• Looking out at the lake

    Sleeping Bear Dunes

    National Lakeshore Michigan

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  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive will not open until Memorial Day Weekend

    Changes to visitor service due to Sequestration. Due to mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts, some visitor services in this park have changed. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive will not open until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. More »

  • Some restrooms and trash cans not available until Memorial Day

    Changes to visitor service due to Sequestration. Other than those at the visitor center and campgrounds, restrooms and trash cans will not be available until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. This includes the Manitou Islands. More »

Leaving the Sand Dunes

Cottonwood Trees

Cottonwood Trees at the edge of the dune area

Kerry Kelly 2006

You are about to leave the dunes and enter the neighboring beech-maple forest. The dunes cover just a small area because they depend on strong winds off Lake Michigan to exist. The active dune zone extends for only about a mile from the lake. Further inland, the wind loses its energy and can no longer build dunes.

 

Did You Know?

Deer Hunt

You can hunt for deer in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In fact there are special hunts on North Manitou Island to help manage the size of the deer herd on the island. More...