace there are several rental options available. Silverback Offroad Rental and SunBuggy Silver Lake ORV Rentals (the hubs and I rented a dune buggy from them years ago – so much fun!) are both open as of April 1st and stay open through the duration of the season until the end of October. The other two options open mid-May once with Silver Lake Buggy Rentals and Mac Wood’s Dune Rides. Mac Woods does have a section of the Dune Area designated for their own guided dune tours. A map of the area can be found here.
Each rental business has slightly different types of vehicle options with rates. Which option is best for you truly depends on the experience you are looking for. If you don’t want to do any of the driving and would like the business to provide that service Mac Woods is your best option. Just note that unless you have a large group they don’t do reservations, but their prices are very reasonable. Silverback has the most exciting selection of vehicles to rent from my point of view, but they do require passengers to be over 5 years old and have the ability to reach the grab bar. We’ve linked to the respective websites above so you can check them out based on your family’s needs.
For those that plan on taking their own vehicles the most important thing is to make sure you have all the necessary permits before heading into the park, so the DNR Rangers don’t have to turn you around. All vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, need to have the ORV license ($26.25), ORV trail permit ($10), and the Recreation Passport (price depends on where you buy it and if the vehicle has a license plate or not – it is slightly cheaper to get it through the Secretary of State during your registration renewal $13 vs $18 onsite) this is good for the year. They also have daily recreation passports for those that are coming out of state ($11).
Please note that Michigan law prohibits anyone under the age of 12 to operate an ORV/ATV at Silver Lake Sand Dunes but they can be passengers in ORVs. Only one person is allowed to ride on an ATV or dirt bike. Kids between the ages of 12 and 16 can drive ATVs and dirt bikes as long as they have the required ORV Safety Certificate (must have it on their person) and have a parent or an adult guardian with them for direct supervision. Rental companies have their own policies. This is just relevant for your personally owned ORVs/ATVs.
Now outside of the dunes during their peak season, the area has a ton of options for festivals, shopping, and so many great places to get food. Because our weekend trip was outside of the peak season most of the places were still closed down. But I highly encourage you to check out the Visitors Guide here to see what might be going on when you plan your trip to this gorgeous Michigan destination.
My Offroad Family 