Sleeping Bear Dunes North

October 2-4, 2015

I arrived in the evening found a campsite in the D.H. Day Campground as there is only one backcountry site in the northern part of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

I quickly formulated a plan for the weekend. In the evening I would hike from the Village Park in Empire to where I had previously left the beach near Empire Bluffs. Then I would do two day-hikes (semi loops) with D.H. Day Campground in the middle.

My evening hike south along the beach provided an excellent sunset.

I had the beach all to myself and there were no longer any swarms of bugs like the last time I was here.

Looking to the big Sleeping Bear Dunes

I reached the path ascending to Empire Bluffs and began my climb as the sun began to set.

There was a great view including South Bar Lake.

At the top there were several others enjoying the pleasant evening view.

On the way down there was a great panorama!

It was a chilly night, but I slept well.  I awoke early and began my hike in the dark.

I began the hike with some of the most uneventful hiking of the weekend on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.  There was evidence of a large storm from earlier in the summer with my trees down but not on the trail.

After walking through Glen Arbor the "trail" was on a scenic road near Glen Lake. The lake was not visible due to private property.

There were marathon signs on the road and even an aid station.   Maybe I was in first place because I didn't see anyone running.

I made it to the Crystal River and joined a paved trail.

There was a large and scenic bridge with a view of some fall colors.

A couple bikers passed me, but there were few people on the trail.

I reached the Bay View Trailhead and joined the trail to

It was a great view out to Lake Michigan.

To the north I could see some scenic farmland.

I descended off-trail to Miller Barn.

Then I found a trail through the forest that led to a historic cemetery.

I don't think the trail was officially on the map but it was easy to follow.

Next there was a great view of the Manitou Islands.

The trail ended at a road.  There was private property inland, so I descended to the beach instead of taking a road walk.

I continued on the beach until I climbed up a bluff and found a field with some historic buildings.

I joined the road and continued to the Pyramid Point Trailhead.

Pyramid Point Trailhead

It was a short walk to Pyramid Point and the view was excellent.  There were several others around.  It was a great view of the Manitou and Fox Islands.

I descended the dunes parallel the lake vs going straight down.

There were scenic paths on top of the dunes.

A scenic pond down below

I found a trail that descended into the forest and followed it to a road.

I found a trail out to the beach, but there were steep bluffs and limited walking without getting wet.  I tried to stay up of the bluff, but ran into private property so I walked a short distance to the road and did a short road walk.

Steep bluffs

I found a way back to the beach and began a great hike around Good Harbor Bay.

I forded Shalda Creek and met a hiker with his dog.

I reached a roadside park and took a break.  There was an outhouse and drinking fountain, but the water had been turned off.

At the end of Lake Michigan Road there was a picnic area.

I continued onward for a short distance.

Then I decided to turn around and begin my journey back.

Looking to Pyramid Point

This time I decided to go to the road instead of fording Shalda Creek.

I returned to the beach.

I continued to the small section of private property and again detoured around it on the road, then continued down the road until its end then returned to the bluffs above the beach.

Soon there was a path down to the beach.

The dunes began to rise to my left.

As I neared Pyramid Point, there were points were the dunes dropped steeply into the water.

I took off my socks and the insoles out of my shoes and continued on, needing to brace myself from the waves.

I some places the waves were carving out the sand.

In some places I had to scramble around/over fallen trees.

Then I made it to the beach!

Looking back to Pyramid Point

I passed the stairs that I had descended earlier in the day.

The water came back to the edge of the beach and I entered the forest beside the dunes.

I began to see some houses as I neared Glen Arbor.

Then there was an unexpected challenging river crossing of the Crystal River.  It had been dug out and was quite deep.  I searched for an alternate crossing, but was surrounded by private property and locked inside a gated community. I had to hoist my pack over my head and stabilize myself as there was actually a current going out into the lake.  The water was up to my waist and I'm 6 foot 3 inches.

After completing the crossing, it was an easy hike along the beach back to D.H. Day Campground.

Looking back to Pyramid Point

I reached the path to the campground and enjoyed a relaxing evening after an eventful and tiring day.

I awoke early the next morning and drove to the Village Park in Empire.

I hiked north along the beach.  There was a small river to jump across near South Bar Lake.

Then I came to North Bar Lake.

Soon there were towering dunes to my right.

I could look up and see the observation tower from the Lake Michigan Overlook.

I continued on the beach past a shipwreck to the Dune Climb Trail.

I followed the trail over to the Dune Climb.

At the top of the Dune Climb there was an excellent view of Glen Lake.

After descending the Dune Climb, I joined the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail on my way to Glen Haven.

The trail followed an historic railroad grade.

There was a great view from Glen Haven.

A short distance away, I reached D.H. Day Campground.

I hiked out to the beached and followed it past Glen Haven to the Maritime Museum.

I followed a road a short distance to the Sleeping Bear Point Trailhead.  Then I ventured up a dune for a great view of Sleeping Bear Bay.

There was also I great inland view.

I hiked around Sleeping Bear Point.  It wasn't as challenging as Pyramid Point.

As I neared the Dune Climb Trail again, I passed a shipwreck.

Then I left the beach and hiked off-trail up the dunes paralleling the lake.

This section was probably my favorite of the Sleeping Bear Dunes on the mainland. The views were endless.

It is hard to capture just how high the dunes are above the water.

In some places it was flat, easy hiking up on the dunes.

I passed an interesting log construction.

I could see the Empire Bluffs in the distance.

I saw a lookout in the distance and made my way to it.  I could see Glen Lake in the distance.

The scenic road was closed for paving so I had the viewpoints all to myself.

It was a short distance to the Lake Michigan overlook, towering high up the lake.

Where many people enjoy the descent and arduous climb back up.

I decided to descend the dune and follow the beach back to Empire.

It took me about 90 seconds to get down to the beach.

North Bar Lake

Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse

This was an exceptional weekend with some of the most unique scenery in the US.