Good Harbor Bay Trail and Picnic Area

Quiet picnic area along Good Harbor Bay

NPS credit

Quick Facts

Location:

GPS Coordinates 44.938,-85.8553

Amenities

4 listed

Beach/Water Access, Picnic Table, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead

For a quiet shoreline picnic, try the Good Harbor Bay Picnic Area. With its scattering of white pines, this small picnic area offers a shady escape during a sun-soaked beach day. A great place to enjoy a picnic dinner with a table-side beach views of Pyramid Point and North Manitou, and if you stay long enough, a spectacular sunset.

Pets are NOT allowed on this trail from December 1 to March 31.

Distance 

 2.8-mile loop

Terrain

A sandy path winds through tall dune grass and is almost entirely flat with just a few small grades. Near the beginning of the trail, there is a short section of low coastal dunes, where there is access to the beach. Then the trail turns away from Lake Michigan and becomes wooded for the remainder of its length. A portion of the trail passes through a swamp, and a small bridge assists in crossing a couple of wet spots.

Vegetation

The trail lies between Little Traverse Lake and Lake Michigan. This entire strip of land was underwater at the end of the Ice Age and has emerged gradually during post-glacial times. Along this trail, you can see the different plant communities that have developed in zones parallel to the shoreline. Starting from the beach and traveling inland, you pass through an active dune zone, a shrub zone, a pine-oak forest, and the beginnings of a beech-maple forest. Just a few thousand years ago, the forested zones were barren beaches. Plants, through their growth and decay, have built up a topsoil on top of old dunes

Hike Safely

Are you prepared to hike in the Lakeshore? Follow these safety tips.

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Take the Trail Trekker Challenge

Do you think you can hike all of the trails in one year? Want to explore the landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, exercise, and have fun all at the same time? Join the Trail Trekker Challenge! Earn a prize and bragging rights by successfully completing each of the 13 mainland trails in the National Lakeshore. Hiking is a great way to get daily physical exercise and promote health while also discovering the beauty of the area. What better way to get your muscles warm, your heart pumping, and your senses savoring the views!

Pick up a copy of the Trail Trekker Challenge brochure/logbook at the visitor center in Empire.