Massive sand dunes rising 450 feet above Lake Michigan, with the Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, and Empire Bluffs Trail across a National Lakeshore voted America's most beautiful place.
$25 vehicle entry (7-day pass)
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the kind of landscape you don't expect to find in the Midwest, and it is a 30-minute drive west of Traverse City. The sand dunes rise 450 feet above Lake Michigan, with the Manitou Islands sitting on the horizon, and the scale only registers properly once you are standing at the top of the Dune Climb. Good Morning America's audience voted it the Most Beautiful Place in America, which is subjective by nature, but the view makes the case.
Three options give you flexibility. The Dune Climb is the signature: a steep ascent up open sand that rewards the effort with panoramic views, and a punishing climb back from the lake if you go all the way down. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a 7.4-mile paved loop through dunes and forest with multiple overlooks, accessible without leaving the car. Empire Bluffs Trail is a shorter, quieter hike with a strong vantage over the lake. For golfers used to the sandy soils of the Northern Michigan courses, this is the geological context in its most dramatic form.
Vehicle entry is $25 and covers seven days. Open year-round; peak conditions May through October. Wear proper footwear and carry water; sand temperatures can be extreme on sunny summer days. Arrive early in July and August to beat parking congestion at the Dune Climb trailhead.