Cathead Bay

An alluring stretch of beach right in the middle of Cathead Bay is backed by dunes that gradually give way to forest. A few different paths wind through the woods to reach the beach, leading a walker through the secession of forest to dune. The open dunes, along with the numerous blowouts, are a fine example of this natural community, which was once common along the eastern Lake Michigan shoreline. In the sand and gravel flats behind the foredune, state-endangered piping plovers nest and feed. The public stretch of the beach is great to hang out on, but please don’t loiter on private property – you are welcome to walk along the beach, just don’t set up all your beach gear. Local lore says that Al Capone had a house on Cathead Bay.

Cool things to do: fly a kite at the beach, look for piping plovers nesting in the open dune – but be careful not to disturb them, picnic at the lunch area close by the car park, build a sandcastle at the beach. Hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, camping (adjacent), photography, nature study.