Hey guys,
I am going there this weekend. Will be arriving there around 7 on friday and stay there untill Sunday afternoon. Tell me what this all this BS about the voucher thing?? Please explain that to me so that I won't be screwed. I will be driving for 9 hours from PA please help me out! I hope that I see you out there!

Happy Riding,
Dusty

P.S. I will be bring my buddy with his 400ex

 

I'd rather live in Montana than California so if you were taking a blind stab at California try again.

PS. Have you ever lived in California? Where I live I have the beach, desert and snow filled mountains all within 1 hour from me can you say that? I also have 3 different dunes within 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours from me ie Glamis, Dumont and Pismo.

With all that I'd still rather live in Montana.

I'm so tired of the ignorant bashing California. Don't be a hater.

It was just a simple question as I am ignorant to the area in question. The vouchers were explained and any dunes are better than none so imo, it is worth it.

 

I think he just took offense to the way you worded your question. Greg went to Glamis in January it is by far the most beautiful place he as been to ride. It was a once in a lifetime experience for him. I can tell you we have nothing even comparable to Glamis in the Northwest. Silver Lake would probably be comparable to your Pismo. I may be wrong but from pictures that is what I would compare it too. If I am wrong please correct me and I won't take offense. We are mainly an agriculture based region mixed with automotive industrial factories. So, there is no place to ride unless you enjoy trail riding. I personally love the dunes so Silver Lake is my favorites spot.

That is the bad thing about the internet, you almost have to put disclaimers at the end of every sentence so people will not take everything so literal sometimes.

 

The vouchers-
Start around memorial weekend, end around labor day weekend.

There is two diferent vouchers, dune ready and parking lot.
The dnr start giving out parking lot vouchers at 9pm for the next day. I think the dune ready vouchers are handed out at noon for the next day.
Parking lot vouchers are good from 7-9am, after that time is up you get in line at the voucher center and wait until there is an opening in the parking lot. If the parking lot is not full evreyone gets in.
The dune ready vouchers start at 9am and are given out for two hour intervals through out the day. Example 9-11 then 11-1 then 1-3 ect. limited number for each time period.

if I did not explain this good enough let me know.

**Usually you will not have to worry about geting in unless it is a holiday weekend.**
Also sat. is the busiest day of the week.

I go to silver lake about 2 times a month.

 

Relax, Rhonda's right. I'd love to live in a place geographically blessed as CA. I'd rather live in Montana too. CA seems too far on the left side of politics to me (JMO).

To answer your question. There is a comparativly small parking area adjacent to the dune area. On some weekend the dune area gets too crowded, they regulate the population of the dunes and the parking lot by issuing vouchers. Some are able to drive right onto the dunes from the road so if you dont need to park anything in the parking lot you need a dune voucher, if you are going to need to park something in the parking lot you need a parking voucher. You do not need a dune voucher if your pulling quads on a trailer and park the trailer in the parking lot. you just need a parking voucher. Anything that goes into the dunes has to have an ORV sticker, if you ride on any public land in MI you need one of these. It sounds kind of complicated, but once you get there its really very easy and actually solves the crowding problems that they've had forever. The vouchers are free, and on off weekends there really isnt a reason to sweat getting one. They are very easy to obtain, wait in a ten minute line (at least that what it was when we were there) the fri and sat evening and the DNR gives you what you need.

This area is only like 500 acres, but like i said before, its all we have around here. So yes it is worth it. Sorry for getting your feather ruffled.

 

Fitoo,
How's Kokomo? I'm from Michigan City. I miss trail riding this time of year back home in Indiana.
Silver Lake is 3000 acres, Pismo is 3600 acres. Been to both, started going to Silver Lake back in the 80's, Been to Pismo once. Silver Lake is better, I miss the directional riding. Out west you have to watch out everytime you crest a dune. At Silver lake it's 4th & 5th gear pinned. Add to that it's much easier to launch your jet ski or dock your boat on a sand bar. Plus you don't have to worry about the tide coming in and out. One more thing, no one has ever gotten their leg bitten off by a man eating trout in Lake Michigan.

You don't need lights at Silver Lake. They kick you out at dark which is pretty close to 10 est this time of year. With the fact that Silver Lake is as far west in the Eastern time zone as you can be and that it is on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan it stays light there later than just about anywhere.

Your right about not live in California. Way to many lefty wackos. But the area north of LA is awesome. Now if you ever come to Phoenix, you'll never leave!