Sable Falls Beach
Grand Marais, MI
Sable Falls Beach is at the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, just west of Grand Marais. A long wooden staircase leads down past Sable Falls to where Sable Creek meets Lake Superior. The Grand Sable Dunes rise to the west, towering above the beach.
A waterfall, a beach, and giant dunes in one short walk, though the climb back up the stairs is real.
How we score beachesTake the stairs down past the falls, then walk west along the beach to see the dunes from below.
A National Lakeshore entrance pass is required; parking at the Sable Falls lot off H-58.
Reached by a long staircase of well over 100 steps; not suitable for wheelchairs.
Leashed dogs (6 foot leash) are allowed.
The falls run strongest in spring snowmelt. Summer evenings bring the best light on the dunes.
More Great Lakes beaches

Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach
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Freshwater Lake Michigan surf below towering sand dunes, some over 400 feet tall, with water clear enough to rival a coastline and a hike back up the dune to burn it off.
New Buffalo City Beach
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Warren Dunes State Park
Sawyer, MI · Great Lakes
Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer has roughly three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and some of the tallest dunes in southwest Michigan. Tower Hill rises about 260 feet above the lake, and climbing it and running back down is a rite of passage. On a hot July Saturday the beach feels like a small city.
