• Looking out at the lake

    Sleeping Bear Dunes

    National Lakeshore Michigan

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  • 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 »

  • Maritime Museum closed

    The Maritime Museum and Boathouse are closed until further notice.

Bay View Trail

Distance

Total of 8 miles of trails divided into loops

Terrain

Hilly

Vegetation

Beech-maple forest, fields and pine plantation

Comments

Lookout Point gives a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. The trail along the edge of the woods on top of the bluff overlooks fields of wildflowers and former farmland with Lake Michigan in the background


Click to download a map in pdf format.

 
Bay View Trail Map
Bay View Trail Map
NPS Map 2006
 
Charles Olsen Farm from Bay View Trail

Charles Olsen Farm from the Bay View Trail

Kerry Kelly 2005

The Charles Olsen Farm is located on M-22 and is home to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. As you can see from the photo, the Bay View Trail runs just behind the barn and silo. Stop and walk around the buildings and stop in at the house to learn more about the Port Oneida area while you are hiking the Bay View Trail.

 
Port Oneida School

Port Oneida School

Kerry Kelly 2006

The Port Oneida School is located near the Bay View Trail. Stop and pump some water and rest your weary bones on the front porch or a picnic table under a tree near the school.

 
Miller Barn

Miller Barn from the Bay View Trail

Kerry Kelly 2006

The Miller Barn is located near the Bay View Trail. Take a short detour from the trail and walk around the barn and explore the site of the Miller Homestead. You will see where the house used to be and be able to find some old farm machinery near the barn. Looking over the fields, you can begin to feel what it might have been like to live and farm this land.

 
View from the Bay Viwe Trail Overlook

View of South Manitou Island from the Bay View Trail Overlook.

Kerry Kelly 2006

Hiking the Bay View trail gives you several beautiful vistas of Lake Michigan, the farms, and North and South Manitou Islands. This view is from the bench on top of the hill just across Thoreson Road from the trailhead. The hike to the overlook is about 0.5 miles from the trailhead.

 
Photo Opportunity on the Bay View Trail

Lookout Point is a favorite spot for photographers.

Kerry Kelly 2006

Lookout Point on the Bay View trail gives you a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding fields and wooded hills. Have a seat on the bench and take in the majestic beauty of this spot. Bring your camera and capture the moment. You will have several great photo opportunities along the trail.
 

Did You Know?

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

The lighthouse on South Manitou Island (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) was commissioned in 1872 and served Lake Michigan Shipping for over 100 years. You can take a tour of the lighthouse and climb its 117 step circular stairway to a great view of the Manitou Passage. More...