Silver Lake Dunes State Park, photo by Dale Fisher, US Army Corps of Engineers

Unlike the Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes allow private motorized vehicles. The Think Dunes area info site says that in fact, they’re the only dunes East of Utah that allow you to drive a private motorized vehicle (April 1st through October 31st). There are fees and restrictions that you’ll probably want to read about. You can also have Mac Woods Dune Rides drive you through the dunes! Driving not your cup of tea? Fear not – in the middle of the Silver Lake State Park there is a non-vehicle area they call the Walking Dunes.

The State of Michigan’s Dunes Information Page says that the Silver Lake Dunes are a type known as:

Parallel dunes are series of low, linear dunes formed parallel to the shores of large shallow bays. The parallel dunes along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan were formed about 4,000 years ago during the Lake Nipissing stage of Lake Michigan, when water levels were 25 to 30 feet higher than present day Lake Michigan water levels. Rivers entering the bays carried abundant sand, which was then moved along the shore by lake currents.

On shore winds formed these sands into low lying dunes. As the water level of ancient Lake Nipissing dropped, a series of parallel dunes were created. They occurred in areas that were formerly wide bays in Lake Nipissing.

Today, some examples of parallel dune complexes can be seen at the mouth of rivers, including the Muskegon, Kalamazoo, and Grand. Remnants of several ancient bays now are coastal lakes, such as Hamlin Lake in Mason County, Silver Lake in Oceana County, and White Lake in Muskegon County.

Check the photo above out bigger. Dale also had this great shot of the Sliver Lake Dunes from high above Lake Michigan.

More about Michigan dunes on Michigan in Pictures!