Lake Michigan beach guide
Van's Beach Guide
A large public Lake Michigan beach at the edge of downtown Leland, easy to pair with a village stop when you still want time at the water.
Plan the stop
Conditions and seasonal services can change. Use these details as a starting point and check posted information when you arrive.
- Where
- Trailhead beyond Van's Garage at the end of Cedar Street, Leland
- Parking
- Unpaved parking area at the end of Cedar Street.
- Beach access
- The public trailhead begins just beyond Van's Garage. Expect an outdoor beach approach from the unpaved lot.
- At the park
- Seasonal portable toilets.
Know what kind of visit you are planning
Shoreline character
A large open Lake Michigan beach beside downtown Leland. The surface and amount of exposed stone change with water level, weather, and recent wave action.
What to look for
Look along the waterline, where wet surfaces make color and fossil pattern easier to see, then check the high-water mark for material shifted by recent waves.
Make the most of the stop
The beach is close to downtown, but the entrance is easy to miss: continue to the end of Cedar Street and look for the trailhead beyond Van's Garage.