Last Updated on September 14, 2023

There are quite a few sand dunes around lake Michigan, and those in the southwest area are especially suited for sandboarding.

The slopes near Silver Lake are one of the most scenic areas in the US where sand surfing can be practiced, while the Warren Dunes State Park offers great dune sledging thrills around Lake Michigan.

Unfortunately, sandboarding is prohibited at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, but you can still sled the dunes there in the winter season when they covered in snow.

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Dune Valley at Silver Lake State Park. Photo courtesy of Chris Light.

Silver Lake State Park – Mears

Silver Lake State Park is a public recreation area covering 2,936 acres (1,188 ha) that border Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, four miles (6.4 km) west of the town of Mears in Oceana County, Michigan.

The area is popular with sand buggys and off-road vehicles, and there are also plenty of shops and restaurants and camping sites. The area has been nominated as one of the top 5 sandboarding spots in the US so it’s definitely worth to combine a multi-day hiking and camping trip with sandboarding.

Sandboard rentals

You can rent a Venomous sandboard from The Sand Box on your way to the park. Cost is $10 per hour or $30 per day, with a required driver’s licence and credit card deposit of $150. Alternatively, you can buy a sandboard online and bring it along with you.

Getting there

The nearest major city to Silver Lake State Park is Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is about 100 miles (160 km) to the west.

To get to the park from Grand Rapids, take I-96 east to exit 115 for M-115. Follow M-115 south for 12 miles (19 km) to the park entrance.

There is also public transportation available to the park. The closest bus stop is in Mears, which is about 2 miles (3 km) from the park entrance.


Sandboarding at Warren Dunes State Park - Tower Hill Dune
Tower Hill sand dune in Warren Dunes State Park. Photo courtesy of rmhermen.

Warren Dunes State Park – Sawyer

Warren Dunes State Park is a 1,952-acre (7.90 km2) Michigan state park, located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Berrien County.

The park’s large sand dunes and lakeshore beaches make it one of the most popular of Michigan’s state parks with an average of about one million visitors annually.

The easy access to Warren Dunes makes it a very popular spot for sand surfing, with steep slopes found all around the park. The highest and most popular dune is around 240 feet (72 metres) and known as “Tower Hill”.

Sandboard rentals

You can rent a sandboard or sand sled from The Third Coast Surf Shop. You’ll pay $25 for half a day (4 hours) or $40 for a whole day (8 hours), and you can also arrange a 1.5 hour sandboarding lesson with an instructor for $95 (+$65 for each additional person), which includes the cost of renting a board.

Getting there

The nearest major city to Warren Dunes State Park is South Bend, Indiana, which is about 40 miles (64 km) to the south.

To get to the park from South Bend, take I-94 west to exit 108 for US-12. Follow US-12 north for 15 miles (24 km) to the park entrance.

There is also public transportation available to the park. The closest bus stop is in Sawyer, which is about 2 miles (3 km) from the park entrance.


Can you sandboard at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes?

Unfortunately, sandboarding and sand sledding are currently not permitted at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

You may only sledge down the dunes in winter when they are covered in snow.

Dune sledding is permitted in a designated area of the Dune Climb while other areas can be sledged with skis, snowboards, toboggans or saucers – again, only when it’s snowing.


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