Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is famous for its large and dramatic sand dunes towering over Lake Michigan. While the dunes can be fun to climb, they can also be a physical challenge. So instead, for those who want to experience the sand dunes along Lake Michigan, there’s another, better trail. The Sleeping Bear Point Trail is a fantastic loop that takes you through some incredible views of sand dunes and Lake Michigan, without the physical demands of the super steep dunes.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about hiking the Sleeping Bear Point Trail.
About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is most famous for the steep and dramatic sand dunes running down to the lake. I’ve lived on Lake Michigan my entire life (in Wisconsin) and can safely say that these massive dunes are not native to the entire lake. That’s what makes it so special.
But Sleeping Bear Dunes is more than just these massive sand dunes. It’s all about the lakeshore as a whole, which also includes other, less strenuous hiking, scenic drives, museums and more.
In addition, you’re right near Traverse City which is a huge hub for tourism in this region.
Should You Hike Clockwise or Counter Clockwise?
If you’re hiking the Sleeping Bear Point Trail, I really don’t think it matters which direction you hike. The trail makes a big loop and the trail can be done in either direction. In fact when I visited, I’d say there were an equal amount of hikers in each direction (I hiked counterclockwise if it makes a difference).
That said, I think that the trail might be a tiny bit easier if you hike clockwise. The reason for this is you’ll be on a packed dirt trail for part of the uphill and that might make things ever so slightly easier. Still, I hiked counterclockwise and had no issues.
Hiking the Sleeping Bear Point Trail
Enough about logistics (though I’ll cover a bit more later), let’s talk about the Sleeping Bear Point Trail.
Lake Michigan Spur
If you’re hiking counterclockwise, you’ll head through the trail in the front of the parking lot. Before reaching the main trail, you’ll have the option to take a short spur out to Lake Michigan. This spur comes less than a quarter mile into the hike. If you just want to hike the main loop to Sleeping Bear Point, continue straight. If you want to take a quick detour to Lake Michigan, head left.
In total, this spur adds about 0.2 miles each way, so it’s nothing strenuous. However, it is loose sand the entire way and you’ll climb up and down a 50 foot dune. Is it nice? Yes, but I’m not sure if it’s necessarily worth the detour (though I am biased since I grew up along Lake Michigan in Wisconsin). If you want to get up close to Lake Michigan without the steep dunes that you’ll find elsewhere at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this is a fantastic place to do it. If you’re content to view Lake Michigan from a distance, skip this spur and continue on.
Sleeping Bear Point Loop
Let’s focus on the main loop to Sleeping Bear Point. From the spur in the trail, you’ll work your way up and down (though mostly up) along the sand dunes with progressively better views as you go along. There were other hikers on the trail, but it was nothing compared to some of the other trails at Sleeping Bear Dunes. It could feel peaceful as you hiked (though if you really want peace and tranquility, get here early in the day).
After the spur, you’ll climb up another 50 feet before the trail levels out. After about 0.8 miles, you reach your big climb. Then, over the next 0.4 miles, you’ll climb up about 150 feet on lose sand. There are periodic breaks in the climb where you can take in the view, but this is the hardest part of the trail. That said, it’s worth it for the views at Sleeping Bear Point.
From the highest point, you’ll start your descent and here’s where the trail can get fun. You’re finally going down the dunes after all of the climbing (though there is one very short climb during the descent). With the dunes behind you, you’ll eventually reach the forest and here the trail admittedly became a bit boring (at least compared to what it had been). But it’s downhill and flat meaning you can really make good time and reach the trailhead in no time.
If you choose to hike clockwise, you’ll need to start the trail at a different spot. Rather than starting at the end of the parking lot, look for an opening in the trees on the southeast side of the parking lot. This is where you’ll pop out if you hike counterclockwise and where you’ll want to depart from if you hike clockwise.
If you hike clockwise, you’ll do your section of the trail through the forest first and have the tough climb early in the trail. Part of that climb will be on packed sand making it easier to climb. You’ll then have a more gradual descent along the sand dunes as you work your way back to the trailhead.
Trail Stats
Including the spur to Lake Michigan, I logged 2.5 miles and 308 feet of elevation gain. It took me just under 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike this trail which includes plenty of time to stop for pictures.
General Tips
Your shoes will get full of sand on this trail. There is no avoiding it. While there are some sections of trail that you could do barefoot, you will need shoes for the forested section. Just be prepared to take your shoes off and give them (and your socks) a really good shake to get all of the sand out. As a bonus, bring a Ziploc bag for the end of the day. Pack your sandy socks in that Ziploc bag so you don’t end up with sand all over your luggage.
Entrance Fees for Sleeping Bear Dunes
While there aren’t checkpoints everywhere, you are required to pay a fee to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes. You can pay $25 for a pass that it good for 1-7 days or present an annual pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass.
For many of my stops, there was no check point. I just left my America the Beautiful Pass on my dashboard while I went out and hiked. That said, there was checkpoint at the start of the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drives where rangers were checking for passes. If you didn’t have one, you’ll be able to buy it here (so long as rangers are actually here checking for passes). There was also a checkpoint at Dune Climb, though it was not open when I visited.
Where to Stay at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Traverse City is the largest city by Sleeping Bear Dunes. It’s a tourist city so there’s loads of hotels, restaurants, and other activities. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Traverse City to Sleeping Bear Dunes. There are towns closer to Sleeping Bear Dunes (like Empire and Glen Arbor), but there’s something to be said about the amount of amenities in Traverse City.
That said, Traverse City can be expensive, especially during on summer weekends. To cut down on my costs, I only spent one night in Traverse City. I arrived into Traverse City late in the afternoon and spent the night. The next day, I visited Sleeping Bear Dunes and then drove to Charlevoix, MI (nearly two hours from the park but closer my next destination) where my hotel was more half the price of what I paid in Traverse City.
When to Visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes
While you could visit Sleeping Bear Dunes all year round, Lake Michigan can get very cold during the winter months. That’s not to say that you can’t visit during this time, but be prepared for cold, snow, and wind.
Summer is peak tourist season. This has the best weather, but also the most crowds. If you want to visit beaches in the midwest, summer is just the best month to do it. You should be prepared for hot and humid weather. That said, Lake Michigan is massive and it often gets cooler the closer you get to the lake.
Spring and fall can be hit or miss. Crowds are fewer and the weather is more unpredictable. While you may still find some of the tourist offerings, it won’t be as much as what is offered during the summer months.
I like to minimize crowds when I travel, but I’d still recommend visiting in summer because if you’re going to beaches, you’ll want to best weather.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed Dune Climb at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It was fun to run down the sand dunes, but as far as hiking trails go, the trail to Sleeping Bear Point wins. It’s got the beauty of the sand dunes with just enough challenge to keep things interesting without being too difficult. If you’re only going to hike one trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, make it the Sleeping Bear Point Trail.
Continue Your Adventure
Sleeping Bear Dunes: Learn how to spend one day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Michigan: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Whether you head out on a great hike or take a scenic cruise, you’re sure to see some incredible beauty. In Lake Huron, you’ll find the car free Mackinac Island.
Wisconsin: I have to give a plug for my home state of Wisconsin. And if you like sand dunes and views of Lake Michigan, you’re sure to enjoy Kohler Andrae State Park.
More in the Midwest: If you head to Illinois, you can visit the best of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. Is Iowa, don’t miss the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park.