Ludington & Manistee · Small town
Bear Lake
For campers and anglers who want a simple lake base: a quiet Manistee County village with a campground right on Bear Lake and ice fishing in winter.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Beach · Ludington & Manistee
Pierport Beach
A rustic public Lake Michigan beach at the end of 13 Mile Road in Pierport, near Bear Lake. Limited parking, few amenities, an artesian well nearby.
Photo: papadakp, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Pierport Beach is a Lake Michigan beach near the village of Bear Lake: a public, rustic stretch of shore at the western end of 13 Mile Road. It suits people who want a quieter beach and do not need facilities.
Keep it straight from the village’s own swim spot. Bear Lake’s freshwater swim area is at Hopkins Park (Blarney Beach) on Bear Lake itself. Pierport is the big lake, a short drive west.
Plan for the basics yourself. Parking is limited and there are very few amenities, so bring water, shade and anything else you need. Bring a jug too: Old Faceful, an artesian well that has flowed for more than 80 years, is a few steps from the sand at the end of the road.
Lake Michigan conditions change fast. Watch the waves, and stay out when the water is rough.
Practical information
- Best months
- June to September
Location
Map of Pierport Beach
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Nearby towns
Ludington & Manistee · Small town
Onekama
A small summer village on Portage Lake, joined to Lake Michigan by an 1871 channel. Swim at the village park or the big-lake beach, and boat between the two.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Also nearby
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Beach
Arcadia Beach Natural Area
Arcadia's public Lake Michigan beach at the west end of Lake Street, with parking, restrooms, picnic tables and a playground. An easy family beach day.
About 4 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Hopkins Park
The Village of Bear Lake's park and campground on Bear Lake, the inland lake, with a swim area (no lifeguard), playground, launch and fishing pier.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Captain John Langland Park
Onekama Township's Lake Michigan beach at Portage Point, next to the channel's north pier, with stairs to the sand and a deck for sunsets.
About 5 miles away (straight line)