Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness

Over the past 13,000 years, as the level of Lake Michigan rose and fell, winds swept sand from the exposed lakebed into a series of rolling dunes, some reaching heights of 140 feet. Most of these dunes formed between 3,500 and 4,000 years ago. Today a wide beach separates the waves of water from the waves of sand. Unlike most active dune systems, this area supports woody patches of juniper, stunted jack pine, small stands of northern hardwoods, and dune marshes with wetland species like hemlock and larch. Many of the dunes are lightly covered in dune grass. Nordhouse Dunes stretches along approximately 7,300 feet of undeveloped shoreline. The limited trail system spans about 14.5 miles and is minimally marked, making it occasionally challenging to follow. For the best views of the dunes, visitors can hike the 1.4-mile Nordhouse Dunes Trail. Trails can be accessed from the nearby Lake Michigan Recreation Area along the northern boundary. Group size is limited to 10 people. Camping is prohibited within 400 feet of Lake Michigan or the Wilderness boundary, within 200 feet of the Nordhouse Lake waterline, and within 100 feet of established trails. Campfires are prohibited within 400 feet of Lake Michigan and 200 feet from Nordhouse Lake, and possessing or burning dune-wood, driftwood, pine knots, or shipwreck timbers is prohibited. Glass containers and single-use non-burnable food or beverage containers are not allowed, and stock use is prohibited.