interstitialRedirectModalTitle

interstitialRedirectModalMessage

interstitialRedirectModalRedirectCTA
interstitialRedirectModalDismissCTA
Skip to content
A pink, orange, and blue sunset over Lake Michigan at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. The water is calm, and there are delicate green dune grasses growing out of the sand in the foreground.
Oval Beach in Saugatuck View from Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan. © Stephen Carmickle/TNC Photo Contest 2019
Stories in Michigan

Great Lakes, Great Beaches

These five beautiful Great Lakes beaches offer a great view and preserve Michigan's diverse coastal habitats.

July 27, 2026

The sun is shining, the lake is a deep blue and a light breeze rustles dune grass. A footstep falls on a forest trail. A warbler sings from a hemlock branch. A brook trout swims away into a cold stream after a gentle release. A child shines through an ice cream smile. We all have a vision of the perfect Michigan summer, and outdoor recreation is at the heart of much of what we envision, because it’s at the heart of the experiences we share.

Nature Grows Economic Prosperity

Perhaps money does grow on trees! Discover how protecting nature boosts our economy.

Read more

Outdoor recreation contributes $13.9 billion annually to Michigan’s economy, supporting 118,000 jobs across more than 7,000 outdoor recreation industry companies. However, without conservation of the woods, waters, wetlands and wildlife that support recreational opportunities, that economy would not exist.

In Part 4 of our Field Guide to Michigan Summer, we share some of the best Great Lakes beaches in Michigan, along with some of the ways that we work to conserve the natural coastal habitats that make them so beautiful.

Love wildlife? Let it wander into your inbox.

Get monthly stories that connect you to the wildlife, places and conservation wins shaping the Midwest and the world. Nature News keeps you inspired, informed and connected to the wild—no hiking boots required.

Sign Me Up for Nature News
The shoreline at Zetterberg Preserve, with sandy dunes full of grasses and plants rising above the water.
Zetterberg Preserve Shore Dunes rise above the water at Zetterberg Preserve © Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

1. Point Betsie

TNC’s Zetterberg Preserve at Point Betsie, north of Frankfort, is part of the largest freshwater dune system in the world, covering the coast of Lake Michigan and providing habitat for endangered piping plover. For decades, TNC has worked with land trust partners up and down the Lake Michigan coast to establish and restore many coastal dune nature preserves and protect the dynamic processes that assure dune system health.

A bright orange sunset on Lake Michigan, with a closeup view of beach pebbles in the foreground as a wave rolls in.
Lake Michigan Sunset Among many other wonderful things, Lake Michigan is known for its gorgeous sunsets. This photo was taken just north of Elberta Beach from Zetterberg Point Preserve. © Ron Leonetti

2. Elberta Beach

Beautiful Elberta Beach on Lake Michigan will be expanded and its coastal dunes protected through the Elberta Waterfront Community Conservation Project, spearheaded in 2024 by Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy with TNC assistance. Once targeted for development, this site will now be protected by the project, expanding coastal protection on Lake Michigan and the Betsie River.

A line of people in the distance hike through tall dune grasses, with Lake Michigan visible just beyond. The sky is a dusky pink and purple, and there is a single tree in the frame.
Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area A fall hike at the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. © Ellie Scholtz/TNC

3. Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area

Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area comprises 173 acres of conserved coastal dune and wetland ecosystem with hiking trails at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River and adjacent to Saugatuck’s Oval Beach. It was established in 2011 through a many-year partnership effort of TNC, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, and community and foundation leaders.

A young boy enjoys the shoreline of Lake Superior on a windy day. He is out of focus in the background while crashing water droplets along the shore are in focus.
Lake Superior Shoreline Young boy enjoys the shoreline of Lake Superior on a windy day. He is out of focus in the background while the crashing water droplets along the shore are in focus. © Michael D-L Jordan/dlp

Great Lakes, Great Partners

The Great Lakes offer a shared identity and united cause for extraordinary partnerships to protect our coastline. Former Governor Bill Miliken was famously quoted: “They aren’t making any more of it.” 

Often, a local land trust, organization, or agency is best positioned to be the long-term caretaker of lands that preserve critical Great Lakes coastal processes and habitats. But lake frontage doesn’t last long on the market, and sometimes TNC can quickly acquire land before it’s sold,  thanks to our network of generous supporters and our experience in complex transactions.

At North Point Nature Preserve, TNC purchased the land and transferred it to Huron Pines when they were ready to assume its care. At Saugatuck Harbor and Elberta, TNC could contribute funding at critical junctures.

A view of the North Point Peninsula shoreline, with brush and grasses growing thick in the shane along the water.
North Point Peninsula Shore A view of the North Point Peninsula shoreline. © Dietrich Ludwig

4. North Point Nature Preserve

Take a guided tour of Huron Pines’ biologically diverse North Point Nature Preserve along four miles of undeveloped Lake Huron shoreline and protected rare ecosystems in the northeast Lower Peninsula. The preserve was acquired by TNC in 2018 and transferred to Huron Pines in 2022 for permanent protection and management.

Sandy beach at Bete Grise Wetland Preserve, with clusters of short green dune grasses growing evenly throughout the sand. A curved shoreline is visible, with gently sloping hills visible in the distance.
Sand Beach at Bete Grise Sandy shoreline at Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve. © Gina Nicholas

5. Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve

TNC’s 62-acre Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve on the Keweenaw Peninsula consists of one and a half miles of sandy shoreline along Lake Superior leading to dunes and high-quality Great Lakes marshland. Access TNC’s preserve along the beach through the neighboring Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District’s Bete Grise Preserve, also protected with support from TNC.

A view of sand dunes at Ross Coastal Plain Marsh. A sandy landscape is visible with several trees growing throughout. The sky is blue and sunny.
MIFO160904_D207.tif Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve. © Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

Coastal Processes

It can be mesmerizing to watch the waves break upon the shore at a Great Lakes beach. You might also wonder how the giant sand dunes behind you came to be while you’ve been watching the answer all along. 

Sand left by the last Ice Age was carried by rivers of melting glaciers out to the lakes, where waves carried it back to the beach and wind piled it high over thousands of years. This dynamic, ever-shifting shoreline process is called littoral drift, or longshore sediment transport. 

But hardened shorelines block this process and increase erosion further down the shore, creating a chain reaction on our dune systems. When we preserve a natural shoreline, we don’t just protect a pretty beach. We’re preserving a complete natural process that reduces coastal erosion.

Explore These Beaches

Find a Preserve Near You

No results are shown. To see results, turn on the toggle switches in the legend.

Zetterberg Preserve at Point Betsie
× The shoreline at Zetterberg Preserve, with sandy dunes full of grasses and plants rising above the water.

Zetterberg Preserve at Point Betsie

The dunes at Point Betsie are part of the largest freshwater dune system in the world, which covers 275,000 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline. They provide critical habitat for rare species, including Pitcher’s thistle. They have also been identified as a potential nesting site for piping plovers as the population of this endangered species recovers.

Image © Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

Visit
Elberta Beach
× A bright orange sunset on Lake Michigan, with a closeup view of beach pebbles in the foreground as a wave rolls in.

Elberta Beach

Beautiful Elberta Beach on Lake Michigan will be expanded and its coastal dunes protected through the Elberta Waterfront Community Conservation Project, spearheaded in 2024 by Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy with TNC assistance.

Image © Ron Leonetti

Visit
Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area
× A line of people in the distance hike through tall dune grasses, with Lake Michigan visible just beyond. The sky is a dusky pink and purple, and there is a single tree in the frame.

Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area

All trails at the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, now stewarded by The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, lead to Lake Michigan shoreline, the Kalamazoo River, or the small Oxbow Lagoon.

Image © Ellie Scholtz/TNC

Visit
North Point Nature Preserve
× A view of the North Point Peninsula shoreline, with brush and grasses growing thick in the shane along the water.

North Point Nature Preserve

The North Point Nature Preserve lies at the heart of NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The preserve's area represents a large-scale, strategic conservation priority, featuring pristine ecosystems unique to Michigan and the Great Lakes. Along with trails and beautiful views of Lake Huron, there are plenty of other things to experience within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Image © Dietrich Ludwig

Visit
Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve
× Sandy beach at Bete Grise Wetland Preserve, with clusters of short green dune grasses growing evenly throughout the sand. A curved shoreline is visible, with gently sloping hills visible in the distance.

Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve

The 62-acre Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve consists of just over 4,000 feet of sandy shoreline along Lake Superior leading to dune and swale wetlands. Look to the skies (and treetops) to spot the common loon, merlin and bald eagle. Many species of special plants are found in the wetland areas of the preserve. Enjoy warm sunny beaches in the late summer months, and lookout for vibrant beach grass!

Image © Gina Nicholas

Visit

Discover More Guide to Summer in Michigan

Find summer activities and more of our work to preserve Michigan's natural wonders.

Fantastic Fishing in Michigan

Discover where to fish in Michigan. With four Great Lakes, more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 51,000 river miles, you’re never far from beautiful fishing destinations.

Eyes to the Skies

Michigan’s most magnificent birding opportunities rely on spectacular habitat

Stunning Michigan Hikes

From short day hikes to epic treks, these trails wind through Michigan’s most unique natural phenomena.