What to know about visiting Lake Michigan, Great Lakes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — School is almost out, summer weather is starting to appear and people are looking for ways to get outdoors. For many, this means a trip or two to a Lake Michigan beach.
Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide
Michigan saw 125 million visitors in 2022— the most recent year for which data is available — with summer being one of the more popular seasons and many heading to the lakeshore.
“The Great Lakes are a global destination. They are the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. And they are a beautiful place to visit, but also, lots of activity around it. From outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, paddling, kayaking, boating and fishing to the small communities and larger communities that are along the lakeshores,” Nick Nerbonne, media, digital and industry relations director at Travel Michigan, said.
In addition to city and local beaches, several state parks along the shoreline offer hiking, camping, hunting and more in addition to beaches. For a $14 annual recreation pass, residents and visitors can explore 103 Michigan state parks. These passes can be purchased online or at the entrance to a state park.
WHAT TO BRING?
Each beach along the Michigan shoreline offers a unique experience. Some have restaurants or concession stands nearby while others are just sand and a parking lot. Nerbonne recommends making sure you have everything you need before heading out for a day of fun in the sun.
“When I go to the beach, I want to bring a beach towel (and) bring some sunscreen. (You) want to make sure you’re protected from the sun. Look at what type of experience you’re looking to do,” Nerbonne said.
He recommended also bringing a cooler and checking local regulations to see if alcoholic beverages are allowed.
Pat Whalen, Plainwell district supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Division of the Michigan DNR, recommended being aware of the hot days this summer. It is a possibility that someone could get overheated, so he recommends bringing some shade to the beach.
“A lot of our beaches are wide open and not a lot of shade on them, so bring some tents, bring something to cover yourself up,” Whalen said.
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NOT YOUR AVERAGE LAKE SAFETY
In addition to making sure there is shade, several other safety precautions should be taken when visiting the Great Lakes.
“There’s lakes statewide, there’s lakes in other states, but when they get to Lake Michigan and they see this large expanse of water, they don’t understand that it’s still a lake but to them, it might almost seem like an ocean… People are drawn in for the waves that Lake Michigan creates and people go out and play in those, which is unfortunately sometimes where they get in trouble,” Whalen said.
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To help keep swimmers safe and informed, the state parks have a flag warning system at buoyed swim areas.
Green flags mean it is a low hazard with calm conditions. Swimmers can enter the water but are asked to exercise caution.
Yellow flags mean it is a medium hazard with moderate surf and/or currents. Swimmers are asked to watch for dangerous currents and high waves.
Red flags mean it is a high hazard with high surf and/or strong currents. It is recommended that people stay on the beach.
Double red flags mean that water access is closed. People are asked to not enter the water due to dangerous conditions.
“(Swimmers) want to pay attention to all the different currents we have in the Great Lakes. Not only the rip currents, but the longshore and structural currents that you’re going to see along piers and jetties as well,” Whalen said.
If you get caught in a rip current, do not swim directly against it. The National Weather Service says to instead swim out of the current either left or right in a direction that follows the shoreline.
Dangerous Waters: Currents on Lake Michigan shores
In the colder parts of the season, swimmers should also be prepared for the possibility of hypothermia, especially in children.
“(Make sure to watch) kids when they’re on inflatables if we have offshore winds that could blow them out into the lake,” Whalen said.
At many beaches, there are life jacket loaner stations for those who forget theirs or realize they need one. These loaner life jackets are donated by various organizations. Whalen also wants swimmers to remember to stay within the designated swim areas.
“In Lake Michigan, there are sandbars that form and that’s where the swim areas are. They are all going to be 5 feet or less, so staying within those swim buoys is going to be very important as well so they don’t get out and step over their head,” he said.
These swim areas within the state parks is monitored by staff throughout the summer. If the sandbar changes size, the swimming area will follow suit.
CAN I BRING MY DOG?
Designated swim areas are for people only. Some beaches allow pets, but not in the designated swim areas.
“So if there are buoys in place, that creates the designated swim area and they cannot be within that designated swim area. They can be on the unmarked sections of the beach. They must be on a 6-foot leash at all times though,” Whalen said.
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To find a beach that meets the needs of your visit, check out the WOOD TV8 Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide.
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