08/29/2026
Michigan,
the general public has the legal right to walk along the Lake Huron shoreline below the ordinary high-water mark, even if the adjacent dry beach is privately owned.
Public Access and the Public Trust Doctrine The High-Water Mark Rule: Under the landmark Michigan Supreme Court case Glass v. Goeckel, the public can walk, fish, hunt, and navigate in the area between the water's edge and the ordinary high-water mark.
Definition of High-Water Mark: This is the point on the shore where the continuous action of water leaves a distinct mark through erosion or the destruction of terrestrial vegetation.
Private Property Limits: The public cannot trespass on the dry sand above the high-water mark or cross private property to reach the beach without a dedicated public access point, easement, or road end.
Riparian Rights and Property Ownership Water's Edge Ownership: Lakefront property owners on the Great Lakes generally own the land down to the natural water's edge.
Bottomlands and Structures: Riparian owners hold rights to the submerged bottomlands and can install docks or moor boats, but they must secure permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) or the DNR for major shoreline alterations like seawalls.
Maintenance Freedom: Property owners do not need a state permit to groom sandy/rocky beaches, level sand, or remove natural debris on their immediate shoreline.
