Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness

Make the hike out to the sandy dunes and set up camp anywhere

Nice quiet campground when I was there (week after labor day). $27 per tent site. Sites are nice and clean. Bathrooms were basic and clean enough. Short walk to a beautiful beach that you could walk on for miles. There is free, dispersed camping off of different roads around here.

The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is dispersed camping, and nearby is Lake Michigan Campground with tent and dry rv camping. We stayed there and almost had the whole place to ourselves.

Be warned- there is no cell service or wifi, so plan ahead and let people know you won’t be reachable. And then enjoy being disconnected :)

The campsites were big and beneath mature trees for max shade and privacy. There’s a small bath house with flushing toilets. No hook ups or electricity of any sort. Camp hosts sold ice and firewood and there was potable water.

The dunes are a quick walk and well worth it. There is a trail from the campground right down to the beach. We hiked all day and lounged on the beach. Dogs are welcome on-leash.

Beautiful campground within walking distance from Lake Michigan and a beautiful beach. Flushable toilets and potable water. No hookups.

This is a wonderful place for dispersed camping. It is about a mile walk from the parking lot to the beach/camping area. There are a lot of trails to keep you busy. One of my favorite parts about this place was that it was not crowded. There were many times we had the beach to our selves for as far as we could see. The water was perfect to slash around in and even swim laps. 

We found a campsite in a valley in the woods, near the beach. Being so close to the water made the trip one that stands out in my memory. Being able to just climb over the dunes and be at the beach was very convenient. Swimming in Lake Michigan was my favorite part of the trip. August was a fantastic time to go because the lake was nice and warm. 

The stars at night are worth the trip by themselves. The night sky was comparable to that in the boundary waters. I thought it was much more impressive than other dark sky preserves in Michigan including Wilderness State Park. The Milky Way was astonishing and the weather was nice enough for us to sleep under the stars without the tent our last night there.

The trail system is pretty extensive. We spent a whole day hiking the dunes for fun, but there are also some shorter walks you can do too. The trails were a nice combination of sunny sand dunes and shaded forest. There are a few steep dunes on the trails, but nothing crazy intense.

It is a very quiet and private place. There is an pit toilet at the parking lot, but that is all.  For $5/night it is great! One thing to be aware of is that the drive into the campground is bumpy. It is best to have a car you are confident in. My minivan made it, but I had to take it slow.

Great camping and hiking site. The dunes provide moderate difficulty levels, despite being a relatively small park there are so many hidden trails one can take. Dispersed camping is allowed and pets are welcomed. I didn't see any ticks or many insects but we camped by the lake trail which was windy and chilly. If you're camping by the lake pick up dead branches or logs around the trail to build a bonfire. It's hard to find these on the lake trail. Don't chop down live trees etc, just come prepared or hike back up to the main trail for dead wood. Lastly, most of the trails are not clearly marked, take a picture of the map and have a compass ready to navigate.

Dispersed camping can be scary to a beginner. Nordhouse Dunes gives you options within a few miles of the trailhead to ease into things. The best part is the views and access to Lake Michigan!

Amazing views by the dunes, Lots of spots to camp along the trail or out by the dunes.

The walk from the parking lot wasn’t bad. Due to how busy it was, we ended up parking a half mile down the road. By the time we left there was about a mile of cars parked after us. Seems to be a very busy spot on the weekends.

Nordhouse Dunes is a beautiful hidden gem. This was my first backpacking adventure and a wonderful experience.

The hike from the parking lot is about a mile through some hilly sand so it was a nice little workout. As others have said, there are no facilities so be prepared for a primitive adventure. Despite rules posted online and at the trailhead, people still seem to camp and build fires on the dunes close to the water. There’s also evidence of people chopping at large, living trees instead of gathering dead wood or chopping up fallen limbs. Despite this, it’s a truly beautiful spot with breathtaking sunsets.

Nordhouse is a fantastic place if you’re into backpacking and rugged camping. No facilities, or hookups, but great place to relax on the water

Nordhouse Dunes was an amazing experience. This was our first time backpacking and the less than 2 mile hike was perfect for our maiden voyage. We took the Nurnberg Trail straight to the beach. Beautiful views all along the Lake Michigan coast. We were about 5 or 6 sites north of where the trail reaches the dunes and it was spectacular! There were two pre-defined campfire setups and we felt like we had our own private beach! Beautiful views of the lake from even the back of the site. It seems that this area is getting more popular, and especially on the weekends. We arrived late on a Friday morning and got lucky by finding a parking spot. The overflow was over a mile long down the main road. Saturday was much busier and even as we were leaving Sunday, the lot was still full. But, for just $5 a day to park, this spot is a must. Again, great for beginners to practice and get used to backpacking, and just as amazing for anyone look for a quick getaway!

#DareToEverywhere

Lovely wooded dunes right on the lake. Several trails in the area. Wilderness area so dispersed camping and alcohol are allowed. $5/ day. Tremendous alternative to Sleeping Bear. From what I gather it’s usually pretty quiet, too. Cannot recommend highly enough. Defo going back

Such a great area. Great view! Totally worth the drive and hike in. A great way to backpack in. I will forever be enamored with it. Fabulous sunsets views.

This is our go to place in MI. A 2 mile hike in beach spot with beautiful views. Lots a variation in how great each spot is, but absolutely worth it. No amenities at all. Great beach walks on lake michigan.

Spend 3days and two nights camping here. Beautiful location. Very easy short hike, unless you take the wrong path and go knee deep in some marshes haha if your not on a trail you can take a wagon on, your on the wrong path. The flys got pretty annoying in July so bug spray is a must. THe water was chilly but super clear and lovely to take a swim. Camp and do your fires back In the tree line for shade. Don’t camp on the water. Even in the forest there’s little wood it’s been picked apart. Please don’t burn lake wood. Saw some guys with a fire 20feet from the water, pretty annoying. There’s little drift wood left and to burn it is disrespectful.

2-3 mile hike-in backcountry camping on the dunes of Lake Michigan. This is a gorgeous area that has unfortunately gotten a little overpopulated. The over night area used to be a quiet and peaceful place to unplug and unwind, but now it feels more like a party beach. Very crowded and loud. Also, too many inexperienced campers come out carrying too much stuff and leave there garbage and unwanted items all over the dunes rather than practicing “leave no trace”

This place has stolen my soul, and it keeps me coming back. The campsites are clean, the trails are well kept, and it’s right by my favorite Lake Michigan beach.

Great for the Backpacking novice. One of my favorite places when I want to camp off the Lake Michigan shore. A very short hike in if you want to stay on the beach. Also several Two-track sites for car and RV camping. Close to Hamlin lake for fishing and kayaking or for larger boats as well. Very Rustic. No utilities. But your neighbors will never see you running naked around the fire unless they happen to be driving by the two-track road.

Rustic camping off two tracks throughout the area. We never have neighbors! Lake Michigan rec area is adjacent with beach access and trails to walk. Hamlin Lake at Ludington State Park is not far and has an interpretive canoe trail. If you need showers you can pay at the corner store on the main Rd. No facilities, bring a shovel.

Requires about a 30-45 minute hike in, so pack accordingly! We slept on the beach, which we didn't realize was illegal, but there are plenty of woodsy spots. There are sand dunes, beach, and woodsy spots. The perfect getaway, with plenty of space to spread out and explore.

Very well maintained park with fabulous hiking trails along the lake and through the forest. We did the dunes loop and loved the variety of changing terrain. We were able to explore the forest, the interdunal area, as well as the beach where some fascinating metal pieces had washed ashore.

Be careful, we were there in May and there were TONS of ticks. Check frequently and bring a brush for easy removal.

One of my favorite place to hike in / backpack camp. There are sites available just off of Lake Michigan and one close enough to trail heads that we have taken young children (4 years old and up) to this area. Unfortunately, and why I only give a three star rating is that in the past few years, other campers have left, trash and human excrement out in the open. Not digging a hole and burying it. The DNR people who work at this site do what they can. Unfortunately some rude campers are ruining the experience for everyone else.

This is a dispersed camping beginners and long-time backpackers can all enjoy. It’s roughly a mile hike in to where the campsites begin, and there’s a ton to choose from. The views are so beautiful. There is nothing like waking up in the woods to roll over and see the Lake Michigan shore line. If you are up to it, this is part of a six mile loop.

The hike is predominately on a sandy dirt terrain and your legs will burn on the hike in, but it doesn’t last long. It is a popular spot for backpackers especially from Grand Rapids but for beginner backpackers it can be comforting to not be completely isolated the first time you backpack.

Just to clarify this is a hike-in style of camping with no water wells, electricity, or outhouses. We recommend it to any person wanting to get started backpacking and plan on making it a yearly trip. The bugs were not bad from the wind off the shore.

Parking is $5

Beautiful shoreline of Dunes and forest.

$5 Daily use fee/Parking

Hike about 2 miles from the parking area. The wilderness boundary line is marked. Bring a trash bag to pack out when leaving. Paradise of a place to disperse camp. Go during the offtime or during the week as some weekends bustle with traffic.

Best location in W MI for disperse camping. Parking is limited. $6/night. NO ACCOMMODATIONS. Hike in only. Only 1 mile hike. Do not bring large coolers, you see many left behind. Raccoons will steal unsecured food.

This is a nice short hike into lake wilderness to see Lake Michigan like never before. With the exception of a speed boat or fellow hiker we were all alone on this trip with tons of swimming. It can get hot during the day with minimal shade so it is good to plan for that with a shade tent of some sort. We camped for 2 nights and had a blast.

There is an actual campground, but we chose to hike in about a mile and then camp on the beach. It was beautiful, the water almost looked Caribbean ocean blue. The sand was clean and secluded enough. Only complaint was that some previous campers didn’t always seem to know practices for camping without facilities and we found a bit of toilet paper along the ridge of the hills. Otherwise awesome place, also porcupines and raccoons are there. Be sure you are hanging your food.

My wife and I recently went on an impromptu camping trip for our anniversary. We threw on our packs, packed up the dogs and proceeded to make the 1.5 mile hike out to the dunes through the Forest. Although a little buggy with little wind it was a beautiful hike with a breathtaking end view of Lake Michigan. We proceeded to hike another .5 mile down the beach and found the most picturesque view of a campsite. Would definitely go again.

Campground Review:

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness has quickly become one of my go-to camping spots. As it is a designated wilderness area, there is no need for pre-arranging reservations, making Nordhouse the perfect last minute destination. You'll have to hike in about 2.5 miles from the parking area to the beach and then anywhere from 0.2 to 6 miles along the beach to find your ideal camping spot. There are no designated camping spaces in the wilderness area but you can easily spot pre-established spots peppered along the beach.

In true wilderness style, the trails are unmarked an unnamed. There are multiple trails that all lead to the beach at dispersed entry points. Starting from the parking lot trail head, following the trails is quite intuitive and easy. However, hopping back on them from the beach can be a little difficult and disorienting so make sure you take good note of where you leave the forest trail and enter the beach. Retracing your steps can become exceptionally confusing if you run into foot trails that lead to other campsites or seemingly nowhere at all--so take good mental notes and don't say that I didn't warn you!

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness has become an increasingly popular summer weekend getaway location so if you're looking for solitude, I'd recommend going mid week or off season (it's open year round). With this increase in visitors, there has also been an unfortunate increase in litter on the beach and on the trail. If you run into any abandoned garbage, do me a favor and take a little bit back with you to be properly discarded of.

Some important details to note are: $5/day parking fee, bathrooms at trail head, map at trail head, no potable water.

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Gear Review:

As a Dyrt Ranger, I also get products to test and review in the field. For this trek, I brought with me the Midland ER310 E+READY Emergency Crank Weather Radio. This radio has many features including a USB charger, LED flashlight, high frequency dog whistle, NOAA weather alerts, solar panel and hand crank. The top 2 things I love about this radio specifically in the camping setting include:

1. You can set alerts for incoming severe weather. This can be particularly useful when out hiking as it eliminates the need to constantly scan the radio for updates or search for cell reception in order to access the weather.

2. Strong reception and battery life. I found the reception and audio quality to be quite clear while using the device out in the backcountry. I had the radio playing for essentially 2 days straight without needing to recharge the device, which is particularly helpful when you do not have access to electricity.

My two primary critiques of the device are concerning the initial start up of the radio and the design of the power button. When I first received the device, it was unclear what exact steps needed to be taken in order to get the radio started. After some fiddling with the device, I discovered that it is necessary to open up the battery compartment, remove the lithium ion battery and then plug in the lithium ion battery. The radio itself does not come with any instructions that explain this, however, on the product page on Midland's website, there is a link clearly labeled ER310 Battery Installation Instructions. My next critique is that there is not a button protector for the power button and in a fully packed backpack, the radio is susceptible to randomly turning on and off at times. You could maybe avoid this by hooking the radio by its handle on the outside of the pack.

Notable specs: at 2.95” x 6.85” x 9.61”, the radio is about the size of a loaf a bread. It takes up approximately 3.2 L of space which is roughly 5% of a 65 L pack. I like to economize my pack weight and space as much as possible so I am not sure if I will take this out on every trip moving forward but certainly on the trips where the weather is uncertain.