Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
Over the past 13,000 years, as the level of Lake Michigan rose and fell, winds swept the exposed sand from the lakebed into a series of rolling dunes, some reaching 140 feet in height. Most of the present...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Michigan |
| Size | 3,271 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1987, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.0958, -86.4393 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 1 is within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 1 miNordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area ↗Trailhead · January 1 to December 31
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 9.2 miS.s. Badger (carferry) ↗National Historic Landmark
- 2.1 miBig Sable Point Light Station ↗Mason, MI
- 3.4 miLake Michigan Beach House, Ludington State Park ↗Hamlin Lake, MI
- 8.1 miHaskell Manufacturing Company Building ↗Ludington, MI
- 8.7 miCartier, William A. and Catherine, House ↗Ludington, MI
- 8.8 miMason County Courthouse ↗Ludington, MI
- 8.9 miLudington North Breakwater Light ↗Ludington, MI
- 9.5 miLudington United States Coast Guard Station ↗Ludington, MI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
3,271 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness in?
Michigan.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1987.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Lake Michigan At Manistee, 0.6 miles out. 1 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.096, -86.439. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness?
17 National Register listings within 15 miles, including S.s. Badger (carferry) and Big Sable Point Light Station.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.