Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake is a state off-road vehicle area and is a part of Silver Lake State Park. It lies on the shores of Lake Michigan north of Muskegon near the small town of Hart. A Michigan ORV sticker and a flag mounted on the front bumper are required. Flags, mounts, and other supplies can be purchased at a store just outside the park entrance. You will need to air down to 15# or so your tires will "float" on the sand better. The store at the entreance has free air to air up your tires at the end of your run.
The first time I went to Silver Lake, I was not expecting much. After all, I had been on the rocky mountain trails of Colorado, North Carolina and Maine. Man was I surprised! What a blast!
Wolverine Lineup on the Shores of Lake Michigan
The Wolverines go to Silver Lake every October to avoid the crowds of summer. The weather can be hot or cold, dry or wet that time of year and is usually windy.
The dunes can also take a toll on vehicles without anything
as dramatic as a roll-over. One of our guests came over the crest of the big
dune and lost a plastic panel and driving lights that were installed on the
bumper. The stock skid plate, which proved to be more for looks than performance,
also took a beating. The park also has hidden drop-offs in what otherwise
appear to be flat areas. One of our vehicles drove too fast over one of these
and smashed his skidplate into the fan shroud and oil filter, damagaing both
enough to put his out of action.
Cec and Lee enjoy the dunes on a chilly day.
The Dunes has three major sections: (1) the large parallel dunes near the entreance (see above), (2) an area of smaller dunes with interspersed trees, and (3) the beach. The smaller dunes area is a good place to play "follow the leader".
Test Hill
The first thing that greets you as you enter the park is a large sand ridge known as "Test Hill", which can be tricky to clime. A driver has to drive hard to create the momentum necessary to make it up the dune and not high center on the ridge, but he has to slow quickly as he approaches the top to avoid going airborne with the front end. In some areas the drop-off on the back side of the dune are pretty steep, which makes the speed over the top even more critical. On one of our trips two vehicles hit the top too fast and rolled end over end. Fortunately, the roll bars worked as designed and no one was seriously hurt.
Lee's TJ faces Test Hill.
Actually there are 4 or 5 ridges one after the other. The route over the ridges is one-way for obvious reasons, but you can loop back around the end of the large dunes for another run (ane you will want to).
The Wolverines stand poised to attack Test Hill.
After finally surveying the hill and finding an open corridor, I struck out toward the top. I didn't go fast enough, and I was in third gear--too high. I didn't make it.
I backed down the slope and made another run at it. This time, I increased the approach speed and stayed in second gear. I kept moving toward the top, and next thing I know, I'm over.
Feeling my oats, I barrelled up the second dune toward the ridge. I hit the top too fast. I got over only too well, and I my front end went slightly airborne. Wham, I slammed to the sand. That taught me a lesson--let of the gas just as you clear the ridge so you will go over the top slowly. You need just enough speed to provide the momentum to clear th ridge but not too much that you grap air under the front tires.
Let there be Jeeps --view from top of Test Hill
Matt on the summit of Test Hill looking east
Tree Area
Between Test Hill and Lake Michigan is an area with trees. The hills are not as high, but sometimes the challenge can be as great.
Follow-the-leader in the tree area.
Through the years the Wolverines have developed games that they play on the dunes. One is Follow-the-Leader in which the vehicles wind in a line through the tree area. Careening throught the trees one vehicle after the other is lots of fun.
Another game is Hide-and-Seek in which one vehicle hides among the trees and dunes and gives clues via CB radio, and the others try to locate him. The sand dune veterans have an advantages since they know all the out-of-the-way places. Both games educate you about the park by taking you throughout the park.
Despite deflated tires, the sand can give way and bury your rig. But fetting stuck is part of the fun.
Matt helps dig Mike's Toyota out of the sand.
Some trees have pits arount them. Perfect for round and round.
Round and round
There are only a couple of mud holes in the park in the tree area. Sometimes these can be very deep and can swallow a Jeep. If your distributor or ignition wires get a bit too wet, spraying with Wire Dry solves the problem.
Dune Action
Lee prepares to climb a small but challenging sand hill.
And he makes...with spinning tires.
Hangin' Out on the Dunes
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Cec and Lee stand on a rise with Lake Michigan in the background.
Chantal, Jodie, and Cec, three of the Wolverine "Jeep babes".
Rick and Barb tailgating at lunch.
A pair of wheeling hams: KY8T, Lee, and KC8SPV, Bill.
Sound Testing
Silver Lake ORV Area instituted sound limits in 2002. In 2001 the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association worked with the Michigan DNR to develop reasonable sound level limits and testing methods. Among those who participated were several members of the Wolverines.
Wolverines help Jim Mazzola test a quad.
Mike on partol.
And Phil on sound test patrol.
Paul and Jim test a dune buggy's exhaust sound level.
Reading the db meter.