Peterson Beach

Peterson Beach is a secluded stretch of Lake Michigan shore at the end of Peterson Road. It suits a long walk, beachcombing or a quiet swim, with Sleeping Bear Point and Empire Bluff across the water. The small parking supply helps keep it quieter than busier beach stops, but it can mean parking along the road.

At the road's end is a small crushed-gravel lot with limited spaces; roadside parking is also used. A boardwalk crosses the low dunes, but the shoreline approach is also described as roughly 600 feet of deep, soft sand over steep foredunes. Plan on loose, uneven footing rather than firm, level access. A vault toilet is available, but there is no potable water, so bring what you need.

Great Lakes piping plovers nest here, and sections of the beach may close while the birds are nesting and raising chicks. The Great Lakes population recovered from 17 breeding pairs in 1986 to 74 in 2021, with about half of the population nesting at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Dogs are prohibited between Peterson Road and Esch Road under current park guidance. Pitcher's thistle, a threatened dune plant, flowers only once at about seven years old; stay on the boardwalk and trails to protect it.

Petoskey stones are fossil colonial coral; leave them in the National Lakeshore because removing them is illegal. There are no lifeguards, and waves and rip currents can be hazardous. Mainland Lake Michigan beach fires are allowed between the water's edge and first dune, away from vegetation; use approved firewood from park vendors and extinguish the fire with water.