Information on Traverse City, Michigan and the surrounding Northwest Michigan area

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The Lakeshore covers more than 35 miles of coastline along Lake Michigan, containing more than 50,000 acres. With its many trails, campgrounds, lakes, rivers and, of course, dune formations, you can't see the whole lakeshore during a single day trip. But here are a few activities to get you started.

Pyramid Point: This moderately difficult trail features beech and maple forests, an open meadow and a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan. The 2.8-mile loop starts out uphill. After about a half-mile of relatively steep hiking, you will come to Lookout Point, where you can see the Manitou Islands.

The grassy dune at the lookout doesn't look that steep from the top, but don't be fooled. It may only take you a few minutes to run down the hill, but it takes a lot longer to get back up. (And with its erosion problems, the hill is not meant to be climbed anyway, so you're better off just enjoying the view.)

After Lookout Point, you can take a shorter trail that shaves about a mile off the total distance, or you can follow the longer trail, which takes you into a meadow. The last part of the trail takes you along a road and back down to the parking lot.

To get to Pyramid Point, go five miles north of Glen Arbor, take a left on Port Oneida Road. After about two miles, turn right on Basch Road, which leads to the trailhead.

Record-Eagle file photo
The Dune Climb is a popular summer destination at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Dune Climb: If you want to experience the dunes in their purest (and often hottest) form, brave the massive dune climb near Glen Haven. You can spend your time scrambling up and then running back down the 150-foot dune, or you can walk the trails that run from the top of the hill. As you scale the smaller hills of the trails, you can see Glen Lake and the rolling dunes.

To get to the dune climb from Traverse City, take M-72 to Empire, turn right on M-22 and then take M-109 to the dunes. There is a $10 entrance fee, but $20 gets you a year-long pass that allows you access to the entire Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore.

Windy Morain Loop: This 1.5 mile loop is not a difficult hike. In addition to the fields and forest that cover much fo the trail, the Windy Moraine Overlook gives you a wide view of the Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore. The The Windy Morain Trail is south of Glen Arbor off of M-109. Turn onto Welch Road, which takes you to the trailhead.