Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Sand Drags at Silver Lake Sand Dunes - Michigan

Name: Silver Lake State Park

Location:

Michigan

Description:

Silver Lake Dunes cover an area 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, about 2,000 acres. Approximately 500 acres are available for Off-Highway Vehicle Use.

Directions:

Mapquest Map

Camping Area:

There are no camping areas with direct access to the dunes.

Area Managed By: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Fees:

The DNR introduced a voucher system during the 2000 season as a tool to manage the long lines of ORV users waiting to enter Silver Lake State Park on Saturday, Sundays and holidays.

There are two types of vouchers: Dune Ready Vouchers and Parking Lot Vouchers. Dune Ready vehicles are those that enter the state park ORV area from public highways and go straight into the sand dune off-road area without the need for the parking lot/staging area. Parking Lot Vouchers are for those who require a staging or parking area for their tow vehicles and/or trailers. Both types of vouchers are free to park visitors and are distributed from the Off-Road Vehicle Voucher Center located at the corner of Fox and Ridge Roads, to the east of the ORV entrance gate. The purpose of the voucher is simply to hold the ORV user's place in line, while staggering arrival times to avoid excessive lines.

Rules:

The Off-Road Vehicle Area is open each year from April 1 through October 31.
- April 1 – May 15 and the day after Labor Day – October 31, it is open 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- May 16 – Labor Day it is open 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Access to the ORV Area and Dunes is stopped ½ hour ahead of closing time, every evening.
Current vehicle permits are required on all vehicles using the area.
All motor vehicles entering the park must display a Michigan State Park Motor Vehicle Permit.
All motor vehicles entering the dunes must also display a Michigan ORV Registration.
Entry Vouchers are required on summer weekends and holidays.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed throughout the year in and around the ORV Area.
Operate vehicles only within the dune area marked with orange boundary markers.
Obey directional traffic zone signage. No north-bound traffic in high dune areas.
Rectangular, safety orange flags reaching 10 foot in height required on all ORVs.
Michigan Child Passenger Safety Law in effect in ORV Area.
Emergency strobe, flashing, rotating and/or blinking lights and sirens prohibited.
Helmets are required to operate ATVs and motorcycles in parking lot as well as in dunes.
Special regulations for un-licensed and young (12 – 16 years of age) operators.
Headlight(s), taillight(s) and brake light(s) required on vehicles ½ hour after sunset.
ATVs and motorcycles: operator only, no passengers at any time.
Please report accidents, injuries and/or emergencies to state park personnel or 911.

Exhaust System Rules and Testing

At Silver Lake State Park, a static or stationary test for this equipment is used on all types of vehicles. Noise levels will be checked at a 20-inch distance from the exhaust pipe at half the vehicle's rated revolutions per minute (RPM) or as detailed in the automotive specifications SAEJ1169, March 92 or SAE J1287, June 86. The maximum noise level permitted under these testing conditions will be 94 dBa which is the current limit set by the Off-Road Recreation Vehicle Act as Park 811 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.811). All vehicles are required to have a muffler and spark arrester containing baffles meeting established United States Forest Service specifications.