Parrot's Landing in Silver Lake offers Jeep, quad, moped, ski boat and jet-ski rentals for dune rides or lake recreation at Silver Lake State Park. The rental company also offers guided tours of the dunes in their Jeep Wranglers. The Jeeps seat two adults in the front and two adults or three children in the back. The tour guide rides in a separate vehicle and communicates with the Jeep driver by two-way radio. The guide gives instructions on operating the Jeep on the dunes and then leads the driver and passengers on the tour. Parrot's Landing charges by the hour for their guided tours. The renter must be at least 18 years old, and the driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license. Parrot's Landing schedules tours throughout the day, and a sunset tour in the evening is a popular choice, so reservations are recommended.
Parrot's Landing
8110 W. Hazel Road
Mears, MI 49436
231-873-8400
www.parrotslanding.com
Sandy Korners is known as "The Jeep Store" because it sells Jeep merchandise, offers minor vehicle services for Jeep owners and gives guided tours both in and away from the Silver Lake Sand Dune area. The tours are for private Jeep owners and include both on- and off-road driving. As of 2010, a fall color tour takes drivers through Manistee National Forest, which surrounds the Silver Lake Sand Dune Area. Drivers trek northwest along 125 miles of ORV trails and roads to Cadillac, Michigan, where tour participants stay the night. The next day, drivers and tour guide head north again to enjoy more trails and an obstacle course before heading back to Silver Lake. Another tour takes guests on a four-day fall color tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The tour starts at Silver Lake, then moves north to Pentwater, Whitefish Point, Paradise, Tahquamenon Falls and Brimmley before heading back to Sandy Korners. The tour includes both main road driving and off-road trail driving. Tours may vary from year to year.
Sandy Korners - The Jeep Store
1762 N. 24th Ave.
Silver Lake, MI 49436
231-873-4876
www.sandykorners.com
Razor J's provides off-road driving tours of Silver Lake Sand Dunes. The tour allows renters to drive themselves on a rented vehicle while following a guide. Razor J's rents Polaris Ranger RZR UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles) with a choice of a two seat or four seat UTV. Each vehicle has a two-way radio to allow for contact with the tour guide, seat belts and mesh arm safety guards. Tours explore 500 acres of dune land and last about an hour. Razor J's offers eight tour times daily from mid-May through Labor Day.
Razor J's Adventure Tours
1762 N. 24th Ave.
Silver Lake, MI 49436
231-852-4087
www.razorjs.com
