North Bar Beach

An ever-changing bar of sand separates North Bar Lake from Lake Michigan.

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Quick Facts

Amenities

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Beach/Water Access

North Bar Lake-a small inland lake that drains into Lake Michigan-is one of the most popular swimming holes in the Lakeshore because it has shallow, clear water over a sandy bottom and is warmer than Lake Michigan.  But for those who like the refreshing cool water and wave action of the big lake, you can walk across the low dunes that separate the two lakes in just a couple of minutes. The beaches of pure sand and the small outlet to Lake Michigan is ideal for the kids to play.

When there has been ample rainfall to fill the North Bar Lake Basin, the water will break through the sand and empty into Lake Michigan.  The lake is closed to power-driven vessels from April 1^st through October 31^st and is limited to two-horsepower motors the remainder of the year.  There is a paved parking lot, restrooms and a sandy area to launch a canoe or kayak.   

Pets are NOT allowed at North Bar Lake.

North Bar Lake offers carry-in access for watercraft. There is a 760 foot, flat, and hard-pack trail leading from the parking lot to the lake. You can launch in North Bar and paddle 400 feet across the lake to a short portage to Lake Michigan. At North Bar Lake you have a unique opportunity to have both small and large lake experiences-wind and waves permitting!
 

It takes a few minutes to climb the trail over the dune that separates the lakes, but it's worth it. Once at the Lake Michigan beach, you can walk along the shore north to the bluffs below the Pierce Stocking Drive Lake Michigan Overlook Platform. This perspective gives you a better appreciation of the size and steepness of the bluffs.

Some areas of the low dunes that separate the two lakes have experienced severe dune erosion and are closed for restoration. Please obey closure signs.

The channel between North Bar Lake and Lake Michigan

Unlike many inland lakes, North Bar Lake connects to Lake Michigan with a channel that opens and closes with the crashing of waves and blowing of sand during storms. When the sand bar builds up, it separates North Bar Lake from Lake Michigan. When waves eat the sand away, a small connecting channel exists between the two lakes.

Longshore currents help move the sand along the shore. Longshore currents act like a river in the lake transporting sand along the lakeshore and reshaping the shoreline. The longshore current at Sleeping Bear Point carries 60,000 square meters of sand a year away from the point, enough to fill 24 Olympic swimming pools a year. You can often see the longshore current (especially from the North Bar Lake Overlook on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive): it is the greener water paralleling the shore.

North Bar Lake occupies part of a former bay on Lake Michigan. This unique connection creates a diversity of aquatic and ecological communities unmatched in most of Michigan. Without the power of Lake Michigan's waves, this beautiful lake would never have formed.

Is this a Shipwreck?

Many boats and ships have been lost in the sometimes treacherous waters of the Manitou Passage-the water trail between the mainland and Manitou Islands. The same natural forces of wind and waves that caused most of the wrecks can quickly uncover a wreck site that has been buried in the sand for over a hundred years. The site may remain visible for weeks or only a few days.

Did you find a shipwreck? Read more about identifying a shipwreck in the Beach FAQs section of the app.

Beach Safely

**Poison Ivy: leaves of three, leave it be!**
Poison ivy grows plentifully in many areas of the Lakeshore as a vine or low shrub. The leaves are red in early spring, shiny green in summer, and an attractive red or orange in the fall. Each leaf consists of three leaflets. Most people are sensitive in varying degrees to the sap of this plant, which makes the skin itch, blister, and swell.
Avoid contact with all parts of the plant. Avoid plants with three leaflets.
If exposed, wash the affected skin with soap and water as soon as possible.

Beach fires
Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over glowing coals while watching the sun go down over the lake is a perfect ending to a fun day at the beach. Beach fire are allowed on our mainland Lake Michigan beaches between the water's edge and where the dunes begin, and away from any vegetation. Make sure you use firewood from park approved vendors to help us protect our forests from pest and disease. And be sure to extinguish all beach fires with water. DO NOT bury fires-hidden embers could burn unsuspecting bare feet!

Take care around plover nesting area
Keep a watchful eye out for a tiny animal friend, the piping plover, a threatened species that breeds here in the spring. Piping plovers find the cobbled beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes an ideal place to find mates, nest, and raise their young. To protect the plovers and their nests, some parts of the beach may be temporarily closed to visitors and pets. Please help us protect these special birds by keeping dogs on a leash and obeying all beach closure signs.

Step around the Pitcher's thistle
Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcher) blooms only once when the plant is seven years old. This native thistle grows only on the shorelines or sand dunes of the Great Lakes and is common in the Lakeshore. It is a threatened species: it is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Walking through foredunes on your way to the beach may trample and kill these plants before they can reproduce. So please watch out for the Pitcher's thistle: stay on the wooden walkways and established trails.

Swim safe
The Lakeshore's pristine beaches are ideal for swimming, but forceful waves and rip currents can turn a fun visit into a frightening one. Use caution when swimming alone and take special precautions with children: keep a close watch on all children, stay within arm's reach, and be sure they are wearing a life jacket.

Be alert for rip currents
Although they are not common in the Lakeshore, rip currents are dangerous and can occur at any beach with breaking waves.

Lake Michigan conditions can change quickly. Know what to expect before you go in the water. Monitor the weather and check out the swim risk level for the beach you plan to visit. Read more in Safety.

Paddle safe
Before going out for a paddle, check the weather. Have a boating plan and make sure others know it. Always wear safety gear, including personal flotation devices. Buddy up, don't go out alone. Check your boat and make sure it is safe for conditions. And always keep the shoreline in sight.