Dune Report

29/09/2023

Your Silver Lake Sand Dunes fall tour map! 🍂

🔗: https://thinkdunes.com/news/savor-the-seasons-of-silver-lake/

11/09/2023

***Reminder for September 16 ORV Area Hours Change***
Beginning Saturday, September 16th, the ORV area closes at 8:00 pm through our last day of October 31st. Rangers need about 1/2 hour to clear the dunes so they will start at around 7:30 pm.
The ORV Area is open from 9:00 am – 10:00 pm (9:30 pm to clear the dunes) through September 15.

01/09/2023

Attention: All Parking Lot Vouchers for Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 have been handed out. This includes both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space on this weekend may be excessive and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center beginning at 7:30am on Saturday, September 2 for Saturday or Sunday, September 3 for Sunday. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.

27/08/2023

***Reminder for visitors who need to get a Parking Lot Voucher for Labor Day Weekend***
Due to the anticipated traffic volume for the upcoming holiday weekend, the Welcome Center gates will be opened at 3:00 AM on Friday morning (09/01/2023) to allow traffic to park and wait until vouchers are distributed at 8:00 AM. Vouchers will be available for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (as Monday is the holiday).
All rules and regulations for the Welcome Center will remain in effect during the earlier operating hours. Posted rules and regulations include but are not limited to the following:
- No unattended vehicles
- Alcohol is prohibited
- Quiet hours are in effect
- Pets must be always leashed
- Restrooms are available on site
Violators are subject to court citation and minimum 48-hour eviction from the park which will forfeit their ability to obtain a parking voucher. Park Officers will be actively patrolling for violations to ensure compliance, guest safety, and no disruptions to surrounding community and property owners.
There will be no permit sales from 3:00AM - 8:00AM
This 3:00 am staging process is ONLY for the holiday weekends when visitors tend to show up extra early to line up early to get a voucher.

17/08/2023

12/08/2023

Attention: Saturday, August 12, 2023. Both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot are full.
We are currently issuing Stand-By Parking Lot Vouchers at the Welcome Center as spaces become available.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space today will be lengthy and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.
Reminder: Please park responsibly. Parking lot spaces in both lots are estimated to be 12 feet wide. Keeping the distance between your trailer and your neighbor’s trailer to a minimum allows more users to park and enjoy the dunes.

03/08/2023

Could it actually happen? "Golden committee explores ATV use on township roads" https://www.shorelinemedia.net/oceanas_herald_journal/news/general_news/golden-committee-explores-atv-use-on-township-roads/article_43a6e31e-2fdb-11ee-b7f2-d7a3680d921c.html

29/07/2023

Attention: Saturday, July 29, 2023. Both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot are full.
We are currently issuing Stand-By Parking Lot Vouchers at the Welcome Center as spaces become available.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space today will be lengthy and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.
Reminder: Please park responsibly. Parking lot spaces in both lots are estimated to be 12 feet wide. Keeping the distance between your trailer and your neighbor’s trailer to a minimum allows more users to park and enjoy the dunes.

28/07/2023

Attention: All Parking Lot Vouchers for Saturday, July 29 have been handed out. This includes both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space on this weekend may be excessive and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center beginning at 7:30am on Saturday, July 29. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.
Parking Lot Vouchers are still available for Sunday, July 30.

28/07/2023

Park staff have removed the signs and orange chain which marked the temporary closure area necessary to protect the Piping Plovers. This was the area along a portion or the north ORV area boundary line. We still have a small area on the beach which is closed off still but the ORV riding portion or the dunes are back to normal. Thank you for your patience on this matter! Please ride safely!!

22/07/2023

Attention: Saturday, July 22, 2023. Both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot are full.
We are currently issuing Stand-By Parking Lot Vouchers at the Welcome Center as spaces become available.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space today will be lengthy and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.
Reminder: Please park responsibly. Parking lot spaces in both lots are estimated to be 12 feet wide. Keeping the distance between your trailer and your neighbor’s trailer to a minimum allows more users to park and enjoy the dunes.

15/07/2023

Attention: All Parking Lot Vouchers for Saturday, July 15 have been handed out. This includes both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space on this weekend may be excessive and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center beginning at 7:30am on Saturday, July 15. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.

15/07/2023

Hero’s Weekend!

14/07/2023

Whether it’s your first time visiting the dunes or your one-thousandth time, the Parking Lot Volunteers are here to help get you parked every Saturday, Sunday, and holiday while Parking Lot Vouchers are in effect. They dedicate their mornings to helping you get parked as quickly and efficiently as possible, freeing up more parking spaces for users who may be waiting on Stand-By. Please be sure to stop when asked, follow their instructions when parking, and most importantly, be courteous.
A few tips:
The parking spaces in both lots are 12 feet by 60 feet. If your vehicle and trailer total length is over 60 feet, you should contact park staff during the voucher handout for special instructions. You may be asked to disconnect.
If you have a trailer configuration that requires side loading, you may be asked to pull forward or reverse into the traffic lane, unload, and then return to your parking space.

12/07/2023

The air compressor at the Welcome Center has been repaired and is operational again. Thank you for your patience.

04/07/2023

04/07/2023

Attention: Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The Silver Lake State Park Boat Launch is temporarily closed to incoming traffic due to the boat launch parking area reaching capacity. Please note that vehicles trailering boats will be turned away until a parking space becomes available. Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space on this date may be excessive and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.

• A vehicle with an empty boat-trailer shall be allowed entry to a full site if the occupant’s use of the site is limited to retrieval of a boat already on the waterway.
• If designated barrier free parking spaces are available, persons displaying a parking placard (card, mirror tag, etc.) will be allowed to park.
Exceptions are not able to be made for persons claiming riparian or nearby residency, nor for those with off-site parking available. Boaters are advised to launch during non-peak use periods if possible.

03/07/2023

Reminder: Entry to the ORV Area will be stopped at 9:30pm on Tuesday, July 4. If you are planning on attending the Thunder on the Dunes fireworks display, please be sure to make arrangements to be on the dunes before 9:30pm as reentry will not be allowed after this time. The fireworks display will begin at approximately 10:00pm. Vehicles attending the event are required to have headlights and taillights to operate after dark.

01/07/2023

Attention: All Parking Lot Vouchers for Sunday, July 2 have been handed out. This includes both the main ORV Area Parking Lot and the Welcome Center Parking Lot. Parking Lot Vouchers are not required for Monday, July 3.
Wait times for obtaining a parking lot space on this weekend may be excessive and could range from one hour to several hours based on parking space availability.
To obtain a Stand-By Parking Lot Voucher, you must sign up on the Standby List available at the Welcome Center beginning at 7:30am on Sunday, July 2. Be advised that signing up on the Stand-By List does not guarantee entry, as parking is limited and subject to availability.
Please note that vehicles with trailers will be turned away once the Stand-By parking area has reached capacity.

30/06/2023

***Reminder for visitors who need to get a Parking Lot Voucher – July 1st, 2nd and 4th***
Due to the anticipated traffic volume for the upcoming holiday weekend, the Welcome Center gates will be opened at 3:00 AM on Friday morning (06/30/2023) to allow traffic to park and wait until vouchers are distributed at 8:00 AM. Vouchers will be available for Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2 only. Vouchers will not be handed out for Tuesday, July 4 at this time. Parking Lot Vouchers are not required for Monday, July 3.
The Welcome Center gates will be opened at 3:00 AM on Monday morning (07/03/2023) to allow traffic to park and wait until vouchers are distributed at 8:00 AM. Vouchers will be available for Tuesday, July 4 only at this time.

All rules and regulations for the Welcome Center will remain in effect during the earlier operating hours. Posted rules and regulations include but are not limited to the following:
- No unattended vehicles
- Alcohol is prohibited
- Quiet hours are in effect
- Pets must be always leashed
- Restrooms are available on site
Violators are subject to court citation and minimum 48-hour eviction from the park which will forfeit their ability to obtain a parking voucher. Park Officers will be actively patrolling for violations to ensure compliance, guest safety, and no disruptions to surrounding community and property owners.
There will be no permit sales from 3:00AM - 8:00AM
This 3:00 am staging process is ONLY for the holiday weekends when visitors tend to show up extra early to line up early to get a voucher.

26/06/2023

Chicken Shack Upcoming Events.

25/06/2023

***Reminder: Sound Level Testing & Enforcement***
Our sound meter calibrators have returned from their annual recertification this week, so please make sure that your vehicle is in compliance with the 94dB(A) limit.
Rangers will be performing stationary sound testing this weekend and over the upcoming holiday. Operation of a vehicle that does not meet sound level requirements may result in a ticket, eviction from the park for 48 hours, or both.
Please take time to get your vehicle in compliance with sound limits before visiting the Silver Lake State Park Off-Road Vehicle Area. All sound level testing is performed using current SAE J 1287, June 93 and SAE J 1169, March 93 standards.

14/06/2023

11/06/2023

09/06/2023

Free ORV and Free Fishing Weekend is June 10-11. This weekend, the fishing licenses and the Recreation Passport requirements are waived. Residents and visitors can grab a fishing pole, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks and boating access sites - all free of charge! Get outside and PLAY!

🔗: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/orv-riding/free-orv