Michigan Trails

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

4/5 (2 reviews)

Mears, Michigan (Oceana County)

Last Updated: 11/28/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

ORV Park

Sand

Lake Michigan has the largest deposit of freshwater coastal sand dunes. At Silver Lake Sand Dunes, you can drive on them! The area for driving covers 450 of the 2,000-acre stretch of dunes sandwiched between its namesake, Silver Lake, and Lake Michigan. Two steep dunes are separated by a more gentle landscape that allows you to pick your adrenalin threshold ranging from a quick and easy stroll to Lake Michigan or pointing your vehicle straight up with a rooster tail of sand spinning out the back. Grab the tow strap and give it a try!

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Todd

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

Rules and Regulations

A current year Michigan ORV license and permit must be displayed on the back of your vehicle.
A Michigan Recreation Passport displayed on the front windshield - lower passenger side.
A 10-foot mast holding an international orange flag must be mounted to the front bumper.
Air tires down to maximum of 15 psi.

Driving Silver Lake Sand Dunes is an open OHV area. Besides the entrance, exit, and the two primary dunes, you can drive wherever you want. The areas considered out of bounds are clearly marked. The guide here can be veered from any time as long as you are not entering a non-ohv area or trying to drive north up and down the two main dunes. The entrance is clearly marked and just inside the air-down area. While the exit is on the south end of "Test Hill." The two main dunes at the entrance can only be traveled southerly. It does seem that most traffic drives Sunset Hill in the northern direction. Vehicle and Recovery Gear Recommendations Any high clearance vehicle with 4 high will do find through most of the area. AWD is not recommended. All-terrain or mud-terrain tires are desired and have a tow strap! Open Times Early Season hours (April 1st–May 1st) is daily from 9:00 am–8:00 pm. Peak Season hours (May 1st–September 15th) are daily from 9:00 am–10:00 pm. Late Season hours are (September 15th–October 31st) 9:00 am–8:00 pm daily. Tips

Air-down at Waypoint 1 staging area.
Air-up at Waypoint 10, the ORV welcome center, where you will find free and fast air.
If you are new to dune riding, always keep your vehicle pointed straight up or down the dunes, never sideways.

Fast-moving vehicles, pay attention to your side mirrors when pulling back into the open area, and always be on the lookout.

1. Trailhead and Air Down Area (0 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 1: Trailhead and Air Down Area

A very large area is set up for staging and airing down. Once you drive in, you see the east side of what is named "Test Hill" - the largest dune in the park for driving. Once you have air-down, you enter via the northeast corner of this lot to gain access to the dunes. Remember, air-up at Waypoint 10.

2. Test Hill Entrance (0.92 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 2: Test Hill Entrance

If you choose to hit the most challenging part of the park first, turn left here and up and over! Continue straight to enjoy other parts of the park. You will pass through this area again when coming down from the dune at Waypoint 5, which can be a warm-up to Test Hill. You are also treated with your first view of Lake Michigan and Sunset Hill.

3. Options (1.24 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 3: Options

To illustrate the point that you can drive anywhere through here, we added this as a decision point. You can go straight to the beach, to Dune Buggy Junction, or up Sunset Hill, the nice-sized dune to your northwest.

4. Lake Michigan and Beach (1.55 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 4: Lake Michigan and Beach

You can't drive to the water, but you can park along the barrier and walk to the water and beach, where picnic tables are set up for you to enjoy Lake Michigan. From this point, you can travel to any in-bound areas as this guide will direct you to the warm-up to the "Test Hill" dune, which is optional.

5. Warm Up to Test Hill (2.21 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 5: Warm Up to Test Hill

With this dune, if you commit, you are committed as a large sign reads that turning around is not allowed. If unsure, hang out and watch a few other vehicles go before you to see what lines they take. Once at the top, it's a very gentle downhill back to Waypoint 2.

6. West Side of Test Hill (3.19 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 6: West Side of Test Hill

There are plenty of safe areas in this corridor to pull over and watch the action. You can also watch vehicles play on Test Hill. To the west and towards the Lake is a fun-looking dune with more vegetation than the others. From here, you can go to what looks most interesting to you.

7. Bathrooms (3.71 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 7: Bathrooms

Six vault-style toilets are nestled in this corner along the edge of the Park's ORV boundary.

8. Food Truck (4.15 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 8: Food Truck

There usually is a food truck along the beach. It can change location from time to time.

9. Test Hill Exit / Walking Dunes and Exit (5.37 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 9: Test Hill Exit / Walking Dunes and Exit

Leaving the open ORV area, the Test Hill exit is on your left, and walking-only dunes are to your right. Continue straight to exit and air up. As you exit, you will want to pass by the Waypoint 1 air-down area and continue to the air-up area.

10. End and Free Air (6.41 mi)

Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Waypoint 10: End and Free Air

There are banks of air hoses for airing up. The air is incredibly quick, and you can air up all four tires in a matter of minutes, take your flags off and get yourself all set up for a ride home. Vault toilets are here as well.

Trail Reviews

4/5 (2)

Todd

Official Crew

106950

Seasonal Closure

Visited: 11/11/2022

Closed for the season!

Todd

Official Crew

106950

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 09/11/2022

I took a couple of hours to experience what Silver Lake Sand Dunes were all about! I have to admit, it was a little too fast-paced for my normal style, and vehicles were everywhere, going in every direction. However, I was very impressed with the level of organization of the park and loved the free air at the end. You will most likely agree that the free air at the end is about the fastest air-up you will ever have! The scenery was beautiful, the driving is fun, and I recommend going here if you want the true sand experience!

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead and Air Down Area (0 mi)

2. Test Hill Entrance (0.92 mi)

3. Options (1.24 mi)

4. Lake Michigan and Beach (1.55 mi)

5. Warm Up to Test Hill (2.21 mi)

6. West Side of Test Hill (3.19 mi)

7. Bathrooms (3.71 mi)

8. Food Truck (4.15 mi)

9. Test Hill Exit / Walking Dunes and Exit (5.37 mi)

10. End and Free Air (6.41 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Todd

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Recommended Vehicle:

Concerns:

Summary:

Community Consensus

Mandatory

Optional

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead and Air Down Area (0 mi)

2. Test Hill Entrance (0.92 mi)

3. Options (1.24 mi)

4. Lake Michigan and Beach (1.55 mi)

5. Warm Up to Test Hill (2.21 mi)

6. West Side of Test Hill (3.19 mi)

7. Bathrooms (3.71 mi)

8. Food Truck (4.15 mi)

9. Test Hill Exit / Walking Dunes and Exit (5.37 mi)

10. End and Free Air (6.41 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Todd

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