Hi, thanks for looking. I am trying to get 3 of my friends and myself to take a roadtrip over to silver lake from milwaukee, wi area and want some advise and help. We are all experienced riders on the trail. we all ride 450r's and want to try sand instead of dirt and mud. anyways, I need to know what
and where people would recommend staying over there and also what is all involved with price of entrance and if reservations are required and also safety of equipment. We are probably gonna take a mini-motohome and hopefully an enclosed trailer if we can fit all 4 inside? also if there is any fun bars and nightlife to do in the area. Back to where to stay. Is there a campground on the dunes or next to it? Also how many days is a good time for this area. Is it just one big play area or are there small trails off the beach?? And should we get sand tires for a possible one time trip only or will holeshots or a different tire be fine.. I am thinking we may be ok with the front but should get something for the rear??? also need to know about sound and how they measure and if I can get in with my Rossier and discs or should I go back to stock for this trip with maybe an hrc endcap??
Please repsond on here or pm me. Thanks, Bill

Silver Lake is a blast. It is one big contained play area on Lake Michigan with the big dunes, flat wet areas, and a sand hilly trail type area through the brush. Here is a link where many of your questions are answered http://www.silverlakeforum.com/ You cannot stay/camp at the dunes. There is a campground not far away, but I've never been there. There is a hotel a couple of blocks away that we stay at (Silver Sands http://www.silversandsresort.net/recreation.html ). Rooms and little cottages. Nice place, reasonable cost, decent restaurant w/ good breakfast. No "night life" but we build a fire in their fire pits and have some beers at night. Across the street is a couple of go-cart tracks that are a riot!

You will have to buy a sticker for the tow vehicle, and a out of state ORV sticker for each machine you are going to ride. You also need a specific flag (can be purchased at the shop across the street). As far as the pipe, they check for spark arrestor and wont let you in without it. We only go during the week and have never been sound tested, even with some pretty loud machines. Stay in bounds, they will ticket you and impound your machine!

You have to ride at least two days to justify the drive and expense. I'm in northeast IL about an hour south of Milwaukee. If you are going on a weekend, read about the voucher system! Hate for you to drive 7 hours and not be able to get in.

As fas as tires on the 450r I cant tell you because I haven't brought my 450r there yet, but in the past I have only ran Holeshots on a atc350x and they were great.

Also http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-1...34760--,00.html

read about the voucher system??? I assume this is one of the links above
unless you care to explain more here. Thanks alot for the info.

I am in Holland MI right now and my truck broke right before I left so I could not bring my quad. I was planning on taking my first trip there, real bummer. Anyways I leave Sat. the 1st of August so I think I will be stopping by Redbud to see the MX race~!

I live just North of Holland MI, an hour from silver lake. Silverlakeforum.com is a good place to ask questions and get info.
To get in the dunes you will need-
-a out of state state park sticker for each atv/vehicle you bring in.(I think its $8 per day)
-an orv sticker for each quad you bring in the dunes.($16.25)
-Spark arrester
-Dune flag ($25ish) Top has to reach 10' from the ground when mounted on vehicle
-Stock tires/holeshots will work fine. You will be able to go anywhere you want with them, paddles would get you there faster.
-There is a voucher system on holidays and weekends. You go to the vouvher center and get a pass that tells you what time you can get in the dunes. There are limited numbers of vouchers for each given time period. There are also limited parking lot vouchers.
-Link for camp sites/hotels and more info for silver lake. http://www.thinkdunes.com/camping--22/

I tried to cover most of it. Any other questions feel free to ask.

Silver Lake is well worth the trip!! Witti has explained it pretty good.

As for camping grounds/hotels we have found that if you stay in a hotel that is a away from the dunes there is less people around, but if you like a big crowd stay closer to the dunes. If you want to relax and don't mind the extra miles to get to the dunes then get a hotel or stay at a camp ground further away.

If you can postpone your trip, we have a group of about 10 going Sept 18. This will be my 9th year going. We are staying at the State campground. They seem to be the most leniant. EVERY campground around there claims to be a "FAMILY FRIENDLY" campground and they seem to stick to it. Last year we had the camp nazi put our fire out for us at midnight because we refused. We were all completely sober and just VERY QUIETLY BS'ing. His exact quote was "No noise after midnight means NO noise after midnight!"

There is NO party campground there any more. Val Du Lakes used to be the party grounds but the new owners made it the most strict there. Silver Lake Resort and Campground and the state campground seem to be the most lenient. If you're not a tool about it, they are ok.

Night life other than the go carts and mini golf is slim to none. It is a dry county but I heard that the Val Du Bar is ok sometimes (A little drive).

We usually just pack our own beverages and keep to ourselves. If you do reserve a spot, make sure to get one on the furthest edge of the campground, it seems to help.

If you want to go when we do, you are more than welcome. Let me know. Later.

Thanks everone for the info. I will post when we decide to go and where we end up staying.
We don't need a real party and are not the loud ones. Just fun to watch other crazy people sometimes. Thanks for all the info and posting so far.

im going that day also for first time