Free
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
A paved trail through the lakeshore. Park pass needed.
Home / Guides / Sleeping Bear Dunes (Glen Arbor and Empire)
Leelanau, Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes (Glen Arbor and Empire)
A national lakeshore of huge sand bluffs over Lake Michigan: the Dune Climb, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a historic village and life-saving station, and ferries to South Manitou Island.
Photo: Sleeping Bear Dunes overlook above Lake Michigan, Bcgood1973, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore runs along Lake Michigan between Empire and Glen Arbor, west of Traverse City. Sand bluffs rise up to about 450 feet above the lake. Climb, slide and gaze.
Glen Haven, a restored village, has a cannery boat museum and a maritime museum in an old life-saving station. Ferries from Leland run to South Manitou Island.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Point Betsie Lighthouse
A lighthouse on the beach south of the lakeshore near Frankfort.
Cheap
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
A loop road through the dunes with overlooks high above Lake Michigan.
Cheap
Alligator Hill Trail
Wooded loop trails near Glen Haven with views over Glen Lake and the Manitou islands.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Cheap
Glen Haven village
A restored village with a general store, blacksmith and cannery boat museum.
Cheap
Maritime Museum
A former life-saving station near Glen Haven, with rescue demonstrations in summer.
Cheap
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
The park visitor centre in Empire, for passes and maps.
Paid
South Manitou Island ferry
Ferries from Leland to the island and its lighthouse.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Glen Arbor village
Small shops, galleries and Cherry Republic's cherry products.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Crystal River paddling
Kayak and tube trips on the Crystal River in Glen Arbor.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
Part of our Northern Michigan guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Watch the sunset over Lake Michigan from the scenic drive.
- A day on South Manitou Island needs an early ferry.
- The Heritage Trail and the beaches fill another day.
Nearby and worth the drive
Traverse Cityabout 35 min · Guide ↗
The bay and cherry country.
Lelandabout 20 min
Fishtown and the island ferry.
Ready-made trips with Sleeping Bear Dunes (Glen Arbor and Empire)
Good to know
- Park pass: An entrance pass is required in the lakeshore: nps.gov/slbe.
- Dune safety: Climbing back up steep dunes from the lake is very hard. Bring water.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Sleeping Bear Dunes overlook above Lake Michigan, Bcgood1973, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Point Betsie Lighthouse, Sbflorio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The cannery boathouse museum at Glen Haven, Sbflorio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: South Manitou Island Lighthouse, NPS, Public domain