Horseback riding season at the dunes begins Nov. 1

Registration opens Sunday

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — This fall, horseback riders can enjoy the unparalleled experience of riding along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Silver Lake State Park, described as “one of Michigan’s most unique and popular destinations.”

With ORV season ending in the state park’s ORV area Oct. 31, the DNR offers a tranquil escape for horseback riders to explore the sandy shoreline on their trusty steeds with the towering dunes as their backdrop. A staging area is available at the start of the equestrian route for unloading and preparing horses for the ride. Riders are responsible for cleaning up after their horses in the staging area. 

Equestrians can ride a predetermined route along Lake Michigan during the shoreline horseback riding season Nov. 1-30. The registration fee is $10 per horse per day, and 125 slots are available each day. Registration opens Sunday, Sept. 1, at 8 a.m. 

“The shoreline riding horseback season is one of the ways the DNR has expanded off-season outdoor recreation at Silver Lake,” said Silver Lake State Park Manager Jody Johnston. “We also offer a fat-tire biking season Dec. 15 to March 15 each year.” 

The park is home to 450-acres of motorized dune riding. Each summer, thousands of motorcycles, quads, four-wheelers and other ORVs descend on these sugar-sand dunes — the only sand dune riding opportunity east of the Mississippi River. 

For links to both shoreline horseback riding and fat-tire biking seasons, including a registration link, rules, maps, tips and other information, visit Michigan.gov/SilverLake.