Dune climbs and Lake Michigan beaches at Sleeping Bear
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI
- Who it suits
- Families with little kids, families with teens, couples and friends
- How long
- 3, 4, 5 or 7 days
- Getting there
- Drive. A drive from Indianapolis, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit (about 8 hours or less by car).
- Seasons
- Spring, Summer, Fall
Why it works
- The Dune Climb is a 284-foot-high wall of white sand that visitors climb for fun, and continuing across the dunes to Lake Michigan is a strenuous hike that takes most people about three hours.
- Bluffs tower 450 feet above Lake Michigan, and the Lake Michigan Overlook is stop 9 on the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
- You can bike the 22-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and in Glen Haven you can watch a blacksmith in action and learn about the US Lifesaving Service at the Maritime Museum.
- Junior Ranger workbooks are available by request at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, which is open seven days a week, year-round.
Watch out for
- There are no lifeguards on duty, so be aware of rip currents, and Lake Michigan stays cold even when the air is very warm.
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive closes to vehicles in late October or early November and is open late spring to late fall.
Sources
- The Dune Climb is a 284-foot-high wall of white sand that visitors climb for fun, and continuing across the dunes to Lake Michigan is a strenuous hike that takes most people about three hours. source (checked 2026-11-14)
- Bluffs tower 450 feet above Lake Michigan, and the Lake Michigan Overlook is stop 9 on the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. source 1 · source 2 (checked 2026-11-14)
- You can bike the 22-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and in Glen Haven you can watch a blacksmith in action and learn about the US Lifesaving Service at the Maritime Museum. source (checked 2026-11-14)
- Junior Ranger workbooks are available by request at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, which is open seven days a week, year-round. source (checked 2026-11-14)
- There are no lifeguards on duty, so be aware of rip currents, and Lake Michigan stays cold even when the air is very warm. source (checked 2026-11-14)
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive closes to vehicles in late October or early November and is open late spring to late fall. source (checked 2026-11-14)