Sleeping Bear Dunes Map + 3-Day Michigan Weekend Itinerary
The best of the dunes and Lake Michigan shore, in one weekend.
3-day Sleeping Bear Dunes weekend itinerary out of Traverse City. Climb the 284-foot Dune Climb, drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to the Lake Michigan Overlook, hike Sleeping Bear Point and Pyramid Point, and finish on the Empire Bluff Trail, all in one long weekend.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
15 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Sleeping Bear Dunes: every stop pinned in order.
Dune Climb · Pierce Stocking · Pyramid Point · Michigan
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Sleeping Bear Dunes in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 3 days in Sleeping Bear Dunes, one step at a time
How 3 days in Sleeping Bear Dunes split up
Plan 3 days for Sleeping Bear Dunes. Base towns: Empire & Glen Arbor. Driving: ~120 mi. Permits: Park pass only. This 3-day Sleeping Bear Dunes weekend pairs the park's towering sand dunes with the clear-water beaches and bluffs of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Fly into Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, then base out of Empire and Glen Arbor, the two small towns that bracket Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Day 1: The Dune Climb & Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
6 stops · Day one
Day 2: Sleeping Bear Point, Pyramid Point & Good Harbor Bay
6 stops · Day two
Day 3: Empire Bluff Trail & Departure
3 stops · Day three
The Dune Climb & Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Drive up from Traverse City and check in at Empire, home of the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center, where you can grab your park pass, maps, and current alerts. Then head 3 miles north on M-109 to the iconic Dune Climb, a 284-foot wall of soft sand with panoramic views of Glen Lake once you crest the top.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive from
~45 min to Empire · car required · DriveFly into Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City and drive about 45 minutes west to Empire, the small town at the south end of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A rental car is essential, no transit reaches the trailheads, and the drive along M-72 is scenic in its own right.
- Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire
Park pass · maps · rangers · ViewpointStop at the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire to buy your park pass, grab maps and the Pierce Stocking overlook guide, and check current alerts and beach conditions with a ranger. The Sleeping Bear Dunes vehicle pass is $25 for 7 days, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted.
Official info → 
Anne Hornyak from Grif / CC BY-SA 2.0The Dune Climb284-ft climb · soft sand · Glen Lake views · HikeTackle the iconic Dune Climb, a 284-foot wall of soft sand 3 miles north of Empire on M-109. The climb is a real workout in loose sand with no shade, but the crest rewards you with panoramic views of Glen Lake, and the ambitious can continue the 3.5-mile round trip out to Lake Michigan.
Official info →
Kim2137 / Kim / CC BY 2.0Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive7.4-mi one-way loop · 10 overlooks · ViewpointDrive the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a one-way loop off M-109 with ten numbered overlooks of the dunes, Glen Lake, and Lake Michigan. Pick up the interpretive guide at the entrance. The road is open seasonally, roughly late April through mid-November, and closes with the snow.
Official info →- Állatka / CC BY-SA 4.0Lake Michigan Overlook
450-ft dune face · sunset platform · ViewpointSave the Lake Michigan Overlook, stop nine on the scenic drive, for golden hour. A short boardwalk leads to a platform perched 450 feet above the water for the park's signature view. Enjoy it from the top, do not descend the dune face, the climb back up is exhausting and rescues happen every summer.
Rachel Kramer / CC BY 2.0Overnight in Empire or Glen Arbor$150–250/night · near the park · lodgeSettle in for the night. Empire is the quiet base near the visitor center and Empire Bluff Trail, while Glen Arbor sits closer to the north-end trails and has more dining. Park campgrounds (D.H. Day near Glen Haven, Platte River to the south) book through recreation.gov and fill fast in summer.
Sleeping Bear Point, Pyramid Point & Good Harbor Bay
Start at historic Glen Haven and hike the 2.8-mile Sleeping Bear Point Trail, a sandy loop past a "ghost forest" of buried trees with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. Then swing through Glen Arbor for lunch and a look at Glen Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in Michigan.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Sleeping Bear Point Trail
2.8 mi loop · ghost forest · lake views · HikeStart at historic Glen Haven and hike the 2.8-mile Sleeping Bear Point Trail, a sandy loop that climbs over open dunes past a "ghost forest" of buried, sun-bleached trees, with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. The soft sand makes it feel harder than the mileage, so bring water.
See the trail → 
Jamesdisher / CC BY-SA 4.0Glen Haven & Glen LakeHistoric village · Cannery museum · ViewpointWander historic Glen Haven, a restored company village with a general store, blacksmith shop, and the Cannery boat museum on the beach. Nearby Glen Lake, framed by dunes, is one of the most photographed lakes in Michigan and a fine spot to cool off between hikes.
Official info →- Kayak or canoe the Crystal River · Crystal River Outfitters
2 to 3 hr float · Glen Arbor · shuttle included · activityThe Crystal River winds through the Lakeshore from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan, clear and shallow over a sandy bottom, and it is the easiest paddle a mixed group can share. Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor rents the boats and runs the shuttle, so you just float for two or three hours past herons, turtles and the odd bald eagle. Fit it in between Glen Haven and Pyramid Point.
Book this → - NOAA Great Lakes Envir / CC BY-SA 2.0Pyramid Point Trail
2.7 mi loop · steep bluff · Manitou view · HikeDrive up to Pyramid Point, off Port Oneida Road north of Glen Arbor, and take the 2.7-mile loop to its famous bluff overlook high above Lake Michigan with a straight-on view of the Manitou Islands. The bluff is a well-known hang-gliding launch. Stay well back from the unstable, sharply dropping edge.
See the trail → - Good Harbor Bay
Quiet northeast-shore beach · sunset · ViewpointFinish the day at Good Harbor Bay, a wide, quiet beach on the park's northeast shore off M-22. It is one of the least-crowded stretches of sand in the Lakeshore, great for a swim on a calm day and an easy sunset. Check the marine forecast first, Lake Michigan can turn rough quickly.
Overnight in Glen Arbor$180–280/night · central to north trails · lodgeSettle into Glen Arbor for the night, the walkable resort village between the dunes and Glen Lake, with restaurants, kayak outfitters on the Crystal River, and easy access to the north-end trails. It books up fast on summer and fall weekends, so reserve ahead.
Empire Bluff Trail & Departure
Save the best short hike for last. The Empire Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile round trip through beech-maple forest that opens onto a boardwalk platform on a bluff high above Lake Michigan, with a long view down the shoreline to the Sleeping Bear dune plateau and out to South Manitou Island.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Nakor / CC BY-SA 3.0Empire Bluff Trail1.5 mi RT · bluff-top boardwalk · HikeSave the best short hike for last. The Empire Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile round trip through beech-maple forest to a boardwalk platform on a bluff high above Lake Michigan, with a long view down the shore to the Sleeping Bear dune plateau and out to South Manitou Island. Go in the morning for the light and easy parking.
See the trail →
Jim Sorbie / CC BY 2.0Empire village & beachLast swim · cafes · final meal · ViewpointBack in Empire, grab a last swim at the village beach and a bite in town before you leave. It is a low-key spot to wind down and rinse off the sand from the bluff trail.
Phoenix-Five / CC BY-SA 4.0Depart Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)~45 min from Empire · return rental car · DriveWrap up with the roughly 45-minute drive from Empire to Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City. Allow buffer for summer-weekend traffic on M-22 and for returning your rental car. If time permits, stop for Michigan cherries or a Leelanau Peninsula winery on the way out.
Book the 2 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Sleeping Bear Dunes
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Essential park rules & planning.
Fly into Traverse City (TVC)
Cherry Capital Airport is about 45 minutes from Empire and the park entrance. A rental car is essential, this is a scenic-drive-and-short-hikes trip and no transit reaches the trailheads. Reserve the car a few months out for summer weekends.
Park pass, not permits
The Sleeping Bear Dunes vehicle pass is $25 for 7 days and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. There is no timed entry for general access. Buy the pass at the Phillip A. Hart Visitor Center, the Dune Climb, or the Pierce Stocking entrance.
Sand is harder than it looks
The Dune Climb, Sleeping Bear Point, and Pyramid Point are all soft sand, and even short mileages feel strenuous. Wear real shoes, carry at least 2 liters of water per person, and use sunscreen, there is very little shade.
Respect the bluff edges
The Lake Michigan Overlook, Pyramid Point, and Empire Bluff all drop off sharply into loose sand. Do not descend the dune faces, the climb back up is exhausting and the park runs rescues every summer. Stay behind the barriers.
Go June or September
June and September bring mild temperatures, active but thinner crowds, and warm-enough water. July and August are the warmest and busiest, ideal for swimming but packed. Early October adds fall color; spring can be cool and wet, and the scenic drive is closed in winter.
Check the marine forecast
Lake Michigan can turn rough quickly, which matters for swimming at Good Harbor Bay or any paddling out of Glen Arbor. Check the marine forecast, and use the sheltered Crystal River through Glen Arbor as a calm-water backup for kayaks.
Wear real shoes on the Dune Climb
The Dune Climb is a workout in shifting, sun-baked sand, and the descent that feels effortless becomes a brutal grind on the way back up. Wear real socks and closed shoes rather than flip-flops or bare feet to avoid sand-friction blisters. And never try to climb down the 450-foot Lake Michigan Overlook dune face, where the climb back out is exhausting and the park runs frequent, costly rescues every summer.
Sleeping Bear Dunes: questions before you go
Sleeping Bear Dunes: the questions people ask most.
A weekend of two to three days covers the highlights. One day handles the Dune Climb and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, and a second day covers the Sleeping Bear Point and Pyramid Point trails plus a quieter beach like Good Harbor Bay. A third day leaves room for the Empire Bluff Trail on the way out. Base in Empire or Glen Arbor and fly into Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City.
No special permit is required for the mainland. You need a park entrance pass, $25 per vehicle for 7 days, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. There is no timed-entry system for general park access. A separate backcountry permit and a ferry reservation are only needed if you add an overnight on North or South Manitou Island.
They are short but the sand makes them feel harder than the mileage. The Dune Climb is a steep 284-foot sand ascent; the Sleeping Bear Point (2.8 mi) and Pyramid Point (2.7 mi) loops are moderate soft-sand trails; and the Empire Bluff Trail (1.5 mi round trip) is moderate through forest to a bluff-top boardwalk. Wear real shoes and carry plenty of water.
Late May through early October is the season. June and September bring the mildest weather and thinner crowds, July and August are the warmest and busiest with the best swimming, and early October adds fall color but cooler water. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is closed in winter and typically reopens around late April.
Yes. Outfitters in Glen Arbor and Empire rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. On a calm day you can paddle the Lake Michigan shoreline near Glen Arbor, but conditions change fast, so check the marine forecast. The sheltered Crystal River through Glen Arbor is a scenic, family-friendly backup when the big lake is rough.
The Lake Michigan Overlook on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is the signature view, a boardwalk platform 450 feet above the water. The Empire Bluff and Pyramid Point overlooks are close seconds. At all three, enjoy the view from the top, do not try to climb down the dune face, because the climb back up is exhausting and dangerous.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 3-day route. Same 11 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near Empire
- $13
- 1 night, a campsite near Glen Arbor
- $13
- Kayak or canoe the Crystal River · Crystal River Outfitters
- Priced when you book
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- Gas, about 83 miles
- $10
- 1 night, a room in Empire
- from $98
- 1 night, a room in Glen Arbor
- from $98
- Kayak or canoe the Crystal River · Crystal River Outfitters
- Priced when you book
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- Gas, about 83 miles
- $10
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
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