I had heard rumors of sand dunes along Lake Michigan, but whatever I had in my mind was nowhere near as spectacular as what was really there. I spent two nights camped out in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, just north of Ludington, MI, and let me tell you, it is way more spectacular than you think it is.
I’m the first to admit that I’m a snob for the New England wilderness. I love our rolling mountains, dense forests, and chilly rivers. But even I can’t deny that this is some of the best camping out there. I pitched my tent under the cover of trees and fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore just a few hundred feet away.
I had heard that the Great Lakes were… ya know… great, but I was blown away by how massive and beautiful they were. While camped on Lake Michigan, I was treated to spectacular sunsets, quiet beach walks, and swimming in what felt like an ocean (minus the salt) in mid-September.
My first evening I parked at around 6pm and had a quick, two-mile hike to the lakeshore, where I found an abundance of fairly-established tentsites. By 7:30 I had pitched my tent and was seated in the sand eating dinner.
It was my first time trying out my new Exped tent and it held up marvelously. I even practiced hanging a bear bag for when I get further west into grizzly country (I’m gonna need a lot more practice). As someone who hasn’t done a ton of solo-camping, this was the perfect place to stretch out, relax, and spend some easy-going time outside.
For the first time in over a year, I felt the freeing giddiness of independent travel.
