Who’s excited for National Parks week in the middle of April? Mark your calendar’s folks! This year (2021), the National Parks Service is giving us free admission to ALL national parks in the country on April 17. Wondering how to take advantage of this special day in Michigan? I recommend you take a day trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
If you can’t visit April 17th, there are four other days remaining this calendar year where entrance fees are waived.
A couple years ago, my husband and I visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes for the first time. It’s amazing how big the park is. It includes all the dunes as well as the historic town of Glen Haven, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, three former Coast Guard stations, as well as both the North and South Manitou islands.
~ Day Trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Map ~
~ Day Trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Summary ~
When: During a day in April when entrance to the National Parks were free.
Why: What better time to visit one of the few National Parks in Michigan than during a day when entrance is free? Also, I’ve always wanted to visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Despite growing up in Michigan, I never visited.
Time Traveled (one way): 2 hours 30 minutes from Grand Rapids, 4 hours 30 minutes from Detroit, 3 hours 30 minutes from Kalamazoo, 3 hours 30 minutes from Lansing, 40 minutes from Traverse City
Time Spent at Destination: 5 hours
Budget: $ – gas and dinner/drinks
What we did during our Day Trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes:
We started off at the Dune Climb. After making our way up the Dune, we veered to the right along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. There we spent some time looking out over the North and South Manitou islands. Once we made it back down, we visited historic Glen Haven.
Then, we stopped for an early dinner in Frankfort at Storm Cloud Brewing. Finally, we watched the sunset at the gorgeous Point Betsie Lighthouse.
Other Things to Explore at the Sleeping Bear Dunes:
There are over 35 miles of coastline that make up the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you’d rather not climb up the Dune Climb, there are many other hiking routes to take. In subsequent years, Tony and I tried out the Pyramid Point trail and Empire Bluff Trail. Both are fairly easy with minor elevation changes (but great views!)
If you’d rather not visit Glen Haven, you could explore historic Fishtown in Leland. Back in 2017, Matador Network named Leland one of the Coolest Towns in the US. Check out the daytrip we took in the Leelanau Peninsula here!
Enjoy a late lunch, shopping, and the sights at Cherry Republic’s Glen Arbor location.
~ History of the Sleeping Bear Dunes ~
On October 21, 1970, the Sleeping Bear Dunes were acquired by the National Park Service. But there’s always been a lot of history here.
Its name alone – Sleeping Bear Dunes – comes from the Ojibwe legend of a mother bear and her two cubs swimming across Lake Michigan to escape a forest fire in Wisconsin. The mother bear reached shore and turned to look for her cubs, but the cubs were lost to the lake. The ‘Great Spirit’ pitied the mother bear and created the Manitou Islands as a memorial to her babies. The sleeping mother bear eventually became covered by the drifting sand.
When European explorers arrived here, the dunes were uninhabitable – but that didn’t mean people didn’t receive titles to claim parts of this land as theirs. In 1970 when the national government authorized the creation of the national lakeshore, this involved some portions of the current park being transferred from private to public control.
~ Day Trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Details ~
Dune Climb
A couple years ago, Tony and I were two of the 300,00 annual visitors to climb the Dune Climb. After being cooped up in a car for three hours, it’s refreshing to get out of the car and attack the dune. As we climbed, I looked back to see more and more of Glen Lake come into view.
Please note as you climb, take it easy on yourself! The dune is high up and once you think it levels off (because that’s what it looks like when you’re at the base), it keeps going. Instead of a scenic view of Lake Michigan, this is what you’ll see at the top instead:
NEVER ENDING SAND FROM ALL DIRECTIONS! It’s like a mini Sahara right here in Michigan with 6 quadrillion gallons of freshwater (amen!) all around it!
Seeing all the sand inspired me to pause and make a sand angel. Tony, of course, was amused with my antics. If he can wear loafers to hike in sand, I can make sand angels.
For the most part, we remained on the marked Dunes Trail. If your goal is to complete the Dunes Trail, this trail may take up to 4 hours to complete. Be prepared to bring a snack or water and pace yourself.
The goal of our hike was to enjoy a beautiful view and see the North and South Manitou Islands. Thankfully, we achieved our goal! Also note, there is no cell service throughout much of the park.
Glen Haven
After hiking the Dune Climb, we stopped by the Historic Town of Glen Haven – which is an open air concept of a museum. Or a restored ghost town of sorts. This ‘town’ is still part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Originally, Glen Haven was a deep water sea port used for business. In the 1850’s, C.C. McCarty built a saw mill and inn on the beach, which attracted settlers. A cherry cannery built in the 1920s also remains. Inside the cannery building is a boat museum for the small boats that once ferried passengers between Glen Haven and the Manitou Islands.
This site is where much of the controversy surrounding the national governments use of eminent domain comes from. In 2007, the final resident of Glen Haven was evicted.
We didn’t spend too much time here. Just enough to walk around ‘town’ and relax by the lake before continuing our journey.
Point Betsie Lighthouse
Our final stop during this day trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes was the Point Betsie Lighthouse just north of Frankfort. This picturesque lighthouse is great to see during Golden Hour.
Built in 1858 to guide ships into the defunct south Manitou passage, this operational lighthouse is still used by boaters and the Coast Guard. I was surprised to find out it wasn’t until 1996 that the building attached to the lighthouse was vacated. If you would like to visit the lighthouse, it is open for public tours on the weekends between Memorial and Labor Day. You may even rent the Assistant Lightkeepers Quarter during the summer!
In 2006, a $1 million exterior renovation was completed thanks to the fundraising efforts of Benzie County and the Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse. No wonder the lighthouse is so beautiful!
If you’d like to check out the Point Betsie Lighthouse during a trip to Traverse City, check out my article here.
~~~
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a beautiful natural wonder we have in Michigan. I can’t believe I’m a native Michigander and only visited for the first time a couple years ago!
What is one gorgeous place you recently visited for the first time even though it’s always been nearby where you live?
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
