Where should we go when we come to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore? Good question! With 35 miles of pristine Lake Michigan beaches, two large islands, enormous sand dunes and bluffs, rivers and inland lakes, there are plenty of choices.
Head for the beach! The clear water of Lake Michigan and beautiful sandy beaches draw many visitors during the hot summer days. Walk along the shore and look at the wide variety of rocks. Maybe you will find a Petoskey Stone or find the remnants of a shipwreck.
Float the Platte River. Get a tube, raft, canoe, or kayak and head for the river. Pay attention to the shoreline as you float down the river and you'll see a variety of wildflowers and waterfowl. 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. You will find amazing views of the dunes and Lake Michigan, great hiking, interesting local history, and of course some incredible sand dunes to climb.
Take a drive on the 7-mile drive Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Trek up the Dune Climb-or watch the kids enjoy the sand. Explore Glen Haven and the Maritime Museum
Dip your toes in the tranquil Loon Lake
Attend a ranger-led program Walk or bike the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
Go for a bike ride on the new Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail! Enjoy cruising along the paved trail from the Dune Climb to the village of Glen Arbor 4.25 miles. Ride through the historic logging village of Glen Haven and D.H. Day Campground on your way to Glen Arbor. The trail is paved and is relatively flat the whole way. Most of the trail is through shady, wooded areas, providing a cool, shaded place to play on a hot day. The trail is also accessible for those with disabilities.
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is rich in history and culture. Visit our museums and drive, bike, or hike through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District and see farmsteads and fields that represent farming in the late 1800s or early 1900s. - NPS.gov
And don't let cold weather turn you away from visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes! During really cold periods during the winter, you can see a crazy phenomenon: Ice balls! As parts of Lake Michigan freeze, chunks of ice break off from the sheet and are tossed about in the waves, which smooths off the rough edges and shapes the ice chunk into a ball, or even a big, round boulder shape... kind of like sand, or sea glass. They then wash up on shore, creating a strange landscape of round, smooth ice balls.