Located along the shores of Lake Michigan,this State Park has over 1500 acres of pristine beaches and sand dunes making it one of Michigans most popular State Parks. There is an admission free to enter. Plenty of parking available. We went in the Fall midweek so it was not crowded at all. read more

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Beautiful beach and park! We came for the day to play on the beach and see the sand dunes. You have to pay for the use. There is a large parking area by the beach. As soon as we pulled in we noticed the beach on one side of the parking lot and the sand dunes on the other. We decided to climb the dunes first. There is one big hill that everyone was going up. It is challenging but fun. Great views from the top. And super easy to come down. Then we went to the beach. Sand was really nice and clean. A storm started to roll in so we had to leave the beach a little early. They do a great job of communicating and changing the flags when the beach conditions change. There are bathrooms and some food vendors. Only wish is they had actual showers to clean off all the sand. They have the outside ones but they weren't very efficient. read more

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How dare I give a Lake Michigan state park anything less than five stars? The beach is b-e-a-utiful, and there's plenty of parking and facilities. Also, if you're hungry, there are a few food trailers serving burgers, tacos, and açaí bowls. Spend the day at Warren Dunes and ENJOY YOURSELF! read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

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Came for the beach. Parking was $11 for a non Michigan resident, which is a lot cheaper than other beaches. There was plenty of parking. We started off at a smaller beach and we should have just came here. There were food trucks and shaved ice trucks. The beach was nice, plenty of room! read more

We love coming here with our dog. They've recently added couple of food trucks which is always nice after trekking back. The tacos were unbelievably delicious and fresh, we got al pastor, chorizo and asada with everything on them and they gave us some hot salsa on me asking. The restrooms near the beach are clean whereas those inside the park near trails are basically portable toilets. The beach itself is very clean, clear water, pebbles in places. read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Dog beach, very clean, dogs on leash - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

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Warren Dunes Beach has a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, sand, and people. Sunrise or Sunset are the best views. However, the overcrowding and limited shade can make it hard to enjoy. read more

If you grew up in Illinois you probably came here once as a child when you didn't have to think about things. Come back now and bring the fam! It's great. Entry fee $25 which is good for a week *unless* you have a fourth grader in the car!! Search Every Kid Outdoors for more on that. The pass is good for 1 week. Bathrooms and showers are available. Also a little shop with floaties and probably other necessities. read more

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I've been here a couple of times over the years, and it is not a bad drive from the Chicago burbs. I find this beach to be even cleaner than the Indiana dunes. You pay per car/vehicle for entrance. If you are not a Michigan resident, you will pay a higher fee. At the time of this review, for out of state fee, it was $11. (Cash only, something to keep in mind). They also offer annual passes. We arrived at about 10 AM Eastern, and there was already a line. I recommend arriving prior to noon. Otherwise, I've seen the entrance line go all the way into the street. Bathrooms are super clean. No showers, but they do have rinse off areas outside to get the sand off. Even when crowded, the beach goers are respectful of space. This location also has a gift shop and food vendors. read more

As someone who was born and raised in Chicago, one of my favorite places to go is Warren Dunes. I first came here when I was 17 visiting my cousins who were raised in Union Pier, and I pretty much raised my kids at this beach as I would bring them here every year as they grew up (except for that one year I took them to North Avenue Beach....never since then). Now, my kids bring their young families here! So over this past weekend, though the weather was not as hot as we were hoping, my wife and I went anyway and had a wonderful time. This is a pretty clean beach, and what I have always loved is that no matter how crowded it gets, it's still never as crowded as a Chicago beach. I had good parking, plenty of space to enjoy the beach and go ankle-high in the water, and enjoy the same as we did when the kids were growing up. The water is nice, people are nice, the vibe is nice, I still love it after all these years! So, it's about an hour or less (depending on traffic) from the IL/IN border on I-80/94, and very much worth the trip. They also have food trucks there on the beach as well, and surprisingly decent bathrooms. No lifeguards, but they do patrol the beach. One last note: if your car has out-of-state plates, then it's $11 to get in. Considering that the fee was $10 when my kids were growing up in the 2000s/2010s...that's still a damn good bargain. Food....................................................N/A (we did not eat there) Ambiance/overall vibe.......................A Price.....................................................A Crowd size..........................................A read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

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There was a line of cars waiting to get into the park on a hot Saturday morning in the summer. But parking was easy, and despite the enormous amount of people at the beach, everyone minded their own space and there was plenty of lake for everyone to swim and play comfortably! Where my family was at there was a taco trunk on one side of the parking lot and an ice cream truck on the other side. There were bathrooms, that were clean aside from being covered in wet sand (to be expected). Outside the bathrooms there was an outdoor shower, with a shorter spigot to wash off your feet. As I read in other reviews, the sand can get HOT HOT HOT, so plan your footwear accordingly. We had a tent and the shade provided much needed relief for our feet in the sand. The park employees drove around on 4-wheelers all the time, and didn't seem friendly but whatever. There were a lot of signs about no alcohol so if you choose to not follow the rules, at least do it discreetly. We were allowed to grill in the parking lot. Climbing the dunes was tiring, and hot so bring water!!! Overall, great family-friendly beach! read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

Highly highly recommend Warren dunes! We took our dog here in the morning during vacation. It was dead and it was so much fun to walk the coast with him. The beach was way nicer than I was expecting for a dog beach. When it got hot, we took our dog back to the cabin and decided to return to this beach just to hang out. Not crowded, nice sand, clean and felt peaceful! We returned that evening with our pup to watch the sunset. It was a perfect day. For the $11 state park fee it was well worth it. I've told all my dog lover friends to take their dog on vacation to Michigan just to visit this park! read more

We love coming to this state park and we also enjoy camping here. It's a beautiful state park along Lake Michigan and you can't forget about the Dune. It takes me about 20 minutes to climb the dune and you get spectacular views at the top. Worth the visit and camping trip! read more

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These people really need to figure out how to be more welcoming to visitors. All of their signs basically tell you what not you can do. There is zero hospitality in any of the signage and it really turns people off as you're driving through. The hostess at the Opening gate was quite accommodating, but I'll never be back because it really turned me off. read more

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I always go camping for my birthday each year and we chose this campground mostly for the dunes. It was cool that you can walk straight from the campground and get to Lake Michigan. We took our dog to the dog beach and he loved it. We somehow missed that alcohol was prohibited at the campground until they told us when we checked in, so that's a thing fyi. The only thing that was a little disappointing was that the photos of the site on the website didn't look anything like our actual site (rustic 209). We chose it because it looked wooded and private, but I guess those trees have been removed since they took the pictures, and it was actually kind of weird how it came right up in the ones behind it in a way that it wasn't clear where the boundaries were and they had to put a sign that said no camping beyond this point. We didn't check out the camp store but it looked pretty good, and they selll wood read more

Warren Dunes State Park was the spot for our annual friend camping trip this year! We wanted somewhere a bit closer as we our friends were traveling with their baby. It's pretty easy and convenient to make reservations through the DNR website. Once you arrive, the first little pavilion is just to make sure you have a recreation passport - if you don't, you can purchase it there. Then you need to go to the actual check in area for the campsites if you're camping. It was a little confusing but the person working there was helpful in directing us. We were camping in mid-May, so it was a little chilly at night and the lake was definitely not swimmable, but we had a lot of fun! We hiked up the dunes and into the forest, which had some awesome views. It's a pretty strenuous hike so be aware. The beach was big with lots of parking! The restroom facilities were always clean and well stocked with toilet paper. The campground is close to some breweries and restaurants which is always nice. We also had fun bird watching at our campsite - we heard tons of birds and saw a few including orioles and red breasted grosbeaks! There is a cute general store at the campground that sells firewood, ice, some grocery items, ice cream snacks, flip flops, beach toys, etc. - it was fun to check out and handy if you forgot something. read more

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I really like this park. It's huge, has a bunch of campsites, picnic areas, dunes, beach, woods, ample parking and miles of trails to hike. I love hiking and dunes hikes are some of the best. I usually follow the drive to the last lot along the beach. I do the woods loop, with the return along the beach instead of at the start. It's a three and a half mile loop. This trail is well marked and you'll see the trailheads and markers along whichever route you take. Pro tip-snap a pic of the trail before you set out. You'll need good boots or shoes for climbing up and down the steep dunes. Once back on the beach walk along the wet sand or pebbles and make it easier on yourself. The mosquitos were awful in the woods near the campgrounds. Bug spray and double time that section. read more

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At the gateway to Southwest Michigan and only 20 miles from the Indiana border, this was the best place when the temperature reached 77 degrees in late October. My partner, his family and I were so lucky! Warren Dunes State Park features giant mountains of soft sand. The backdrop was the Pikes Peak dune rising right up from the edge of the parking area where we did my birthday treat climb. The beach was clean with many sun bathers and paid $10 to get in if you are not from Michigan. We can recommend this place. read more

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We love this state park and beach, so close to the Chicago area. Just a short drive for us from the NW Suburbs of IL. While it was still cold during our visit in April, we appreciate that this is a dog friendly place and you can find places to walk and hang out that aren't too heavily populated yet. I am sure summer will be a different story. We paid $9 to park and get in for the day and there appears to be plenty of parking here. Seeing the dunes up front is a pretty unique sight to see and there are many ways to enjoy this spot if you don't want to (or are not able to) climb a dune. If you visit, a reminder to please be respectful of others and our Great Lakes and pick up your trash. read more

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GREAT campgrounds, GREAT trails. This park is really huge and has tons of options for everyone! Family friendly and dog friendly for sure. Really enjoyed camping here! One of the days we stayed here, we decided to do a loop hike around the state park. We started from our campground and the hike was planned to be 5 miles, with almost half of it along the beach, which was great because we wanted to lay out along the beach and enjoy ourselves! The hike from the campground to the beach was good, very varied in elevation, with some dune climbing, but nothing too bad. As we got close to the beach, we looked over to our right and saw what I feel like is the TALLEST dune I have ever seen. I personally thought it went higher than the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear, it truly looked so massive, but definitely more narrow. I was very thankful that our trail was not taking us there and shook my head in marvel at all those attempting that climb. Hope they had fun! Once we got down to the beach, we proceeded to lay out and enjoy the sun. It was a perfectly sunny day, this was one of our earliest camps of the summer, the water was still a bit cold, but perfect for popping in and out of when you got too hot laying there. My friends and I relaxed for about 2 hours before we decided to continue on in our hike. We walked basically a whole mile along the shoreline, which got a bit tedious because walking in sand is already difficult, but paired with the fact that one foot is always at a higher elevation than the other given the slope of the beach into the water, it was hard. Plus we couldn't always walk on the wetter sand because as we go further down the beach, it became more and more highly trafficked, so there was a lot of people playing in the water or situated very close to it, causing us to weave and bob all around them. Once our hike started to turn inwards away from the beach, we approached a whole stretch of sand that slowly sloped up into the woods. This stretch was right by a giant parking lot as well, so it was a high traffic area. I quickly realized that it was early afternoon at this point and this entire stretch of our hike in the sand was completely not shaded. As far as I could see, this stretch went on for at least a quarter of a mile before it rounded a bend and I couldn't tell if it would be more of the same around the bend or not. Either way, my dog was not happy about it. The sand was so hot on his paws and there was no shade available to him to even try and walk on cooler sand, so he started to walk weird and I knew his paws were overheating. I picked him up, but carrying him up a sandy hill for a quarter of a mile was already a bit too much to bear. At this point we were already 4 miles in and I was also overheating! Thankfully, my friends decided to hike the last mile back to our campground, get the car, and come and pick us up in the neighboring parking lot. While I waited for them to pick us up, I found a little shade next to the bathroom building near the parking lot for my dog & I to cool down. I sat there for at least 30 minutes and during my time, I saw SO many people do the same thing with their dogs. So many people were carrying the dogs because it was just too dangerous for their paw pads. There is too much open space and not enough board walk or cement or awnings leading to the beach, which allow dogs, for this to be okay. I would highly recommend that Warren Dunes look into this issue for the safety of our own feet and the wellbeing of our furry friends. Mind you, this entire experience at Warren Dunes was from this past May, BEFORE Memorial Weekend. It wasn't even that hot yet, and this was already the situation at the beach. I can't even imagine what it was like as the weather only got hotter and hotter as we actually entered the summer months in Michigan. All in all, we were disappointed we didn't get to finish our hike, but more than that, we were concerned by all the dogs that couldn't bear to walk on this super hot sand. Hope Warren Dunes/Michigan DNR can figure out an effective solution to this soon. read more

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Wonderful hiking and beach. Does get crowded in the summer but the beach is large and you can bring a dog. Views are stunning. read more

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Warren Woods is a welcome respite for visitors, encompassing 311 acres and containing some of the last old growth trees in the southwest region of the state. The route follows the Galien River, and the old growth trees provide plenty of shade along the way. The trees are a combination of American beech, sugar maple, and tulip poplars. As to be expected with old trees, they are quite tall - many exceed 100 feet and are five feet in diameter. Nearby Warren Dunes, on the shores of Lake Michigan, is also worth a visit. read more

Definitely not your typical beach in thre Midwest. There's so many things to do and explore here other than just swim in Lake Michigan. For instance, did you know that there is a path along the creek/river that will take you to an area where the soil is made out of clay?! Yes, soft, smooth, all natural clay from mother nature. You can grab some and slather it all over your body and make yourself look like a tribal warrior, or you can grab a bunch and mold them into whatever your heart desires. But keep in mind that in order to get to the clay pits, you must walk through a dark river with water all the way up to your waist at certain points. Watch out for fallen debris such as trees and whatever else lurks in the murky waters. Enjoy the adventure! Also, it's not called Warren Dunes for nothing. Once you turn into the parking lot you will see this huge moutain of sand towering over you. It was over 90 degrees when I was here to visit and the unfortunately the sand was way too hot for me to trek through. Plus i didnt have any closed toe shoes for climbing. Looking at the other pictures here on Yelp, the view is pretty dope as the top. The water is your typical Lake Michigan water. Definitely much cleaner than the Lake Michigan water here in Chicago though. I enjoyed my time here and can't wait to plan a trip back. read more

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Love this park as it had multiple parking lots and across the dunes was the beach for Lake Michigan. The dunes was a hike for sure but fun and clean. Love that we can hike and then spend time at the beach. As a non-resident we had to pay $10 for a daily permit. read more

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Purchasing pass when you arrive is a little confusing, recommend looking into it before you visit to make arrival easy! We loved this spot and walked the gorgeous beach. Incredibly picturesque. None of the buildings were open, but not an issue for us. Super quick drive from the wntey down to the dunes and beach, whwrw you could take a short or long, easy or challenging stroll depending on your mood and abilities. read more

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I rarely give a park any less than 5 stars and after much contemplation it shall remain the same for Warren Dunes. Reason I vacillated was for two things. One they are an alcohol free facility meaning alcohol is prohibited... We'll just let that be as is. Number two, the noise from the highway is in the background, constantly. Despite those setbacks we still enjoyed the park to the fullest and hiked around 17 or so miles in just 2.5 days. For one we were very lucky to find a campsite this late in the season. I had been looking weeks in advance to book and I would have to guess someone cancelled and that's how I scooped this spot up. It's nestled right off Red Arrow Highway and it's pretty crazy that all this nature is immediately back in this spot. The campsites are a bit tight whether you're in the rustic or the modern. It's very family oriented but despite we enjoyed every minute of it. The dunes themselves are what we came for and we hiked all over the place. The trails aren't the best marked but well enough to handle getting around. Be prepared to get a workout. The woods are easy but as soon as you hit the dunes Wowzers! Bring the pain! Instant leg ache cause you will be working to get through all the sand. Breathtaking are the views though and you can even see some Chicago buildings on a clear day. The beachfront is massive and we enjoyed all off it with our pooch which was an added bonus. One of my favorite things about the Sawyer area was all the stuff outside of camp to do. Greenbush Brewery and Round Barn to name a couple. There was also plenty of swanky party stores and restaurants in the immediate area. Who would have known this was a Chicago/Indiana paradise for summer homes and vacationers. We enjoyed fires every night and hiking every day. Between all the new stuff to explore and the killer Labor Day weather what more could you ask for to make a great camping trip awesome! We would come back in a heartbeat. read more

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Warren Dunes is a beautiful, sandy and photo-opt worthy beach.  You can climb the dunes for an extreme yet fun work out, swim, play beach sports or sun bathe in a relaxing environment. The dunes that are here are basically a berrien county landmark and as a young student I often came on field trips here.  I have intense memories of working out here for cross country to improve ourselves on tough terrain. Long story short, this is a fantastic spot to stop if your a tourist, just moved nearby or just never knew this place existed. read more

Awesome views, soft sand, and cool breezes! great, fun opportunity to get a workout in!

Anytime of the year! Fun for the whole family! My favorite go-to! Great views, trail hiking, beach glass hunting, dog friendly beach, camping, sledding, hang gliding, clay pit, stand up paddle boards and kayaks to rent or bring, the best sunsets around, clean and updated bathrooms, and food trucks. read more

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Great place for family fun on Lake Michigan! Incredible dunes. Walkway on the sand was much appreciated!

Made a plan of hiking here Saturday morning of a trip to get the day started. I was sorely mistaken on how easy I thought this hike was gong to be. We choose to do the rectangle loop beginning at Nature Trailhead and walking down to the beach and back around. The dunes were awesome to hike! We got a tad lost trying to get back to our car because there aren't many signs near the beach area. We thought it would be a five mile trail walk and ended up taking 2 hours and burned 800 calories. Overall, 10/10. Bring water and wear sunscreen! Saw a few people other and about, but it wasn't super packed for a nice day. read more

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So much space in this state park! Plenty of shaded areas with picnic tables for families to enjoy together. Even camping! The beach is where it's at in the summer. They even have food vendors in the parking lot. If your a picture freak, you have so many views to shoot and nature frames. If your from out of state it's only $9 for the day! read more

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It's super fun to walk the dunes, go swimming in the lake, and eat food truck food. There is a little gift shop. And you can park by the water read more

Great beach and campsite....however, we encountered the rudest Park Rangers and the most lifeless employees. Warren Dunes Mangers, HR, and Trainers please get it together and get your associates in check! (Coming from a passionate HR professional). Not to worry, we'll be making fun of these far too serious Park Rangers for years to come. read more

Loved this beach. Hot weather and cold water. So beautiful. The rocks on the beach are so smooth and unique. Convenient restrooms and outdoor foot/ body shower towers read more

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I've been going to "the Dunes" since I was in high school...so for about 25 years now. Great place to spend a warm day. We're from the Chicago burbs so it's a good idea to pack gear for the trip as we spend an entire day there: water/beverages food/snacks beach towels sunscreen change of clothes beach toys (for kids) umbrella (gives small kids a time-out from the sun) football and frisbee (a must!) sandals (might be needed to climb the dune..the sand gets hot ) sunglasses camera (with a case to protect it) As a father of a five year old, every Dunes visit includes the following: playing in the water building a sand castle playing football and frisbee collecting rocks on the shoreline climbing up and running down the large sand dune exploring other sand dunes and trails Aside from the beach the Dunes have a great system of trails through the sand dunes and forested areas. You can spend a day hiking them and never cross the same spot twice. They also have picnic areas and the park is pet friendly. There are bathrooms and showers on the beach. Most of the times we go there's also a small store with food/beverages/supplies available. If you've never been to the dunes and like beaches, climbing, site seeing, outdoors, the lake or just relaxing, this is a great destination. Enjoy! read more

We spent the day at the dog beach with our two puppies. We all had a lot of fun and the dogs were definitely worn out at the end of the day. Bring an umbrella for some shade if you can! I was very impressed how every dog was on a leash. Highly recommend checking this place out! It does cost $9 for out-of-state and they only accept cash or check... but it's worth it in my opinion! read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Dog beach - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

We came here after we got to New Buffalo beach, only to find it closed due to ecoli (yuck). Warren Dunes is only 15 minutes away from New Buffalo Beach. Parking is just $9.00 a car for out of state plates. Lots of parkland and plenty of beach, plus big sand dunes to climb if you are so inclined. Beaches were clean. There were bathrooms and a concession stand. You can bring in your own food but not alcohol. Not crowded. read more

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Pristine beach but overcrowded and challenging dunes..... like typical laid back folks we went late in the evening on a hot day and was perfect to walk on the sand . Not too far from Chicago, perfect for a short weekend getaway. The entrance is $9 . read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

Warren Dunes is definitely worth a visit. There is a beautiful beach, multiple food trucks, and of course the dunes. Confident parking, but don't forget to bring $9 to enter the park if you don't have a pass. read more

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The last time I was at Warren Dunes, it was 94 degrees and overcrowded. This trip, it was cool, sunny, not even 1/3 full, and tolerable water temp at 66 degrees. Beach "center' bathroom is newest and nicest, and there is a small store and food trucks nearby. The doggy beach is north of the people beach. read more

Warren Dunes State Park - Cool and uncrowded. - Parks Near Me - Sawyer, Michigan

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