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Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
The 3,500 acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is a beautiful and complex feature along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline, in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, located between Ludington and Manistee. It is popular for hiking, primitive and dispersed camping, beach combing, hunting, picnicking, nature study and wildlife viewing, also offering approximately 10-miles of trails accessed from two developed trailheads: Nurnberg Road and Lake Michigan Recreation Area. The designated Wilderness area is a protected natural space, an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.
Our Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Story has more information on what is being done to protect this special place and how you can help.
At a Glance
| Area Amenities: | Interpretive Site,Tent camping,Fee charged for some activities,Toilets,Parking |
|---|---|
| Fees: | Day Use FeesDay use fees are required at Nurnberg Trailhead and Lake Michigan Recreation Area for single day use and dispersed overnight camping access.
|
| Permit Info: | No commercial, event or large group (75 people or more) permits are issued in the wilderness area. |
| Restrictions: | Allowed
Prohibited
|
| Closest Towns: | Manistee and Ludington, Michigan |
| Passes: | Annual and short-term passes are available and apply to day-use fees at Nurnberg Trailhead and Lake Michigan Recreation Area. |
| Information Center: | Cadillac/Manistee Ranger Station |
General Information
Parking:Nurnberg Trailhead/Day Use parking area has a 24 vehicle capacity; Lake Michigan Rec Area Trailhead/Day Use has a 60 vehicle capacity. As a designated Wilderness area, the parking areas are limited to 5 parking spaces per 1,000 acres of Wilderness.
General Notes:
Downloadable Maps and Resources
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Visitor Information and Map
Visiting Nordhouse Dunes
Nurnberg Road Trailhead offers day use and dispersed overnight camping access. A day use fee is required, please see the instructions posted at the respective trailheads for instructions on how to pay or get a pass ahead of time. Next to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is Lake Michigan Recreation Area, a 102 site campground and day use area. Visit Recreation.gov to plan your trip to Lake Michigan Recreation Area.
Protect This Special Place
Nordhouse is one of two federally Designated Wilderness Areas in Michigan’s lower peninsula. Congress conserved this land in 1987 as part of the larger 1964 Wilderness Act. As a Designated Wilderness there are use restrictions to protect the area – see restrictions above for full list. We encourage visitors to practice Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly principles.
The Dunes is part of the Big Sable Dunes Complex, of which includes the Lake Michigan Recreation Area and the Ludington Dunes Ecosystem. Formed 3,500-4,000 years ago, some dunes stand up to 140 feet high. This collective complex area is the largest area of freshwater interdunal ponds in the world, with dune grass providing habitat and refuge for wildlife. The area is also home to the federally endangered Pitcher’s Thistle, and Piping Plover (a shoreline bird).
Seasonal Information
Lake Michigan Recreation Area is gated in the off season.
Directions:
Parking:
Day use trailhead parking is available at the Nurnberg Road Trailhead and Lake Michigan Recreation Area. Details of parking lot size are available in their listings on this site.
Activities
Beachcombing
Collecting woody material from beaches or other sandy areas is prohibited. Woody material includes, but is not limited to: driftwood, shipwreck timbers and pine knots
Areas for Beachcombing at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Sand Play
To find out the water temperature in Lake Michigan visit the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System
Areas for Sand Play at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Campground Camping
Nordhouse Dunes is open for dispersed camping, however no camping is permitted within 400 feet of the Lake Michigan shoreline, 100 feet from trail, 200 feet from Nordhouse Lake.
Visitors are asked to use existing campsites when possible. Campfires or bonfires are not permitted on the beach. Know before you go - see the restrictions section of this page for a full list of requirements to help protect this specially managed area.
Lake and Pond Fishing
Fishing is allowed at Nordhouse Lake. There are no prohibitions against shore fishing on Lake Michigan, however, the shoreline is very shallow and there are few fish.
Please note there is not a boat launch available,and use of wheeled equipment is not allowed per the Wilderness Designation of the area.
| Fishing Mode | Shore, Wade |
| Special Designations | National Wilderness Area |
| Fishing Platform | No |
| Cleaning Station | No |
| Water Temperature | Cold |
| Accessible Platform | No |
| Fishing Method | Fly, Pole |
Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Day Hiking
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is open to hiking with 10-miles of trail accessed from either Lake Michigan Recreation Area or Nurnberg Trailhead. The trail system within the dunes is minimally signed. While some sections of trail will lead visitors to Lake Michigan, others head to Nordhouse Lake. Visitors are encouraged to use a trail app, bring a compass/GPS unit and/or a current map when hiking the wilderness. Utilizing “Leave No Trace” principles we encourage people to stay on the trail system.
Arrowhead Trail is located within and around Lake Michigan Recreation Area. This short loop trail was created by the Boy Scouts many years ago and is located between the Lake Michigan Recreation Area and Lake Michigan. This short trail goes between the beach and campground. Visitors can also walk along the beach, heading south will take you onto the shoreline within the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. See Maps & Publications section of our website to download the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area map/brochure.
Areas for Day Hiking at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Backpacking
There are several dispersed campsites along the trail system. Visit recreation.gov to reserve a camping site at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area, on the northern side of Nordhouse.
Visitors are encouraged to use a trail app, bring a compass/GPS unit and/or a current map when hiking the wilderness. Utilizing “Leave No Trace” principles we encourage people to stay on the trail system. No camping is permitted within 400 feet of the Lake Michigan shoreline, 100 feet from trail, 200 feet from Nordhouse Lake. Visitors are asked to use existing campsites when possible. Campfires or bonfires are not permitted on the beach. Know before you go - visit Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness restrictions at link below.
Areas for Backpacking at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Viewing Wildlife
The Lake Michigan Shoreline is the summer habitat for the Piping Plover. The piping plover is a relative of the Killdeer. Piping Plovers are smaller, and lighter colored. Breeding adults have a single black band around the neck, while the Killdeer has two. The Great Lakes population of piping plovers is endangered — they are in danger of extinction. The “piping” part of the name is a description of its call, a sweet, soft whistle. Plovers are a group of shorebirds that feed with run-stop-peck movements, somewhat like the way an American robin feeds.
The ultimate wildlife viewing experience is watching animals in their habitat. Here are some helpful tips to become a wildlife friendly viewer:
- Use the right tools - A field guide, a pair of binoculars and a camera. Wear clothing that is appropritate for the season and activitiy.
- Watch at dawn and dusk - This is the time when most wildlife species are active enough to view.
- Keep your distance - Maintain a distance that is comfortable for the wildlife.
- Stay quiet - Move slowly and quietly to increase your chances of viewing wildlife, and to avoid stressing the animals you wish to watch.
- Do not feed the wildlife - There is plenty of food availale in the wild. Human food can cause digestive problems, provide improper nutrition, and even kill an animal.
An online version of the Michigan Wildlife Viewing Guide is available on the MI-DNRE website.
Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Viewing Plants
The shoreline is home to the federally threatened Pitcher's Thistle.
The Pitcher’s thistle grows for five to eight years before it flowers. Its non-flowering form is a rosette or cluster of silvery leaves and its flowering form typically has one stem with many branches. The entire flowering plant may grow 3 feet tall. Cream or pink flowers grow at the end of branches and from the leaf axils.
Areas for Viewing Plants at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Interpretive Areas
Interpretive signage depicting the dunes, wilderness, piping plover, and pitcher thistle can be found throughout the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area and Lake Michigan Recreation Area.
Picnicking
There are picnic sites available at Nurnberg Trailhead, Lake Michigan Recreation Area Day Use, or visitors can pick a spot anywhere they would like along the trails, dunes or shoreline. Just remember the restrictions noted above.
Areas for Picnicking at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Swimming
Sandy shoreline beaches span all along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. To find out water temperature in Lake Michigan visit Great Lakes Coastal Forcasting System
Swimming in Lake Michigan can be hazardous with variant undertows, please ensure self awareness and safety of others. There are no life guards in this area. Swim at your own risk.
| Water Temperature | Cool to Cold |
Areas for Swimming at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
See Nurnberg Road and Lake Michigan Recreation Area for access details to the area during the winter months.
General Info:
ParkingDay use trailhead parking is available at the Nurnberg Road Trailhead and Lake Michigan Recreation Area. Details of parking lot size are available in their listings on this site.
Amenities
| Interpretive Site: | |
|---|---|
| Tent camping: | in the wilderness |
| Fee charged for some activities: | day use fee for parking |
| Parking: | Nurnberg - 24 vehicle capacity; Lake Michigan Rec Area - 60 vehicle capacity |
| Toilets: | vault toilet |
Location
