Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most scenic natural areas in Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. Featuring 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the park offers visitors a variety of activities, including climbing the dunes, swimming at one of the park's many beaches, canoeing or kayaking along the shoreline or on the rivers, or hiking more than 100 miles of trails.
How to Get to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, along Lake Michigan's eastern coastline.Many north-south highways approach the park, including US 31 along Lake Michigan, US 131 through Grand Rapids, and I-75, which runs the length of the state into the Upper Peninsula. The closest city is Traverse City, 25 miles to the east. Park maps can be downloaded from the National Park Service.
Park Size:
71,195 acres.Description:
This diverse landscape features massive sand dunes, birch-lined streams, white sand beaches, beech-maple forests, clear lakes, and rugged bluffs towering as high as 460 feet above Lake Michigan. Two offshore wilderness islands -- North and South Manitou -- offer tranquility and seclusion.Things to Do at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
If you have only a few hours to spend at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you will want to start at the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, MI to get oriented, get your maps and see the slide show. There you can ask a ranger for advice for things to do that match your interests. Favorite activities include the seven-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and the Dune Climb.Visitors can also enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and cross-country skiing. Ranger-led walks, evening programs and other activities are available in July and August. The park's Maritime Museum is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day and offers a daily re-enactment of a life-saving service rescue, especially geared toward children.
Recommended Nearby Points of Interest:
Traverse City State Park - a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, park features a quarter mile of beach on the Grand Traverse Bay. The National Cherry Festival is a popular annual event as well as the wide range of self-guided, fall color tours.Orchard Beach State Park - situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. A stairway leads from the campground to the beach and self-guided hiking trails are adjacent to the park.
Contact the Park:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630
231-326-5134 courtesy of the National Park Service Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most scenic natural areas in Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. Featuring 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the park offers visitors a variety of activities, including climbing the dunes, swimming at one of the park's many beaches, canoeing or kayaking along the shoreline or on the rivers, or hiking more than 100 miles of trails.
How to Get to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, along Lake Michigan's eastern coastline. Many north-south highways approach the park, including US 31 along Lake Michigan, US 131 through Grand Rapids, and I-75, which runs the length of the state into the Upper Peninsula. The closest city is Traverse City, 25 miles to the east. Park maps can be downloaded from the National Park Service.Park Size:
71,195 acres.Description:
This diverse landscape features massive sand dunes, birch-lined streams, white sand beaches, beech-maple forests, clear lakes, and rugged bluffs towering as high as 460 feet above Lake Michigan. Two offshore wilderness islands -- North and South Manitou -- offer tranquility and seclusion.Things to Do at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
If you have only a few hours to spend at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you will want to start at the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, MI to get oriented, get your maps and see the slide show. There you can ask a ranger for advice for things to do that match your interests. Favorite activities include the seven-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and the Dune Climb. Visitors can also enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and cross-country skiing. Ranger-led walks, evening programs and other activities are available in July and August. The park's Maritime Museum is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day and offers a daily re-enactment of a life-saving service rescue, especially geared toward children.Recommended Nearby Points of Interest:
Traverse City State Park - a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, park features a quarter mile of beach on the Grand Traverse Bay. The National Cherry Festival is a popular annual event as well as the wide range of self-guided, fall color tours.Orchard Beach State Park - situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. A stairway leads from the campground to the beach and self-guided hiking trails are adjacent to the park.
Contact the Park:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630
231-326-5134
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