12 mind-blowing spots in Sleeping Bear Dunes
Published: Jul. 11, 2016, 12:30 p.m.
Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com
Photo by Ryan Lemasters
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is arguably the crown jewel of Lower Peninsula parks, with stunning scenery around every bend in the road (or trail). Spanning more than 100 square miles, with 35 miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline, there are endless places to explore; read on for photos and a guide to some of the most jaw-dropping spots.
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Photo by Heather Higham of Snap Happy Gal Photography
The place where Otter Creek spills into Lake Michigan is pure magic: it looks a little different every time you see it, as the mouth of the creek will move based on wind, waves and water levels. Also known as Esch Road Beach, you can find this spot at the terminus of Esch Road, about three miles south of Empire on M-22.
Port Oneida Rural Historic District
A collection of 18 historic farmsteads comprise this centennial village, with more than 100 buildings, including farmhouses, schools, sugar shacks, and barns like this one. During the annual Port Oneida Fair (August 12 - 13 this year), the landscape comes alive with historical reenactments of farm life as it was in the 1800s -- and of course, it comes alive in a different way under the spectacular night sky. For maps and history, stop at the Olsen House History Center, about three miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22.
Glen Haven
Glen Haven was once a lumber town that supplied firewood and other supplies to Great Lakes steamers. The picturesque landscape of water and dunes provides a pretty backdrop for the restored buildings that remain: a 1920's blacksmith shop (with daily demonstrations in the summer); a general store with goodies for sale; and the Cannery Boathouse, pictured here, which now houses a boat museum. This spot also has one heck of a beach, where you can still see the dock pilings from this ghost town's shipping heyday.
Photo by Craig Sterken Photography
Lake Michigan Overlook
This epic overlook dishes up a jaw-dropping Lake Michigan panorama. It's stop No. 9 along the park's seven-mile scenic car loop known as Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, which is itself a Sleeping Bear Dunes must-do.
D.H. Day Farm
The iconic landmark on this 400-acre centennial farm just south of Glen Haven is a stunning white cathedral barn that once belonged to David Henry Day, first chairman of the State Park Commission. The barn and surrounding farmland are still privately owned, but visitors can snap photos of it from the top of the nearby Dune Climb or along the M-109 roadway. Located just south of Glen Haven.
Photo by John McCormick, Michigan Nut Photography
S.S. Francisco Morazan shipwreck
In 1960, the infamous gales of November lodged this steel-hulled freighter, bound for Holland, in the shallow waters just offshore South Manitou Island. The captain, his pregnant wife, and the ship's crew were evacuated from the boat, but the boat's owners were never tracked down, so its hulking metal skeleton remains — repurposed by nature as a resting stop for cormorants and seagulls. The boat is visible from the water, of course, but also from an overlook on South Manitou Island.
South Manitou Island lighthouse observation deck
In a region rich with historic lighthouses, the South Manitou Island Lighthouse is the only one within the Lakeshore itself. The fact that you must take a ferry to reach the island before climbing 117 steps to the top of the light makes the incredible view that much sweeter. Located a half-mile from the Manitou Island Transit ferry dock.
Empire Bluff Overlook
Empire Bluff Trail is an easy, 1.5-mile round-trip hike through the woods with a huge payoff at the end: a stunning Lake Michigan panorama where, on a clear day, you can see all the way to South Manitou Island. Find the trailhead off Wilco Road just south of the junction of M-22 and M-72 in Empire.
Photo by Instagram user erkthe_jerk
Pierce Stocking Bridge
Lumberman Pierce Stocking wanted to share the beauty of this part of Michigan with others, so in the 1960's he designed, built and maintained a seven-mile scenic drive through the area. The covered bridge, a nod to the romantic covered bridges of New England, was part of Stocking's original vision for the drive (though it was rebuilt after porcupines decided it was just a giant snack). The drive was added to Sleeping Bear Dunes when it became a park in the 1980's, and the covered bridge has been a scenic stop ever since.
Pyramid Point
Pyramid Point, accessible only via a hiking trail, is practically a sacred spot in Sleeping Bear Dunes. About a half-mile from the trailhead, a steep, sandy incline takes you up to a high bluff with an absolutely knockout view. (Note, though, that the National Park Service asks visitors not to descend the bluff's sheer face, to help prevent erosion.) The entire Pyramid Point Trail loop is a little less than three miles.
North Bar Lake Overlook
Another show-stopping spot along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, North Bar Lake Overlook gazes out over sparkling Lake Michigan, Empire Bluff, and the lagoon-like North Bar Lake, a popular summertime swimming spot.
Photo by Instagram user dwildrice
North Bar Lake
North Bar Lake provides a pretty panorama when seen from an overlook (see previous slide), but it's also magical up close: It has the vibe of a serene little lagoon, literally just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan, with dunes that offer protection from the Big Lake's onshore winds on blustery days.
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