How to Have a Beach Fire at Sleeping Bear Dunes Without Hurting Anyone

Burying hot coals in sand might seem tidy, but it's one of the most common mistakes people make at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — and it can burn the feet of anyone who walks over that spot later. Beach fires are permitted there, between the Lake Michigan water line and the dune vegetation, but doing it responsibly takes a little planning before you ever leave the car.

What to Bring and Where to Build

Buy firewood locally before heading to the beach. Bringing wood from home can spread invasive species, so local purchase matters. Toss a bucket in your bag — it will serve multiple purposes before the night is over.

Once you're on the beach, look for a spot where someone already had a fire. Reusing the same area keeps coals concentrated in fewer places, which is a straightforward way to Leave No Trace. Wherever you set up, keep the fire between the waterline and the first dune or area of vegetation to reduce the risk of a wildfire spreading into the dunes.

NPS Infographic Taryn Withers.

During the Fire

Purchase firewood locally and bring a bucket to carry it to the beach. NPS Infographic / Taryn Withers

A few simple habits keep a beach fire safe:

• Keep the fire small.
• Fill your bucket with water from Lake Michigan and keep it nearby in case of an emergency.
• Burn wood only — no garbage.
• Keep track of all your belongings so nothing gets left behind.

Enjoy the fire, but don't burn garbage and pack out everything you brought. NPS Infographic / Taryn Withers

Putting It Out: Douse, Don't Bury

Douse the fire with water until it is cool to the touch — it may take several buckets. NPS Infographic / Taryn Withers

When it's time to go, use your bucket to haul water from Lake Michigan and pour it directly onto the fire. Keep going until the coals are cold to the touch; it may take several buckets to get there. Do not bury the coals with sand. Sand insulates heat, and buried coals can remain hot long enough to burn the feet of the next person who walks over that spot.

Before You Leave

Fill your bucket with cooled coals to dispose of them away from the beach. NPS Infographic / Taryn Withers

Once the coals are fully cooled, scoop them into your bucket — along with any nearby fire remnants you find on the beach — and carry them out to dispose of elsewhere. Pack out everything else you brought, including all trash. The goal is to leave the beach looking as though no fire ever happened.

Sources

"Make Coals, Take Coals" is published by the National Park Service and is a work of the United States government in the public domain. Pictures an earlier version of this page left out were restored on 2026-09-26.