Hiking The Dune Trail at Sleeping Bear Point – July 19, 2012
On our first morning camping in Sleeping Bear I tip toed out while everyone was still sleeping and went to hike the 2.8 mile Dune Trail at Sleeping Bear Point. I wanted to get some photos with the morning sun hitting North and South Manitou Islands, but it was overcast and little foggy over Lake Michigan. It is still a great place to hike in any weather.
Right from the trailhead you start climbing on the soft sand that continues for most of the hike. The sandy trail makes this short hike a little more difficult than you would expect.
After a short climb through the woods you breakout into the open dunes and get your first of many panoramic views. To the north looking across Sleeping Bear Bay you can see Pyramid Point. The path through the dunes is marked by blue tipped posts. The one above has almost been buried by the shifting sand.
A little further down the trail you get close to Lake Michigan and a nice view of North and South Manitou Islands.
Next the trail heads inland and you walk through a big sand bowl with a ghost forest.
The trail heading away from the ghost forest.
Looking back for view of the sand bowl and South Manitou Island.
The view from the highest point on the Dune Trail.
From the high point the trail starts descending through the trees and starts get a little rocky. If feels good to have a hard packed trail under your feet after walking for a couple miles in sand.
The last half mile or so of trail heads down through a tunnel of trees on the way back to the parking lot. It is quite a change after the big views on the rest of the hike.
Directions to the Trailhead >>
For more on this hike and others in Sleeping Bear Dunes see: Explorer’s Guide 50 Hikes in Michigan: Sixty Walks, Day Trips, and Backpacks in the Lower Peninsula
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