In grade school, you likely remember memorizing the Great Lakes with the acronym HOMES, or perhaps “Super Man Helps Every One” to remember them from west to east. Now that you’re an adult, it’s time to truly explore these natural wonders. These largest bodies of freshwater boast some of the most scenic beaches in the country, with some even rivaling those on the East and West Coasts. Sand dunes, historic lighthouses, and brilliant ice formations – here are 10 gorgeous beaches in the Great Lakes you need to visit to fully appreciate the region’s natural beauty.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Lake Michigan)
The beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with its sand dunes towering over the water, affords a picturesque view of Lake Michigan. Visitors should exercise caution when traveling down its steep incline. Look to your right and look to your left, and you will see miles of sand and vast blue waters, making it the perfect destination for awe-inspiring reflection.
Oval Beach (Lake Michigan)
This beach touts an impressive pedigree as one of the top beaches in the U.S. Located in Saugatuck, Michigan, Oval Beach, with its soft and pristine sand, is the perfect destination for summer beachgoers to swim and soak up the sun. However, wintertime can bring remarkable sunsets. The beach’s consistent beauty provides breathtaking views of Lake Michigan all year round.
Grand Haven State Park (Lake Michigan)
Also located on the Michigan coast, the Grand Haven State Park offers another spectacular freshwater beach. At the mouth of the Grand River, the area boasts painting-like scenes of the pier and two lighthouses. Visitors can enjoy typical beach activities and take advantage of the park’s amenities, including campsites, picnic areas, and a playground. Our suggestion? Leave the balloons at home.
Silver Beach (Lake Michigan)
During the summertime, Silver Beach is typically crawling with swimmers and sunbathers. This long stretch of beach is part of Silver Beach County Park, near the mouth of the St. Joseph River in Michigan. Here, you can enjoy food, play volleyball, rent a kayak, or take a scenic walk down the North Pier. In winter, the snow on the beach and ice in the lake create dazzling formations, making it a photographer’s playground.
Tawas Point State Park (Lake Huron)
Birdwatchers, listen up! Tawas Point State Park, located on Lake Huron along the northeast Michigan shore, is a popular stop for migrating birds. Warblers, shorebirds, raptors, and waterfowl are frequent visitors, making the beach an ideal location to bird watch. But tourists of all types can enjoy the picturesque landscape, which has earned it the title “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
South Haven’s South Beach (Lake Michigan)
Get a taste of the scenery by checking out the South Haven Lighthouse 360-degree live feed camera. On their website, you can watch the waves of Lake Michigan while tourists enjoy their walk on the pier. During the summer months, expect to see crowds on the nearby beach. The lighthouse in the backdrop adds a touch of ambiance to Michigan beach recreation.
Indiana Dunes National Park (Lake Michigan)
Several beaches line the Lake Michigan coast within the Indiana Dunes National Park’s fifteen miles of shoreline. Enjoy a wide variety of recreation, including swimming and sandcastle building at the beach, or hiking, biking, and horseback riding along the area’s thrilling trails. On the park’s website, they provide safety tips for swimming through rip tides and appreciating shelf ice during wintertime, ensuring full enjoyment of the park’s beautiful beaches.
Ludington State Park (Lake Michigan)
In wintertime, Lake Michigan temperatures drop and the lake partly freezes over. Its size prevents it from completely freezing, which allows waves to push ice formations onto beaches like those at Ludington State Park in Michigan. Layers of ice stack up over time, creating marvelous ice shelves along the shore. Who said beaches could only be enjoyed in summer?
Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Lake Michigan)
Similar to other sand dune beaches on Lake Michigan, Saugatuck Dunes State Park offers unique scenes you can’t find anywhere else. The tall dunes provide tourists with sweeping views of the lake and a sense of adventure. Explore the park and enjoy its many trails through the forest, sand, and coastline. Visit the nearby Felt Estate, former home of the father of the calculator, to satisfy the history buff in you.
Whitefish Dunes State Park (Lake Michigan)
We end our list of extraordinary Great Lakes beaches with another featuring impressive sand dunes. Located on the eastern shore of Door County in Wisconsin, Whitefish Dunes State Park preserves the highest dune in the state, known as “Old Baldy,” which peaks at 93 feet above the lake. Now get out there and explore!
