Things To Do If you have only a few hours to spend at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you will want to start at the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, MI to get oriented, get your maps and see the slide show. Good question! Keep small children near adults. The General Store was established to supply the workers. Perched along the edge of the large dune that towers about Lake Michigan, this dune, at one time, resembled a sleeping bear. [16], The piping plover, a federally registered endangered species, nests at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.[17]. Empire, MI This is a sign the bear is demanding morespace and wants you to back off. 13 Jul 2023 14:03:24 Do not approach! Explore this page to start planning your visit to the Lakeshore. If not possible, yell at the bear, and stay a safe distance from the bear. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Are there mountains in northern Michigan? Stay safe 5. Photo: NPS/L. Found. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of Michigan's most popular destinations for camping vacations, possibly the most popular. Try to increase the distance between you and the bear. Campsites 131 allow the use of a generator, the remaining sites forbid generator use. They are breathtaking. Never run from a bear! Keep small children near adults. This weeks rv travel vlog finds us in Northern Michigan. If a bear alters its behavior in response to your presence, you are too close. Bike the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail, 12. They may run, then veer off or stop abruptly. Use a deterrent such as a stout stick. Nearby points of interest include Empire Bluffs, the "dune climb", and North Bar Lake. Have a pet-friendly visit 6. Located in Leelanau and Benzie counties, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a short drive from Traverse City and surrounding port towns. There are 21 lakes in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore park, and the park's shoreline spans for 35 miles along Lake Michigan. With 64 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan, giant sand dunes, hiking trails, two islands (North Manitou and South Manitou), 26 inland lakes, and more than 50,000 acres of land, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park is spectacularly beautiful. It ,as most . The residents living in what is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore believed themselves stewards of the land and did not want it to be overrun by tourists. He was also able to sell fresh produce and maple sugar in season. If you see a bear, and it sees you, slowly back away, talking sternly to the bear ("hey bear/I see you/no bear") in a low voice. Here are some recommended activities: How much does it cost to get into Sleeping Bear Dunes? Campsites are rustic, wooded, and more far apart than campsites at most campgrounds. Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour. The bears heart was broken, but she could do nothing. This striking #wildflower is a pink lady's slipper. Where is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore? You bet! [7], In 1860, Port Oneida had a population of 87people. Stay at least 150 feet (45 meters) away from the bear and enjoy watching how a bear moves through the landscape or forages for natural foods. Ride through the historic logging village of Glen Haven and D.H. Day Campground on your way to Glen Arbor. 2 - The Famous Dune Climb. This Northern Michigan park was established primarily because of its outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena. 1. Like most company towns, the workers were paid in company coupons, redeemable only at the company store. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, about 25 miles west of Traverse City. For the trail veterans out there, check out our list of lesser known andsecret spotsin the area! Bike the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail 4. Messer #HalfTheParkIsAfterDark #SleepingBearDunes Cookies are used for measurement, ads and optimization. For your convenience, we have compiled driving directions to the Phillip A. Hart Visitor's Center in Empire from Traverse City. Campers can swim, canoe, kayak, fish and relax along the shoreline of the campground. Click here to book your flight and car on Expedia!https://expedia.com/affiliate?landingPage=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.com%2F%3Fsiteid%3D1%26langid%3D1033\u0026camref=1100lreoz\u0026creativeref=1100l68075Click here to book your hotel online!https://prf.hn/l/vyW1xwZClick here to book your VRBO!https://vrbo.prf.hn/l/WJXdm2qWelcome to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! Eventually, both of them came to the surface as two little islands, and so the bear still lies there atop the dunes, looking after here children. Now you see it, now you don't! It may stand to get a better view or sniff the air for your scent. Sleeping Bear Dunes has a lot to offer, whatever your interests. Sleeping Bear Dunes was designated a national park October 20, 1970, The park receives over 1,600,000 visitors a year, There is 65 miles of shoreline throughout the park, There are 26 inland lakes and 12 miles of rivers/streams throughout the park, Nine hundred and eight species of plants, 246 species of birds, and 4 endangered species call Sleeping Bear Dunes home, Two islands, North and South Manitou, are within the park boundaries, There are 370 different buildings throughout Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes is the largest freshwater dune system in the world, 9922 Front Street Cyclists can break the trek into mini-loops, offering additional . Ask a ranger for advice for things to do that match your interests. 9922 Front Street The bears swam for many hours, but soon the cubs tired. They walked for many days on the beach together, but after a while the two little cubs began to whimper with hunger, and so the bear decided to swim across the rest of the lake. MI They have struggled to the top, felt the sand . If the bear's behavior indicates it is on the offensive, give it the right of way and change your travel direction. By Samantha June 7, 2023 Planning a visit to explore Michigan's beautiful coastline? Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore gets its name from one dune in particularthe Mother Bear. Spanning more than 100 square miles . Stand your ground until the bear stops. The park was established primarily for its outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena. Pay attention to the shoreline as you float down the river and you'll see a variety of wildflowers and waterfowl. Sleeping Bear Dunes. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire, Michigan. 49630, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. View the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve, 33. The exhausted cubs drowned in the lake, but the mother bear stayed and waited, hoping that her cubs would finally appear. After a while the cubs began to get very tired, and so the bear said, Try hard, the land is not very far. And very soon they did come in sight of land. [2] There are a few campgrounds in the national lakeshore and they are grouped into D.H. Day Campground, Platte River Campground, a few camping areas on the Manitou Islands within, and some other sites for backcountry or group camping. Visit another National Park Service site nearby 10. Maybe you will want to spend some time in the museums or tour Port Oneida to learn about the rich history and culture of the area. Best moderate Sleeping Bear trail: Sleeping Bear Point Trail. Yummly Last month we headed up to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan for the first time and spent a great week exploring the area! Most of the trail is through shady, wooded areas, providing a cool, shaded place to play on a hot day. Explore the old village and sawmill of North Manitou Island. The Ashininaabek used the Mother Bear as a landmark and tell a story about how she came to be there. You can still see some of the thick vegetation that gave it a dark shaggy appearance. For anyone who has never been to Michigan and asks me for somewhere to visit, I always recommend the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. There is something for everyone! Suggest edits to improve what we show. The Ashininaabek used the Mother Bear as a landmark and tell a story about how she came to be there. Explore this page to start planning your visit to the Lakeshore. Water stations are located along the base of the main dune, along with a restroom and gift shop. Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore encompasses 65 miles of sandy shoreline along the Great Lake Michigan. It is one ofAmericas most profoundly beautiful landscapes with sweeping vistas,freshwater beaches, forested wilderness islands, and miles of hiking trails. The dune overlooks at the Sleeping Bear, Empire, and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above Lake Michigan, and with 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water oriented. We explore the Leelanau Peninsula visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, go cherry-picking, and enjoy some Michigan wine thanks to harvest hosts!U N L I M I T E D I N T E R N E T F O R R V E R S Get $25 off Nomad Internet with code \"ESRV25\" https://link.eatseerv.com/NomadInternet Join Harvest Hosts (Camp for FREE at vineyards, breweries, museums, and more! By this time, coal from the Appalachian coal fields was replacing wood on the steamships. Basic Information Sleeping Bear Dunes has a lot to offer, whatever your interests. Sleeping Bear Dunes Are there mountains in northern Michigan? Originally a dock for Glen Arbor (1855-date), the site soon became a fuel supply point for ships traveling up and down the lake. Life Hike down Sleeping Bear Dunes and can't get back up? We share our opinions and what works for us, but you should do your own research. This may promote aggressive defensive behavior from the bear such as making loud vocalizations, swatting the ground, or bluff-charging (running toward you and stopping). 888-784-7328, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Photo. Susan Pocklington, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. At the turn of the century, it was a round knob completely covered with trees and shrubs. Here's another way to cool down on a hot summer day. Enjoy cruising along the paved trail from the Dune Climb to the village of Glen Arbor 4.25 miles. Cookies are used for measurement, ads and optimization. The Sleeping Bear Dunes address for mail going to the park is 9922 Front Street in Empire, Michigan. Drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, 3. If the bear changes its behavior, you are too close, so back away. The sleeping bear dune many years ago. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water oriented. Perched along the edge of the large dune that towers about Lake Michigan, this dune, at one time, resembled a sleeping bear. Half the park is after dark 8. We are not RV or travel experts. This is one of the top things to do in the Traverse City area. Do not play dead. Never run from a bear or get between a sow and her cubs. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act, List of areas in the National Park System of the United States, "Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore, Michigan, Park Statistics", "Sleeping Bear Dunes Voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America', "Dedicating Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness", "Sleeping Bear Dunes Dedicated as Federally Protected Wilderness", "Historical Weather for Traverse City, Michigan", 5 Most Popular Camping Spots in Michigan (based on Google Traffic), "Piping plovers come to Sleeping Bear Dunes every year and scientists are obsessed", National Park Service: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: Final General Management Plan, Wilderness Study Environmental Impact Statement, Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Aerial Video of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sleeping_Bear_Dunes_National_Lakeshore&oldid=1162853759, Protected areas of Benzie County, Michigan, Protected areas of Leelanau County, Michigan, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from September 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 1 July 2023, at 13:34. Slowly back away while facing the bear. The Dune Climb at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is perhaps the best known natural feature in Michigan. This summer and fall, you're invited to explore 50 amazing things to do in and around the national park. The Great Spirit created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the eternal vigil of mother bear. MI [15], In addition to federal campgrounds within the national lakeshore itself, there are many other camping areas nearby, which cater to the large number of tourists visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes each year. UPDATE: the next #StarParty event has been moved from Tuesday, July 25 to Saturday, July 29. 17 Jul 2023 19:31:36 You will find a wide variety of activities for every age available to you at the Lakeshore. MI Per Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Don't approach or surround a bear. Go for a bike ride on the new Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail! Give the bear plenty of room, allowing it to continue its activities undisturbed. Do not try to protect your food. We've set up this site to help answer some of the many questions we get regarding the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the surrounding area. beautiful beaches. Don't run and don't turn away from the bear. It really does look like a bear! Take a photographic tour and learn about what to see and do when you visit these massive dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan in beautiful northern Michigan.Check out My Favorite Channels!- Heartbeats on the Sports Beathttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCppQzMADwqbbmirkZRHTJ-w- Memory Mountainhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtzXKwPKJ-IcKznK6GrN8jA- Recollection Roadhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuHD9xewJe3r9eGdjd5z5gw It won "Most Beautiful Place in America" in 2011 on @GMA. According to the Sleeping Bear Dunes map, this beautiful natural area can be found four hundred fifty feet above Lake Michigan. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire, Michigan. This weeks rv travel vlog finds us in Northern Michigan. It could cost you $2,280 Published: Jul. Act aggressively (yell/make noise) and try to intimidate the bear. Float the Platte River. Michigan has 3,288 miles of coast, the most freshwater coastline of any state. MI 7 - Go Back in Time at Glen Haven, MI. Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, 48. 17 Jul 2023 19:27:57 The federal government's stance at the time was that the Great Lakes were the "third coast" and had to be preserved much like Cape Hatteras National Seashore or Point Reyes National Seashore. Traveling to Sleeping Bear Dunes If you are driving, drive to the intersection of M-72 and M-22 on the western side of Traverse City and then: Turn left on M-72 toward Empire and travel about 14 miles to a blinking light and turn left to continue on M-72. It hardly looks like a bear now, for it has been changing rapidly in recent years. A year-round attraction, the park provides outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone. After many miles of swimming, the two cubs lagged. 49630, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. A bear and two little cubs were trying to leave that place and come around the lake where there would be more food. Where should I stay when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes? Step at least 150 feet (50 yards) off the trail and give the bear plenty of room to pass, if possible. Use these top ten tips to plan like a park ranger. You want it to know you are human. The north section of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park is a short drive from Platte River Campground. A local story says that the name comes from the first ship to stop, the SS Oneida of New York State. The most prominent features are the dunes above Lake Michigan, perched atop the already towering headlands. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the few places in the world that visitors can see perched dunes. Congratulations! Fall Field-Trips Don't run--slowly back away, while watching the bear and talking in a stern tone. 9922 Front Street Soon after, the other also drowned. Whether you are looking to charter a boat, paddle out in a kayak or stand in shallow waters in waders, there is a perfect fishing spot waiting for you. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore also contains many cultural features . Get a tube, raft, canoe, or kayak and head for the river. Please report the sighting to a park ranger immediately. Some recommendations for beaches include: What is there to do at the Sleeping Bear Dunes? Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $20.00 We lightheartedly refer to them as mountains of sand otherwise known as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Sleeping Bear features magnificent sand dunes that reach up to 400 feet above the lake--the world's largest collection of fresh water sand dunes. [6] The "bear" was a small tree-covered knoll at the top edge of the bluff that appeared like a sleeping bear from the water. The park covers a 35-mile-long (56km) stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, as well as North and South Manitou islands. Enjoy cruising along the paved trail from the Dune Climb to the village of Glen Arbor 4.25 miles. Drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive 3. Hikers can hike all the way to Lake Michigan. Nearby points of interest include Platte River Point, the Platte River, and Big Platte Lake. The Sleeping Bear Dune is the large dune, about 1 mile away, along the edge of the bluff.
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