August 2011
Sleeping Bear Dunes is located in Northern Michigan along the northwest coast
of Lake Michigan in Leelanau County and Benzie County. The park covers 35 miles
of spectacular Lake Michigan coastline and features forests, inland lakes,
beaches and dunes that rise 200-450 feet out of the water. The dunes we see
today were formed by debris from erosion of the Michigan shore that have been
deposited from the prevailing westerlies. These dunes are the largest freshwater
dunes in the world. The park also features two wilderness islands North and
South Manitou. Both can be reached by ferry out of Leland which is situated at
the northern end of the park. For those looking to escape the mainland crowds,
the Manitou Islands are less touristy and provide good hiking opportunities and
feature giant cedar forest, dunes, shipwrecks and a lighthouse.
The park offers many short and medium length hiking trails which provide many
impressive views. The typical length is 1.5 miles to 5 miles. Two of the best
trails for views are the Empire Bluffs Trail and Pyramid Point Trail. The Empire
Bluffs Trail is a short hike (1.5 miles) that leads you through a beech-maple
forest to an overlook providing magnificent views of the highest bluffs rising
from Lake Michigan. The Pyramid Point Trail is a short trail that leads to a
sandy lookout point with more great views of Lake Michigan but in this case
close views of the Manitou Islands. From Pyramid Point you can actually descend
to the base of the steep dunes and shoreline for a nice walk along the beach and
perhaps a swim.
Another nice trail is the Sleeping Bear Point Trail. The 2.8 mile trail leads
onto dunes, passes through a ghost forest and provides beautiful views of Lake
Michigan from atop the dunes. At the beginning of the trailhead is another trail
that leads to Lake Michigan and a quiet nice sandy beach which is great place
for relaxing and cooling off after the hike.
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Empire Bluffs, Sleeping Bear Dunes
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| Empire Bluffs, Sleeping Bear Dunes |
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Empire Bluffs, Sleeping Bear Dunes
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| Sleeping Bear Point Trail |
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| Sleeping Bear Point Trail |
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| Sleeping Bear Point Trail, Ghost Forest |
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| Sleeping Bear Point Trail, Ghost Forest |
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| Sleeping Bear Point Trail |
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| Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes |
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Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes
The perfect end to the day is the scenic drive along Pierce Stocking Drive. If
you haven’t already purchased a 7-day park pass at the Visitor Centre in Empire
($10 per car or $5 per person), you will have to pay the park fee in order to
access the drive as there is a manned toll both at the entrance. The best time
to do the drive is towards evening time in order to catch the sunset. It’s a 7.5
mile loop that leads to a must see observation point which is atop a 450 feet
(140m) bluff that looks straight down at Lake Michigan. The views from here are
incredible stretching to Point Betsie and 54 miles across to Wisconsin. Walk
along the boardwalk to a second lookout where you will see Glen Lake and more
views of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. Bring a picnic supper and
blanket, find a quiet spot on the bluffs to settle down and enjoy the sunset.
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| Stop #9 is the most scenic stop along Pierce Stocking Drive |
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| Glen Lake |
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