Silver Lake State Park (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Lake State Park |
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Silver Lake and sand dunes
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 Silver Lake State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Golden Township, Oceana County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest town | Mears, Michigan |
| Area | 2,936 acres (1,188 ha) |
| Elevation | 656 feet (200 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1920 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Silver Lake State Park |
Silver Lake State Park is a public recreation area covering 2,936 acres (1,188 ha) that border Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, four miles (6.4 km) west of Mears in Oceana County, Michigan. The state park is composed of mature forest land and over 2,000 acres (810 ha) of sand dunes.
Features
The park is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and three miles (4.8 km) long and is divided into three segments: The northern area is an all-terrain vehicle dunes area where private motorized vehicle may be driven, the middle of the park is a non-vehicle area (the Walking Dunes), and the southernmost section is leased to a private operator. The park grounds include the Little Sable Point Light on Lake Michigan and one mile of shoreline on 690-acre (280 ha) Silver Lake.
History
The park originated in 1920 when 25 acres on the east side of Silver Lake were donated for park purposes by Carrie E. Mears, the daughter of lumber baron Charles Mears. In 1926, the federal government transferred 900 acres to the state, which became Sand Dunes State Park in 1949. Based upon a 1949 master plan, the two were merged, with Silver Lake State Park seeing its new boundaries dedicated in 1951.
Activities and amenities
The park's recreational opportunities include camping, hunting, swimming, hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking, and off-road vehicle driving.
