Hi there!
There are many beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
And Esch Beach, which is near Otter Creek, is one of them!
There is easy access to the beach, and it’s at the end of a county road in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. (Benzie County Road 610 – and here it’s Esch Road!)
Esch Road Beach is a Lake Michigan beach that is located in Platte Bay.
I went to this beach during my trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, and here is what you need to know, along with my pictures! I’ve also included things to do nearby.
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Esch Beach is marked on google maps. Esch Road is a turn off of one of the main roads (M-22) that goes through Sleeping Bear Dunes .
You’ll turn onto Esch Road, and drive as far as the road goes. Then, you’ll take the path to the beach!
When looking off to the right as you are facing the lake, those are the Empire Bluffs that you see off in the distance.
Be safe when swimming at a Lake Michigan beach!
In some ways, the Great Lakes can act like an ocean. Rip currents are a thing in the Great Lakes, including in Lake Michigan. Know before you go, just in case!
Parking
There is a parking lot directly next to the beach.
There’s a toilet at the parking lot.
Cost to visit Esch Road Beach
The beach is officially a part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
It’s listed at the beach that this is a National Park Service “fee area” and that a “pass is required.”
There’s no one actively monitoring the Esch Beach area but it’s still a good thing to have a Sleeping Bear Dunes park pass or another kind of national park pass when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!
You can get a park pass at the Sleeping Bear Dunes visitor center (about a 10 minute drive from the beach), or you can make your payment at the self-pay stations that are located throughout the park.
There is one of these pay stations at Esch Beach.
In 2023, a one week pass is $25. See current fees here, where you can also buy your pass online.
Things to do near Esch Beach
aka ideas for planning out a perfect day in Sleeping Bear Dunes that includes a Lake Michigan beach!
1. Otter Creek loop trail
This is a hiking trail that starts right at the Esch Beach parking lot. You can make it a 4.6 mile hike.
2. Empire Bluff Trail
This is one of the best hiking trails in Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’ve decided on Esch Beach as your beach of choice for the day, it can definitely be a perfect hike + beach day to hike the Empire Bluff Trail and then drive over to Esch Beach! It’s about a 10 minute drive.
3. Platte Plains trails (Bass Lake)
The Platte Plains area has multiple trailheads and 15 miles worth of hiking trails.
The Bass Lake trailhead is about a 10 minute drive from Esch Beach. If you start from Bass Lake, you can do a hike that’s around 5-6 miles, including a hike to the beach.
People go fishing at Bass Lake, and it’s also a kayak launch spot if you’re looking for a kayaking spot in Sleeping Bear Dunes. This is also where you can hike to the White Pine backcountry campsite.
4. Platte River
Platte River is a popular spot for tubing and kayaking.
This river empties out into Lake Michigan, and you’ll end up at a beach, the Platte Point Beach!
One of the common starting points is near the Platte River picnic area (map), where there’s rental available (and they give you a shuttle ride one way) or you can launch your own kayak. This is about a 10 minute drive from Esch Beach.
See more about a trip to Platte River Point.
5. Platte River campground
There is a campground for tent camping and RV camping that is located about a 10 minute drive from Esch Road. For another Lake Michigan beach, you can also hike to the beach from Platte River campground.
This hike to the beach from the campground would be around 1.6 miles round trip.
See more about the Platte River campground.
6. Peterson Beach
And if you want to make it a beach hopping kind of day, also located in Platte Bay, then there’s yet another Lake Michigan beach in the area, Peterson Beach. This is about a 20 minute drive from Esch Beach.
And that’s a bit about making a visit to Esch Road Beach and the area!
See the list of more Lake Michigan beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes!
Also see some of the great hikes in Sleeping Bear Dunes, including hikes to a Lake Michigan beach!
More Lake Michigan beaches in Michigan:
Also see Lake Superior beaches in Michigan’s other national lakeshore!
Plus, see the best of Michigan’s national lakeshores.
HAPPY VISIT TO ESCH BEACH!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.