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Area Status: Open
The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is a Federally designated wilderness in Michigan's lower peninsula and encompasses 3,450 acres of National Forest.
Nordhouse Dunes is part of the Ludington Dune Ecosystem, which also includes Lake Michigan Recreation Area, and Ludington State Park. The dunes were formed 3,500 to 4,000 years ago and stand up to 140 feet high. Ludington Dune Ecosystem has the largest area of fresh water interdunal ponds in the world. The interdunal ponds, small water holes and marshes, decorate the area. Dune grass covers many of the dunes and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
The Nordhouse Dunes are interspersed with woody vegetation such as juniper, jack pine and hemlock. Plant life is varied and includes the Federally Endangered Pitcher's Thistle. The sand beach along the lake varies from narrow to wide and is home to the Federally Endangered Piping Plover, a shore bird that nests on the ground in small cobbles.
The wilderness area is popular for hiking, camping, hunting, nature study and wildlife viewing. There are approximately 10-miles of trail that can be accessed from 2 developed trailheads at the end of Nurnberg Road and Lake Michigan Recreation Area.
For more information on the Ludington Dune Ecosystem visit the MI-DNRE website.
Brochure with Map: This brochure is set to print on 8 1/2 x 14 paper, landscape (wide) orientation. To print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper set the print area to "shrink to printable area", this will make the text on the page smaller.
Flickr Photo Album
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: |
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area -
- Nurnberg Trailhead: managed Season starts April 1, 2017 and ends Nov. 30, 2017.
Lake Michigan Recreation Area -
- Day Use Area - Beach Access: managed Season starts April 1, 2017.
- Day Use Area - Picnic Area: Managed Season starts May 1, 2017 and ends Dec. 1, 2017.
- This area is gated when closed.
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| Operational Hours: |
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted. |
| Area Amenities: |
Parking |
| Fees |
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Nurnberg Trailhead Day Use -
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| Permit Info: |
Special Use Permit -
- No commercial, event or large group (75 people or more) permits are issued in the wilderness area.
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| Open Season: |
January 1 |
| Usage: |
Light |
| Best Season: |
January to December |
| Busiest Season: |
May to October |
| Restrictions: |
Allowed -
- Nonmotorized/nonmechanized use
- Pets, on-leash
- Camping 400 ft from Lake Michigan shoreline, 250 ft from trails and Nordhouse Lake
Prohibited -
- Mechanized, motorized and over-snow vehicles/equipment
- Pack, saddle and other livestock
- Collecting woody material from beaches/shoreline
- Parking in violation of posted instructions
As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest, natural resources and to provide for public safety of visitors. These rules are available to you on-line or at any office of the Huron-Manistee. General Topic orders apply across the Forests. Applicable Orders -
- Motorized Vehicle Use of Roads, Trails and Off-road Areas
- Occupancy and Use
- Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
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| Closest Towns: |
Manistee, Ludington |
| Passes: |
Recreation Enhancement Act Fee - Day Use -
- Nurnberg Wilderness Trailhead
Concessionaire Fee - Camping -
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Day Use -
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area
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| Operated By: |
Cadillac Manistee Ranger District - (231) 723-2211 |
| Information Center: |
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General Information
General Notes: Location -Lake Michigan
Nearby Recreation Areas -
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area
Trailheads - Lake Michigan Recreation Area, Nurnberg Trailhead
County - Mason
Seasonal and Other Information -
- This site is not gated during the off season.
- This site is not maintained in winter:
- Parking and/or access road are not plowed.
- Trails are not groomed in winter.
Directions: Nurnberg Trailhead
From Manistee -
- Travel south on US-31 for 7 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on W. Forest Trail Rd. for 2.5 miles.
- Turn left and travel south on Quarterline Rd. for 1.5 miles.
- Turn right and travel west on Nurnberg Rd. for 6.5 miles.
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SHOW
The shoreline is home to the federally threatened Pitcher's Thistle.
