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Added by Jopie, at 18 August 2016
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11 Reviews
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05 December 2017
Great area for hiking and camping during all seasons.
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06 October 2017
GREAT hiking trails. Lots of ups and downs over dunes.
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20 September 2017
Amazing place! For just the day or a week of camping!
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12 August 2017
It's amazing! Busy during peak times but complain about that after you've been to a standard campground during peak season. Dispersed camping so you can go just about anywhere depending on what you like.
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07 August 2017
Worst hike my wife and I have been on so far.
The place was absolutely packed. We hiked in from the Lake Michigan Recreation Area, just to the north. We were surprised on the way by how many people were there. This was roughly 10 am on a Saturday. As we got further along on the trail, it got busier and busier.
When we finally found a spot to set up, we had to move because another group set up just a stones throw away. Then after we moved, and had been there for another hour or so, TWO more groups set up even closer this time. In retrospect we should have moved again. The group closest to us (less than 100 feet) kept us up till long after midnight drinking and hollering.
I'd say we just drew a bad card with our neighbors, but the truth is we could hear other groups, not that far away, playing music, hollering, and setting off fireworks late into the night.
When we finally left in the morning, we got a chance to see just how many people were camped along the trail the way back. At no point during the 2-3 mile hike were we ever out of earshot of one group or another. No sooner would the voices at the previous camp site begin to fade than we'd stumble across another.
The entire trail was also trashed. As in, with literal trash.
It is a harsh indictment to the type of campers the location seems to attract. We've been hiking all over Michigan, both upper and lower peninsula. In all that time we've never seen this level of garbage strewn about. As a general rule, people who spend a lot of time in the woods, develop an appreciation for it and know to clean up after themselves. The ones frequenting this trail are not like that. You could barely go 100 paces without encountering a pile of trash, or broken glass, or empty beer cans.
Maybe this was a good location to hike and camp at one point. But now it seems overrun by teenagers and adults who lack basic courtesy for their fellow campers, and who cannot be bothered to clean up after themselves.
Unless you do mind sharing the space with an abundance of refuse and have no interest in peace and quiet, do not plan to camp here.response / report this review -
22 July 2017
Been backpacking here for years for reasons already posted. I don't add reviews much, but just an observation that with more people coming to this great location, also there is more garbage and fewer trees. Please help preserve these serene dunes and burn only fallen dead wood, and take out what you bring in. Most of all, Enjoy!
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19 June 2017
Pack light and hike in! Little bit of a hipster scene, but super scenic with miles of hiking trails up and down sandy hills.
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14 April 2017
Primitive Awesome! Great quick getaway for light backpacking.
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26 January 2017
This place is absolutely wonderful for winter camping and trail hiking/sledding. I wish I could've stayed longer than just two nights, but even with such a short visit I was able to take in so much beauty.
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07 September 2016
Wow, I had no idea this place was here until exploring google maps satellite view one day. Its easy to get to and its close to town, you can get the wilderness camping experience with the convenience of not being far from civilization. Because of the ease of getting to this area there are more partiers and beer drinking than you would normally associate with a wilderness area but everyone was respectful as far as noise and cleaning up after themselves, I was actually quite impressed. It is hard to find a secluded campsite here but if you hike off trail into the dunes you should be able to find something.
There's a lot of opportunities to explore and a great beach for swimming with your dog (who are not welcome at the city or state park beaches).
We spent a wonderful night with a view of thunderstorms rolling across the lake the night we were there. I look forward to going back.response / report this review -
25 August 2016
You will definitely be roughing it here - only bathrooms were by the beach. However, the forest is a great place to camp and be one with nature. Lake Michigan is clear and not too rocky by the Dunes too. I'd take the Great Lakes over the ocean any day - you won't be disappointed. For my fellow Michiganders, this is right in your backyard - can't beat this great state!
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