Home >  United States  >  Michigan  >  Glen Arbor  >  

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point

United States, Michigan, Glen Arbor 

Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
-
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
Your Image Alt Text
©
- -
Your Image Alt Text
©
-

WeatherSunrise: 7:31 AMSunset: 8:06 PM

Thursday 28

-1

°C

Icon

Precipitation : 10 KmHumidity : 61%Wind : 9.86 m/s

Located at the mouth of the Platte River, Platte River Point Beach - also known as Platte Beach and Platte Point Beach - is a popular, large, and scenic beach with light brown sand and a nearby forest and grassy areas. This beach is situated along the shores of Lake Michigan and it is a part of a national park named Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Sand dune fields are present around Platte River Point Beach. The northern parts of the beach are sandier than its southern parts, which have more gravel. Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach has been named the 7th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” The beach also becomes wider during summers as small nearshore sandbars move towards the coastline and eventually join the beach - this sand is washed away by storms in autumn, making the beach narrower again. 

Although Platte River Point Beach does not have lifeguards, it has many other amenities including restrooms, drinking water facilities, nearby barbecue areas, a boat ramp, and a nearby grassy area with benches. Pets are not allowed in Platte River Point Beach.

Platte River Point Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, hiking, picnicking, fishing, swimming, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, inner-tubing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing. The Platte River present near the beach has a fast current, which makes it an ideal spot for inner tubing. Kayakers and canoers also launch their canoes and kayaks from this beach in order to explore the Platte River and the shoreline around Lake Michigan. The water near Platte River Point Beach also seasonally offers thrilling waves, which makes it ideal for kitesurfers. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Platte River Point Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here has unpredictable rip currents and rogue waves. The water here is also known to occasionally have high levels of microbial contamination. 

If you are planning to launch your kayak/canoe/boat from the boat ramp in Platte River Point Beach, please note that you can only launch small watercraft from this ramp. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of birds around the water near Platte Point River Beach including killdeers, spotted sandpipers, and Caspian terns. The beach is also used as a seasonal nesting spot by endangered plover birds. The beach also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of Lake Michigan, Empire Bluffs, and the nearby Sleeping Bear Point. Platte River Point Beach also offers a fun oceanfront bonfire session - if you are planning a bonfire on Platte River Point Beach, we recommend visiting the beach’s webpage at the National Park Service’s website for more information regarding the local bonfire rules. If you are planning to fish in the water near Platte River Point Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations

Getting to Platte River Point Beach is easy - the beach is located near the northern end of Lake Michigan Road and it is easily accessible from Michigan 22. There are three parking lots near the beach - one of the lots is owned by a civil township named Lake Township and the other two lots are managed by the National Park Service. In order to park at the National Park Service-owned lots, you need to purchase a Park Pass - you can visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s webpage on the National Park Service’s website for more useful information regarding the pass purchase details. If you are parking at the Lake Township-owned parking lot, you need to pay a fee for doing so. It is important to note that an endangered plant named Pitcher's thistle grows around the beach - this plant blooms only once in seven years and we recommend being careful while walking around the beach to avoid trampling it. In addition, the area around the beach is also known to have poison ivy, which can cause an irritating rash if it comes into contact with the skin.

The sand here has many kinds of minerals - as an interesting fact, the beach here also has traces of dark-colored sand, which occurs due to the presence of magnetite being present here. 

There are many attractions near Platte River Point Beach within a 25-minute drive. Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse is a lighthouse which was built in honor of longtime Empire resident Robert H. Manning - Manning was an avid fisherman and long-time local resident, and wished to see a lighthouse built for fisherman in the village of Empire. This lighthouse was modeled after the lighthouse in Point Betsie and it offers amazing Instagram-worthy photos. Benzie Area Historical Society and Museum has interesting exhibits which offer a unique insight into the vibrant history of Northern Michigan and Benzie County. If you are looking for another attraction near Platte River Point, Frankfort Mineral Springs Park is a waterfront park which offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of Lake Michigan. The park also has a mineral water spring, which has been popular with visitors since the 19th century.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Platte River Point Beach within a 30-minute drive.  La Bécasse is an upscale restaurant which offers amazing French dishes - in addition, the restaurant also offers amazing Creole dishes, poultry dishes, and seafood. Jim’s Joint BBQ offers a variety of amazing barbecued dishes, along with excellent sandwiches, salads, chili, and nachos. The Cherry Hut offers outstanding sandwiches, salads, poultry dishes, seafood, and soup - the restaurant is also famous for its amazing cherry-flavored desserts including its famous cherry pie. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Platte River Point, Papa J’s Pizzeria & Diner offers amazing dishes for lunch, breakfast, and dinner including eggs, sandwiches, meatloaf, pizzas, and seafood. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Platte River Point Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 35-minute drive. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the Inn at Black Star Farms is an hour’s drive away- this hotel was listed as the Best Wine Country Hotel  by USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2020. This hotel offers many amenities including a restaurant with a fireplace, a terrace, a sauna, a library, cooking classes, and complimentary hot breakfast, wine tasting sessions, and evening wine and snacks. As another upscale option, the 4-Star The Homestead offers many amenities including multiple restaurants and bars, a spa, a salon, two pools, a fitness center, a kids’ camp, a family entertainment program, and multiple sports facilities including a golf facility and facilities for winter sports. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hotel Frankfort & Restaurant that offers many amenities including a restaurant, and a lounge with fireplace. The hotel also offers many activities for a fee including wine-tasting tours, bike tours, and fishing trips. As another moderately priced option, the 2.5-Stat Harbor Lights Resort offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, and self service laundry facilities. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Platte River Point, the modestly priced Honor Motel is located conveniently close to some of the major restaurants and attractions in northern Michigan.

Beach Information

Amenities

  • Dogs

  • Restrooms

  • Activities

  • Bike Paths

  • Camping

  • Rentals

  • Bikes

  • Kayaking Canoeing

  • Access

  • Bike Racks

  • Car Access

  • Disabled Access

  • Foot Access

  • Parking - Paid

  • Stairs to Beach

  • EXPLORE TOP DESTINATIONS

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Surf through our FAQs to help you find your perfect beach!

    Does Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point have parking? If so, is it free or paid?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point does not have dedicated parking but has street parking near the entrance.

    Does Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point have lifeguards?

    No, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point does not have lifeguards monitoring the beach – please be careful when swimming on this beach.

    Is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point a family-friendly beach?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point is not family-friendly and does not have restrooms, lifeguards, and nearby food.

    Is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point good for swimming?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point boasts excellent swimming conditions, attracting swimmers of all skill levels with its gentle waves and clear waters.

    Does Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point have restrooms?

    Restrooms are conveniently available on or adjacent to the beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point.

    Is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point a nude beach?

    No, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point maintains a family-friendly atmosphere and does not allow nude bathing.

    Is there food near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point does not have nearby food options – please plan your beach day accordingly.

    What are the activities at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point is renowned for its vibrant beach scene, offering various activities for everyone to enjoy Bike Paths, Camping.

    Does Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point have accommodations for people with disabilities?

    Yes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point offers accommodations for people with disabilities, allowing everyone to relish the coastal experience.

    Is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point a dog-friendly beach?

    Yes, bring your dog with you to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point!

    Is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point good for surfing?

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point is not generally considered to be good for surfing.

    Beaches Near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Point

    This is the ultimate beach bucket list - conquer each of them across the world's most stunning coastlines. With over 100,000 beaches in the world, this is the definitive list on the Top 50 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.

    EXPERT ADVICE AND TIPS

    Beach Blogs

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in Cyprus: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-01-31 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in Cyprus: A Comprehensive Overview

    If you're looking to experience the freedom of being at one with nature and basking in the sun without the restriction of clothing, Cyprus might be the perfect destination for you. However, it's important to understand the nudism laws in Cyprus to ensure you have a pleasant and hassle-free experience.

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in New Caledonia: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-01-31 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in New Caledonia: A Comprehensive Overview

    New Caledonia, located in the South Pacific, is a stunning destination known for its beautiful beaches and pristine waters. For those interested in naturism or nudism, it's important to understand the laws and cultural attitudes towards nudity in this tropical paradise.

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in Colombia: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-01-31 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in Colombia: A Comprehensive Overview

    Nudism laws and cultural attitudes towards nudity vary greatly from country to country and can be a key consideration for travelers when planning a trip to a new destination. When it comes to Colombia, understanding the laws and cultural norms around nudism is essential for anyone considering enjoying the country's beaches in the nude.

    Sandee - Blog / California Bioluminescent and Glowing Waves of 2024

    2024-02-23 Sandee

    California Bioluminescent and Glowing Waves of 2024

    California's coastlines have once again become the stage for one of nature's most mesmerizing performances: bioluminescent waves. These glowing waves, a phenomenon resulting from a natural chemical reaction within bioluminescent organisms like dinoflagellates, have illuminated the shores in a dazzling display of natural light. Here's what you need to know about these radiant waves, where to find them, and why they occur.

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in East Timor: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-01-31 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in East Timor: A Comprehensive Overview

    East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is a tropical paradise located in Southeast Asia. With its stunning beaches and lush landscapes, it's a popular destination for travelers seeking sun, sand, and relaxation. For those interested in nudism, it's important to understand the local laws and cultural attitudes towards nudity before planning a trip to East Timor.

    Sandee - Blog / Tar on Your Feet After a Beach Trip: Removal Tips, Causes, and Prevention

    2024-01-12 Sandee

    Tar on Your Feet After a Beach Trip: Removal Tips, Causes, and Prevention

    It’s a right of passage for many beachgoers - stepping onto the sand and discovering your feet covered in sticky, black tar. This nuisance plaguing shoreline visitors can quickly ruin an otherwise idyllic beach day. From removal techniques to avoiding tar altogether, read on for tips and info about this pesky substance to stop it from sticking to your feet.

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in Christmas Island: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-01-31 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in Christmas Island: A Comprehensive Overview

    Christmas Island is a breathtaking destination known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning natural beauty. For those who are interested in exploring the freedom of nudism, it's important to understand the laws and cultural attitudes surrounding nudity on the island. In this blog, we will delve into the nudism laws on Christmas Island, as well as provide valuable travel advice for nudists and naturists.

    Sandee - Blog / Nudism Laws in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Overview

    2024-02-01 Sandee

    Nudism Laws in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Overview

    Saudi Arabia, known for its rich cultural heritage and vast deserts, offers a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern development. For travelers exploring this Middle Eastern country, understanding its legal and cultural stance on nudism, especially regarding beach activities, is essential. This guide provides an overview of the nudism laws in Saudi Arabia.

    Sandee - Blog / Beach Wedding Planning 101 - Essential Tips for Pulling Off a Seaside Ceremony

    2024-01-15 Sandee

    Beach Wedding Planning 101 - Essential Tips for Pulling Off a Seaside Ceremony

    You said "yes!" to a seaside wedding proposal. Now comes bringing your beach nuptial vision to life. Planning a beach wedding requires extra consideration to pull off perfectly. From permits to attire, here are the top tips for orchestrating an incredible beach ceremony and celebration beside the ocean.