Five Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Adventures

The view of Lake Michigan from Empire Bluff.

I am officially hooked on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In this article I share four hiking trails and one kayaking route that I have enjoyed while living nearby this iconic slice of public land, happy trails my friends! And if you want to support the protection of this area consider donating or volunteering (I do both!) as a Friend of Sleeping Bear Dunes HERE.

A lone hiker on a foggy morning on the Dune Climb with me.

Adventure One: The Dune Climb.

The Dune Climb starts at the parking lot labeled “The Dune Climb.” I hiked this more than moderate hike on a foggy and chilly morning. The four and a half mile hike begins with a steep climb to the top of the dunes and proceeds to move up and down until arriving on the shores of Lake Michigan.

It’s an iconic hike, somewhat strenuous, and can be SUPER HOT in the summer. There is no shade on the trail.
I would put this in one of my 25 Favorite Day Hikes in the US. It is one of the few trails that is not dog friendly in Sleeping Bear so leave the fur baby at home!

Adventure Two: Empire Bluff.
I always need a good reason to stop in for a sandwich at the Shipwreck Cafe in Empire Michigan. The Empire Bluff Trail is a good reason.
This dog friendly bluff trail is relatively flat with only a few hundred feet of ascent/descent and is short on length. But what it lacks in elevation and length it makes up for with some of the most iconic and jaw dropping views of the SLBE Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. For those not interested in the up and down gains of the Dune Climb this is a great hiking option. Combine with a ride on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail or a sandwich at the Shipwreck in Empire!

Adventure Three: Kayaking the Platte River.

On the Summer Solstice I volunteered with Friends of SLBE on a River Cleanup down the Platte River to the mouth of it that heads into Lake Michigan.
(Note from the team leader was “If you enter Lake Michigan you have gone too far and you should get out!”)

This several mile paddle (or float if you feel so inclined) is a gorgeous dance down the Platte. I was given a free rental from the cool folks at Riverside Canoes and I highly recommend getting off your feet and into some non motorized watercraft while exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes!

Adventure Four: Otter Creek and Lake Hike.
You have a few different options leaving from Esch Beach area and you really can’t go wrong. There’s also the Bass Lake trail that is super tasty for the hiking addicts.
You will get wild flowers, meadows, woods, and lakes and the chance to get to experience a different side of Sleeping Bear Dunes than most typically see or hear about.

I recommend the hike first with a plunge in Lake Michigan to cool down afterwards, or a nice ice bath depending on the time of year you hit the trails.

It’s not just bluffs and beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes! View on the Otter Creek Trail.

Adventure Five: Alligator Hill.
Three trail length options depending on what you want to do. All beautiful jaw dropping jaunts through forest, meadows, and peeks out to the Manitou Islands and Lake Michigan.

On a hot day with my dog I will do the intermediate option but the beginner and advanced might be just what you are craving, you do you!

This is a great one if you are near Glen Lake and it also provides a bit fewer crowds than some of the main trails.

The view out to Lake Michigan on Alligator Hill

I hope this gives you a little sense of the options of adventures you can experience in Sleeping Bear Dunes!
They have great cross country ski options, biking on the 22 mile heritage trail, and even backpacking on the Manitou Islands.

It’s a special place and I hope you get to experience it and feel the same joy that I do when I get on its trails, waterways, and of course…their nearby sandwich shops!

What’s your favorite adventure in Sleeping Bear Dunes? Comment below!

Thanks for reading.

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,

Mike

A foggy day lounging on the dunes!