Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is certainly a must-do activity when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This 12 kilometer (7.4 mile) self-guided auto tour provides the visitor with insight to the history of the area, a sampling of the vegetative communities found within the park and, best of all, spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan...

World-class vistas will give you a feel for Michigan that you may have never thought possible! The Scenic Drive will definitely reinforce why Congress saw fit to designate this area as a National Lakeshore within our great National Park system.

Why the name "Pierce Stocking"?

Pierce Stocking spent his youth working as a lumberman in Michigan's forests. He loved the woods and spent most of his spare time there, developing a self-taught knowledge of nature.

He used to walk the bluffs above Lake Michigan, awed by the views of the dunes, Lake Michigan and the islands. He wanted to share this beauty with others and conceived the idea of a road to the top of the dunes.

As a lumberman, he had built roads in difficult terrain before. The planning for the road began in the early 1960's, and in 1967, the road, then known as the Sleeping Bear Dunes Park, first opened to the public.

Stocking continued to operate the scenic drive until his death 1976. In 1977, the road became part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Several years later, based on public opinion, the drive was named the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Navigating the Scenic Drive

Pick up an interpretive guide for the Scenic Drive at the Visitor Center in Empire or at the entrance to the drive (there is no charge for the guide). There are numbered signs along the drive that will refer you to the guide, making your visit an educational adventure as well.

Please obey the 32 kph (20 mph) speed limit and drive carefully so that motorized vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians can share this roadway safely. While bicycling is permitted along the Scenic Drive, it is recommended for expert-level cyclists only due to the steep terrain, sharp curves and heavy traffic present. We recommend that anybody contemplating bicycling the Scenic Drive first take a car through it to see if your skill level is up to it.

As with any other section of the park, a Park Pass is required for using the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Please refer to the "Fees" section of our Home Page for details.

One other word of caution: it is highly recommended that you do not descend the dune at the Lake Michigan Overlook (#9) as it is quite dangerous to do so. It may look like a big sand hill from the top, but it is actually composed of large quantities of loose rock and gravel that is difficult to negotiate. Additionally, it is an extremely strenuous climb even for those in excellent health let alone those with heart trouble or other medical concerns. Enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Michigan, the Manitou Islands and the dunes from the top - save your dune escapades for the Dune Climb area, where you can climb safely to your heart's content!

Last updated: 3/29/2000
Http://www.nps.gov/slbe/pssd.htm