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| Warren Dunes State Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in MichiganShow map of Michigan Warren Dunes State Park (the United States)Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Lake Township / Sawyer, Berrien County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Bridgman, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 41°54′19″N 86°35′58″W / 41.90528°N 86.59944°W / 41.90528; -86.59944 |
| Area | 1,500 acres (610 ha) |
| Elevation | 814 feet (248 m) |
| Established | 1930 |
| Administered by | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Official website  |
Warren Dunes State Park is a 1,500-acre (610 ha) public recreation area located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Berrien County, Michigan. The state park's large sand dunes and lakeshore beaches make it one of the most popular of Michigan's state parks with an average of about one million visitors annually.
Large sand dunes are found throughout the park. Among the park's dunes are Mt. Fuller, Pikes Peak, and Mt. Edwards, with the most significant being Tower Hill, the highest point in the park, which stands 240 feet (73 meters) above the Lake Michigan. This dune is the one that is most visible to visitors, many of whom delight in scrambling up its slopes and rushing back down again. Easy access to the dunes make it a popular location to practice the sport of sandboarding. As of 25 June 2013 Warren Dunes was in the top five most popular camping destinations in the state of Michigan based on Google search traffic.
History
The dunes and beach area were preserved by a local businessman, Edward K. Warren, as a conservation measure. He originally purchased the site as a favor to a friend who had encountered significant financial difficulties. Previous ownership of Tower Dune and surroundings had been by J.S. Pardee in the late 1800s. In 1930, the Warren Dunes area became a Michigan state park.
Activities and amenities
The park offers eight miles of trails, swim beach, beach house, picnicking, playground, two campgrounds (Hilldebrandt Semi-Modern and Mt. Randall Modern), concession store, metal detecting, cross-country skiing, and hunting.
Other activities
- Wildlife watching
- Skygazing
- Clay painting: Walking about a mile up the creek which empties into the lake just south of the beach leads to large beds of light gray clay, through which the creek flows. Mixed with the creek water, clay makes body/face paint which can be worn home, but is much more commonly washed off by another swim in the lake. Clay painting has a negative effect on the park environment due to the amount of clay that is introduced to the creek water through man-made erosion and dispersion. Clay particles in the water create a turbid water environment. Turbid water can also have negative health effects if ingested; the higher the turbidity level, the higher the risk that people may develop gastrointestinal diseases. These health hazards are of particular concern given the number of small children and infants who play in the creek at the lake shore.
- Creativity: This park is big and often not crowded, so a great testing ground for beach activities and equipment. For example, it was the inspiration and development site for the Beach Buggy, a self-contained mini-kitchen which could be wheeled to a family's water-side picnic site.
See also
References
- ^ "Tower Hill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Warren Dunes State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- 5 Most Popular Camping Spots in Michigan (based on Google Traffic) Campthat
- "Village of Sawyer". Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011.
- Ruthven, A. G. (January 3, 1919). "The Edward K. Warren Foundation and Two Wild Life Reservations in Michigan". Science. 49 (1253): 17–18. Bibcode:1919Sci....49...17R. doi:10.1126/science.49.1253.17. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- M. J. P. Grundy (2002). "Paxson Family: Seventh Generation". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013.
- "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
External links
- Warren Dunes State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Warren Dunes State Park Map Michigan Department of Natural Resources
