Warren Dunes

Probably the best skimming spot on Lake Michigan is at Warren Dunes.  There is a small lagoon created by water flowing into the Lake, which gives the surrounding 200 or so yards of sand a healthy 4 or 5 inch cover of water. Seeing as there are rarely waves suitable for skimming on Lake Michigan, this is an awesome place just to get the throwing and gliding down.  

To get to Warren Dunes you have to follow I-94 North past Muskegeon and almost to the northern part of the state.  I'm not too familiar with the area, but there are plenty of signs around.

Submitted by:  Jeff:  Weezah35@hotmail.com

More on Warren Dunes

Jeff was completely right, the shallow creek located on the southern most part of Warren Dunes' beach was created by the big guy just for skimboarding. The width of this pool can be as wide as 40 feet with different, consistently low and high areas in the sand under the water (make sure you feel it out first or risk popping your knees during your run and drop). The area farther up the creek is faster flowing with beds of clay, interesting riding. The mouth of the creak empties into Lake Michigan and if you time it right, will allow you to do your into the wave tricks. The area, I swear, is worth the drive! There's good competition there to learn what you don't know, but make sure you leave your ego at home, it's a good vibe there. Later afternoon on the weekends is when you'll find the areas best local/Illinois/and tourist riders.

Directions:

Exit Sawyer, EXIT 12. You'll see a big truck stop there. [The next exit is Bridgman, Exit 16, if you miss 12. Get off there and take a left. Go a few miles and the park will be on your right.]

Take a RIGHT at the stop sign. You'll go under the overpass.

Take a RIGHT at Red Arrow Highway. Go about three miles to Warren Dunes State Park, that will be on your left - can't miss it.

Enter the park and drive straight toward the beach area (not to the right, camping). The road will wind a bit when it opens up to Mount Baldy, a huge sand dune. Right away there will be the first parking lot on your LEFT. Park here if you want a shorter walk to the creek. The second parking lot puts you more into the action when you're not skimming, okay, near the women. (Plant yourself on the north side of the middle concession stand... trust me!)

Anyway, so park your car, get out and walk SOUTH (to the left). Keep walking until you hit the creek, any farther and you're on Tower Hill Property.

Submitted By:  jasonhoneycutt@msn.com

Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids - Van Buren State Park

A good skim spot for people located in the hubs of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids is at either Van Buren State Park under the watchful glow of the Palisades Nuclear Facility, a great background piece for photos ), or at South Haven's North Beach. The reason Van Buren is nice is it usually isn't crowded, the waves don't break as early, and there are lots of little tide pool type puddles that are great for skimming along the coast. North Beach is pretty much the proving grounds for a lot of young skimmers. Most of them use the 'Set the board down and run at it' method, rather than throwing. It's a good place for a little relaxing skim. Although I have seen a few guys *attempt* to ride the mean waves created off the pier.

To get to North Beach head into the town of South Haven on M-43 and take the drawbridge across. Take the first left and follow it until the signs show you where to go. As for Van Buren State Park, you'll definitely want to get a map, because it involves quite a few country roads.

Submitted by:  Jeff:  Weezah35@hotmail.com

Pentwater

On the west coast of Michigan, (lake Michigan), there is a very small tourist town known as Pentwater. The beach is incredibly nice, and on a good day you get 3-5 foot waves right on the beach, believe, me, i live there. It is one of the best spots I have ever been to (around here)

Grand Mere State Park

For skimmin on a lake, this spot is the best i have seen. Once you get to the beach turn left and walk about a mile. This beach is usually empty and provides a nice adventure, and occasionally the waves pick up enough to ride (rarely).

Follow the sign after the john beers exit off I-94.

Submitted By:  skimm616@hotmail.com

Silver Beach Park, St. Joseph

Nice long beach, but has a slight downhill slope right into the water. Waves are best in July. Crowds vary, if you stay to the left side of the beach, it's a lot less crowded, and better waves.

Pretty much just look on any map at SW Michigan, and you will see St. Joe.

Submitted By:  johnjay@wirx.com

Duck Lake Channel, Muskegon

Incredible spot for Michigan.  The channel off of Duck Lake flows under a small bridge and into lake michigan.  This also created a large shallow pool.  As far as wave riding goes, not here.. but if you'd like to skim a great distance this is the best spot around.

96 to muskegon.  M 120 to giles, to senic drive- north.   Ask anyone to Duck lake.  

Grand Haven Pier, Grand Haven MI

This spot in Grand Haven it probably the best spot, it's not good everyday but if you can get there while a storm is coming in than you have a pretty good chance of riding some waves. This shore break is also pretty steep so you get a lot of speed. The only draw back is the waves are kinda choppy but they are still good waves.

When you are in Grand Haven Take Grand street (if you are going the right way you will see a big hill) keep taking grand til' you get to the beach, after you get there the pier is visible and just keep heading towards it

Submitted By:  ReidME_12@hotmail.com

Submitted By: SnoRideFreestyle@hotmail.com

Grand Haven State Park, Michigan

The Grand Haven State Park break is usually just like the Grand Haven Pier break, except for there are usually 500 more people there. This is a good thing though.  Instead of skimming all alone which is great, you can skim with like 100 hot women in bikini's watching you.  With little 1-2 shore break, on a warm summer day, this is the best spot in michigan to be.  Trust me. bring Extra boards for all the girls that want to give it a try. They will too! I promise!

Take Harbor drive south along the channel till you reach the state park. Look for tons of cars with tons of girls in them and you will know you are there.

Submitted By: justgosurfing@hotmail.com

Saugatuck state park

Saugutuck-state park. Biggest waves I have ever seen in Michigan during the summer. 8-12 feet during July, throws a pretty good skim onto shore. The beach is kind of angled down, but you can ride the waves forever. Little rocky but not too bad.

From Grand Rapids, Take I-96(Gerald R Ford Freeway) West towards Holland is about 7-10 miles past Holland exit. Get off at the Saugatuck exit. From there just follow the signs to the state park. Not exactly sure of exact directions, I don't go there much but there are plenty of signs.

Submitted By: RicoSt@msn.com

Halfway Lagoon

LakeTown beach (on the south side of Holland) has a sweet little lagoon about 1/8 of a mile south of the beach. It's a bit wider that a 2 lane road, but the width as well as the depth varies from day to day. The lagoon is formed as Halfway creek runs out onto to beach and into the lake.

From Holland: Take South Shore or 32nd to Eldean's Ship Yard and turn left(S) onto 66th St. Take 66th all the way past Gilligan lake, right after the last curve turn right onto 142nd ave. Follow 142nd to the beach. Climb over the dune and walk south until you hit the lagoon.From Grand Rapids: Drive West on I-196 toward Holland. Take the 16th/Adams St. exit follow Adams St. West. (It changes to 16th) Keep going through town. After a while you'll hit a slight curve in the road and you'll hit a stop sign. (this is South Shore, go straight.) Now follow the directions above for the rest of the trip.(From anywhere else in MI or the rest of the country:Drive to Downtown Grand Rapids. At the 131/196 junction, take 196 West and follow the above directions.)

Submitted By: sabiantama@yahoo.com

Whitefish Point

Whitefish point is a bird observatory up north in Michigan.  I have never been able to ride there, but on most days that I’ve been there, breakers are a little taller than knee-high, right up close to the shore. It probably gets a lot sicker when storms roll in, and the wave has almost know chop, it just breaks smoothly to the right, like a good wave should. To make it even better, the water is unusually warm, making it nice on those colder storm days.  It is a popular place for bird watchers to chill, but if you stay away from the main buildings, the crowds dissipate and you probably wont get hassled. 

The point is located in the eastern part of the U.P. For actual directions, go to www.wpbo.org and click on the visitors guide.

Submitted By: organiks@aol.com

Lake Port/ Port Huron

I went to lake port my first time last year, I thought it's a lake it wont have any waves. Boy, I was wrong, the waves are about 5ft tall. I went with my friend and I am 15-and he is 12, well anyways the last day we were there it stormed and he went out there all by himself and I was too scared to do it. The waves got 2-3ft bigger, he got sucked under, big long story.  The best time to go is in June July and August. When I went I thought the beach was going to be crowded but all three days we were there only 3 people were on the beach, not families people. 

Well you follow i-94 east freeway, just follow the signs that say Port Huron.

Submitted By: ssk8erboy88@excite.com

Stoney Creek 

Well this isn't exactly a prime spot to skim in Michigan, let alone the country but for those in the area, it may be nice. There is usually quite a few people there, none of them skimming. All flat-landing obviously but if you get a nice calm day the water and skim is like glass. 

In Stoney Creek Metropark. 26 Mile and Shelby Road. There are two beaches I've only been to the Eastwood Beach because that’s the only one open so far this summer.

Submitted By: elwaxxo@hotmail.com