Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Opening Postponed

Date: April 12, 2007
Contact: Lisa Myers, 231-326-5134

Superintendent Dusty Shultz announced today that the popular Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive located just off M-109 in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will not be opening Saturday, April 14 as originally scheduled.  The usual mid-April opening has been postponed one week, until April 21 due to current weather conditions.

Unfortunately, the Scenic Drive is covered with snow and ice.  Prior to opening the road for vehicle use, maintenance crews must remove trees, limbs and sand from the roadway as well as replace the boardwalks at the Lake Michigan Overlooks.  Visitor and traffic safety are extremely critical elements when deciding whether to open park facilities as scheduled.

The “Saturdays at the Lakeshore” hike for this weekend is still on schedule and snowshoes will even be available for your use!  Long Lost Log Cabins of the Lakeshore program is free, suitable for all ages and will last about two hours. Meet at the Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. for an introduction and directions to the cabins.  No reservations are needed; participants need only purchase the park entrance pass to join in the fun ($10/vehicle valid for seven days or $20/vehicle for an entire year).  For more information about this or other ranger-led programs and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore activities, please call the Visitor Center at 231-326-5134.