Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes

Roll up your pant legs and feel the sugary sand between your toes as you explore the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes!

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula about 25 miles west of Traverse City. Stretching up 35 miles of Lake Michigan's western coast, these dunes attract thousands of visitors each year.  The dunes here rise up to 400 feet and have an array of colors from light champagne to burnt sienna. Shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago, the diverse terrain and ecology of the dune environment is alive with opportunity for observing and learning about our natural world.

The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes offer so much to do year round. In summer, enjoy picnics along the shore and watch stunning sunsets in the evening. You can rent kayaks or canoes, or go tubing on the crystal clear streams that wind through the park. Climbing the dunes is an ever-popular attraction, and hiking through the park's trails will give you a true appreciation of the park's beauty. In the winter, the views change and are just as amazing. Snowshoeing is a great way to take it all in, and cross-country skiing through the park and finding some of the best area slopes are an exciting way to cure winter-time doldrums. Come to Sleeping Bear Dunes for both seasons, and then try to decide which trip you enjoyed more.

Favorite attractions include the Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Glen Haven Maritime Museum and Life Saving Station, canoe trips on the Crystal and Platte Rivers and the biking and hiking trails - especially those with scenic overlooks as at Pyramid Point. A local favorite is an evening drive (with an ice cream cone!) to watch the deer. In addition to those attractions, the ranger-led tours and campfire programs are always enjoyable.

For more information:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630
Park Headquarters: (231)326-5134
Visitor Center: (231)326-5134 ext. 328