| |
|
 |
|
| |
Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
|
|
| |
|
| |
9922 Front St, M-72, Empire, MI 49630
Phone: 231-326-5134
Fax: 616-326-5382
Open All Year
Overview. Shifting sand dunes, 400-foot-high bluffs, remote islands, calm rivers, and dense forests make this park, along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, a recreational paradise. Named by the Ojibway, who fancied the mounds of sand resembled a mother bear grieving for her cubs whose graves were North and South Manitou islands, massive Sleeping Bear Dunes comprises only a portion of the 35-mile coastline protected by the park. The combination of bluff and beach ensures both scenic beauty and coastside fun, while the placid waters of the Crystal and Platte rivers increase the recreational options. Access to a historic lighthouse, submerged shipwrecks, and local museums adds a dash of culture into the mix.
What to see and do. Outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in all types of activities at this lakefront park. Swim at the lakeshore or in the rivers, where canoeing and inner tubing are also popular pastimes. Several inland lakes provide additional opportunity for swimming and other water sports. Fishing and hunting are allowed with the proper permits. Hikers will find a wide variety of trails both on the mainland and on the two uninhabited islands. In winter, 55 miles of trails are available for cross-country skiers. You'll want to tackle the somewhat strenuous Dune Climb for the challenge and the breathtaking view from the top.
In season, drive along the seven-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and visit the Maritime Museum and the Cannery Historic Boat Museum in Glen Haven, open between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The park maintains two campgrounds that operate on a first-come, first-served basis and offer a range of amenities, from fairly primitive sites with vault toilets to more modern arrangements with electrical hookups and coin-operated showers. The campgrounds are open from May to November. Modern campsites are available year-round. The visitor center features exhibits on the area's natural and human history, and a short slide presentation. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, to 4 p.m. the remainder of the year, and is closed on off-season holidays. A bookstore is located near the Dune Climb. Leashed pets are permitted.
North and South Manitou islands are accessible by private boat year-round, and by ferry from Leland daily between May and October. There is a lighthouse, museum, and small visitor center on South Manitou Island. The ferry concessionaire offers vehicle tours of the South Manitou Island historic farming district. Scuba divers can search the waters surrounding the islands, part of the Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve, for remains of shipwrecks such as the Walter L. Frost (1905) and the Francisco Morazan (1960), which lie directly off the coast of South Manitou Island.
| Activities and Services |
|
| • |
Beach |
|
| • |
Bird Watching |
|
| • |
Boat Launching |
|
| • |
Cross-country Skiing |
|
| • |
Fishing |
|
| • |
Food Service |
|
| • |
Geological Sites |
|
| • |
Gift Shop |
|
| • |
Guided Tours |
|
| • |
Hiking/Nature Trails |
|
| • |
Historic Sites |
|
| • |
Horse Trails |
|
| • |
Motor Boating |
|
| • |
Museum/Exhibits |
|
| • |
Non-motor Boating |
|
| • |
Picnic Sites |
|
| • |
Programs/Talks |
|
| • |
Self-guided Tours |
|
| • |
Swimming |
|
| • |
Visitor Center |
|
| • |
Wildflower Viewing |
|
| • |
Wildlife Viewing |
|
Search All National Parks
Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
|
|
|
|
