Home AdventuresRoad Trips Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: A Must-See Michigan Gem

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: A Must-See Michigan Gem

by Bryan Lor

Adventure Date: 09/01/2024

Explore the national lakeshore

Located just west of Traverse City, Michigan, this national lakeshore features sand dunes that are both dangerous and awe-inspiring.  There are even signs such as the following, posted for all guests to see:

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A sign that warns visitors not to get stuck at the bottom of the dunes!

After a quick stop at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire to grab a map and a few souvenirs, we ventured north to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to start out day adventure. The Labor Day weekend crowds were bustling, but we managed to snag a parking spot just past the parking lot for stops 9 and 10. These two stops are the drive’s stars, offering panoramic vistas of the towering sand dunes that make Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore so unforgettable. As we stood at the edge of the dunes, feeling the warm sand beneath our feet and the gentle breeze against our faces, we couldn’t help but be awestruck by the sheer beauty of this natural wonder.

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A view of part of the sand dunes that make up the lakeshore with a lot of people standing around near the steep drop.

After exploring the sand dunes, we decided to stop in Glen Arbor for lunch before heading back to Empire and playing on the beach!

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A view of the waves from Lake Michigan on a beach in Empire that looks so much like the ocean!

Points of interest

View the map below for the places that we stopped at during this trip!

Want more photos from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore?

If you want more photos from our time in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, continue on to the photo gallery!

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