Michigan dune time: Who needs sun for fun in the sand?
Warren Dunes / Sawyer, Michigan: The thing about hiking in sand – it’s tiring. And for those who live with Parkinson’s disease, tiring usually means really tiring.
But that’s not to say it shouldn’t be tried.
(Click here for hike stats.)
In October, I went with family members to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan. The park claims 3 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan’s eastern side and is a popular summer attraction for its beaches, campground, and stunning landscape.
For hikers, nine different trails go through forests, bogs and, of course, sand.
Up sand, down sand, trudging-all-around sand.
(Apologies, Dr. Seuss.)
Fall was a great time to be at the dunes.
There were no crowds. The leaves were still colorful, and the temperatures were holding in the 50s with very little wind. Just right for hiking.
After exiting I-94 to the park’s main entrance, we parked in the main lot. Our goal? Walk in the sand until we get to the lake. Our trail? Mount Randall Loop. But not the loop part.
Instead of going through the forest for the second half of the trail, we made it an out-and-back trip entirely on the dunes.
The trail began through a small wooded area, its sandy path strewn with colorful leaves.
It didn’t take long to get to our first hill. The incline seemed intimidating, but I found it actually looked worse than it was once I started the ascent.
Two steps up, one step back.
That’s the nature of going up in sand. I paced myself. I was glad I was wearing lightweight shoes and that I didn’t bring trekking poles.
(Mine don’t have the plastic “baskets” at the bottom like ski poles do, making my poles pretty useless in sand. But some types work well.)
Parkinson’s tip
Standard wheelchairs are out of the question on sand dunes, but Warren Dunes now offers a motorized “track chair” free of charge. What a riot that would be! It’s available on a first-come, first served basis and is limited to 2 hours due to battery life. To reserve (at least 24 hour notice is preferred), call 269-426-4013.
At the top we could see the lake and where to go next, even though there was no marked trail to follow. It was basically a straight shot “as the crow flies” to get to the water’s edge.
Going down wasn’t difficult, as the slopes were gentle.
However, off to the sides of the main route were some pretty steep inclines.
That meant it was playtime! The youngsters climbed up and tested their speed running down the tall dunes. Their legs couldn’t keep up with gravity’s pull, and the result was wild flips and cartwheels.
A definite camera moment.
Sand hiking was tiring, yes, and I was glad we took our time. Dunes don’t have big rocks to rest on, just an occasional log if you’re lucky.
Parkinson’s tip
Staying on trails that are along the top ridges may lengthen the journey a bit, but you will use less energy than you would going up and down the dunes.
After nearly an hour of walking/dallying, we got to the shore, which in the summer is the main swimming beach. For us, watching the waves lap at our feet was enough.
We retraced our steps back to the cars.
The hike was done, just as the autumn twilight tiptoed across the sand and caught up to us from behind.
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Moderate (Easy with track chair)
Distance: 1.5 mile roundtrip
Elevation gain: about 80 feet
Trailhead location: 12032 Red Arrow Hwy, Sawyer, Michigan
Bathrooms: At beach (closed during off season) and next to parking lot
Emergency medical support: within 12 miles
Costs: $11 for a nonresident day pass
Road access to trailhead: park next to trailhead
Insider tip: Because sand is difficult to walk in, count on your route taking up to twice as long as a hike on a dirt or paved trail.
(Go back to top here.)
All that sand reminded me of what’s coming in the form of snow. Thanks for sharing!
Snow hiking is its own monster!
Such a fun hike!!
Kids love it too 🙂
Looks like a fun place!
It’s work and play all in a single hike!