The Nordhouse Dunes

The Nordhouse Dunes have become one of my favorite places to camp in the state of Michigan. Typically I like to visit an area once and move onto someplace new the next time, this way I can see more of our country and it's parks but the Nordhouse Dunes seem to pull me back every year for a nice 3-4 day stay. The beautiful sand dunes, panoramic view of Lake Michigan, and the local wildlife make for a stay that is unlike any other.

A tip for any dog owner: A section of the beach has been made available to pets (which most do not find a lot of in MI). The northern section of the Nordhouse Dunes borders the Michigan Recreation Area, a car-campers delight. The beach north of the Recreation Area is reserved for pets and their owners.

Camping in the dunes is very comfortable. Small deposits of trees and low shrubs like the photo to the right can help protect from potential high winds and the sun. Since you are right off the shore of the Great Lake, winds can really get quite nasty, but most wind can be eliminated by camping behind bluffs.

When we stayed at the Dunes this year, we wanted our new companion "Summit" our 6 month old Viszla to be able to come and have some outdoor exposure. We ran into MANY other dog owners including a beautiful blue nosed Pitt Bull, so apparently the word is getting around.

Just keep in mind, the DNR says that it is unlawful to have your dog off-leash and should be attached to a leash not acceding 6 feet in length. We never leashed Summit, but let's just keep that between you and me.

Anyways, just a few short blurbs about one of my favorite places in Michigan. Never a bad stay and when it rains, the sands drains quickly and no mud!!

Additional sites to help you plan better:

http://www.backcountryattitude.com/nordhouse-dunes.html

http://www.getoffthecouch.info/mason/nordunes.htm