Orchard Beach State Park is a seasonal park open from March through November. There are trails through mature beech-maple forests on the east Orchard Beach SPside of M-110 with migrant warblers and breeding birds similar to the Lake Bluff Center. The more mature forest here sometimes attracts Blackburnian Warblers in summer and Barred Owls and Pileated Woodpeckers in winter. The main birding attraction at the state park, though, is across the road on the top of the bluffs along the Lake Michigan shore.
The best observation point is directly west of the entrance station. During the winter huge flocks of Common Goldeneye and Buffleheads along with Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Ducks are more easily seen here than any other place along the northwest Michigan lakeshore. In mid February through mid March, upwards of 5,000 to 20,000 Long-tailed Ducks are present. Other birds often seen here are Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, White-winged Scoters, Horned Grebes, and occasionally Red-necked Grebes, Surf and Black Scoters. During winter it is best to park at the closed front gate keeping off the shoulder of M-110. Directions: From the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, travel 1/2 mile south on M-110 to the park entrance.
