I had the greatest time at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. It’s part of the Huron-Manistee National Forests system and was easily accessible from the cabin I stayed in during an extended weekend. There is a little something for everyone — provided you’re the outdoorsy type. They have places to park RVs, places to pitch tents, a nice planked walkway through the wooded area and some dirt paths, and they also have the famous Michigan Dunes. We came for a swim and ended up staying four hours. We parked in the lot closest to the beach entry, put $ 5 cash in the parking envelop, placed the receipt on our dashboard, and left all cares behind as we headed down the wooden steps to one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. I’m not even exaggerating. The sand is clean. The water is clean. They really take care of this mini paradise. I didn’t fear walking around barefoot, the water was the perfect temperature and pretty clear, and the only signs of litter were the remnants of beach fires from previous nights. I know the rangers are pretty on top of things, but you could tell the people there were also very careful to place their trash in bags that they brought and bring it with them when they left. Just a note — glass bottles are not allowed, so place liquids and foods in plastic or metal containers. Please be advised that there is little to no shade on the beach. The sun hits hard in the summer. You should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and an umbrella if you want to avoid being burned.
