Date: February 9, 2017
In celebration of Presidents’ Day, Superintendent Scott Tucker is pleased to announce that the entrance fee to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will be waived on Monday, February 20, 2017. Fees waived include entrance fees and commercial tour fees. Other fees such as reservations, camping, and concession fees are not included.
The National Lakeshore, along with 416 other units of the national park system, will waive entrance fees during the upcoming holiday as part of a continuing nationwide initiative to encourage everyone to visit and experience the many wonders of their national parks across America. The other fee-free days this year include: April 15-16 and April 22-23 (weekends of National Park Week), August 25 (National Park Service Birthday), September 30 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11-12 (Veterans Day weekend).
Winter is a great time to explore the National Lakeshore. Visit the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire (open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily) to learn about all the park has to offer this time of year. Bring your tube or saucer and enjoy the designated sledding hill at the Dune Climb, or cross-country ski/snowshoe one of the many trails in the park, including the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Also, don’t forget to join in on a park ranger-led snowshoe hike every Saturday through March 11. Hikes are limited to 60 participants, so plan to call early to make your reservation. Hikes begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, Michigan. Please call 231-326-4700, extension 5010, for details and to make reservations.
