Sleeping Bear Dunes Map +
3-Day Michigan Weekend Itinerary
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.
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The best of the dunes and Lake Michigan shore, in one weekend.
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 one climbs the famous Dune Climb and drives the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to the Lake Michigan Overlook. Day two works the north end, the Sleeping Bear Point Trail from historic Glen Haven, the Pyramid Point bluff, and the quiet sands of Good Harbor Bay. Day three closes with the short, high-payoff Empire Bluff Trail.
No special permits are needed beyond park entry: the Sleeping Bear Dunes vehicle pass is $25 for 7 days, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. Late May through early October is the season; June and September bring the mildest weather and thinner crowds, while July and August are the warmest and busiest.
Lodging in Empire and Glen Arbor fills fast for summer weekends and fall-color season, so reserve 2–3 months ahead. Park campgrounds (D.H. Day near Glen Haven and Platte River to the south) book through recreation.gov and go quickly. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is typically open only from around late April through mid-November, weather permitting.
The Dune Climb & Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive · ~30 miles
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.
In the afternoon, drive the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a one-way loop with covered overlooks of the dunes, Glen Lake, and Lake Michigan. Save the Lake Michigan Overlook for golden hour, its boardwalk platform sits 450 feet above the water. Overnight in Empire or nearby Glen Arbor.
- 284-ft climb · soft sand · panoramic Glen Lake views
- 7.4-mi one-way loop · 10 numbered overlooks · ~1 hr
- Lake Michigan Overlook450-ft dune face · boardwalk platform · best at sunset
- Park pass $25/vehicle · maps · rangers · restrooms
- Do the Dune Climb early or late to skip midday heat, the sand is exhausting and there is no shade. It is a workout up, easy back down.
- Do not try to climb down the Lake Michigan Overlook dune face; the climb back up is brutal and rescues happen every summer. Enjoy it from the platform.
- The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is one-way and closes in winter, typically open late April through mid-November. Pick up the numbered-overlook guide at the entrance.
Pierce Stocking DriveLake Michigan OverlookSleeping Bear Point, Pyramid Point & Good Harbor Bay · ~40 miles
Pyramid PointGood Harbor BayStart 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.
In the afternoon, drive up to Pyramid Point for the short, steep climb to its famous bluff overlook, then finish at the quiet, wide sands of Good Harbor Bay on the park's northeast shore. It is one of the least-crowded beaches in the Lakeshore and a fine place to swim or watch the sunset. Overnight in Glen Arbor.
- 2.8 mi loop · soft sand · ghost forest + lake views · moderate
- Historic village · Cannery boat museum · Glen Lake views
- 2.7 mi loop · steep bluff overlook · Manitou Islands view
- Good Harbor BayQuiet northeast-shore beach · swimming · sunset spot
- The Sleeping Bear Point and Pyramid Point trails are soft sand, expect them to feel harder than the mileage suggests, and bring more water than you think.
- The Pyramid Point bluff is unstable and drops off sharply; stay well back from the edge and keep kids and dogs close. Do not descend the face.
- Good Harbor Bay is one of the quietest beaches in the park. It is a great swim on a calm day, but check the marine forecast, Lake Michigan can turn rough fast.
Empire Bluff Trail & Departure · ~20 miles
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.
It is the perfect final leg-stretch before you head home. From the trailhead just south of Empire, it is about 45 minutes back to Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City. Leave time for a last stop for Michigan cherries or a Leelanau winery on the way out.
- 1.5 mi RT · ~170 ft gain · moderate · bluff-top boardwalk
- Empire village & Lake Michigan beachVillage beach · last swim · cafes for a final meal
- Depart Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)~45 min from Empire · buffer time to return the rental car
- Empire Bluff is the highest reward-per-mile hike in the park; do it in the morning for the best light and to beat weekend crowds at the small trailhead lot.
- The bluff-edge platform is fenced, but the sand slope beyond it is steep and eroding, so stay on the boardwalk and behind the barriers.
- Traverse City has one main airport (TVC). Allow buffer for the drive and rental-car return, especially on a summer Sunday when M-22 traffic backs up.
Lake Michigan shoreDune plateauNow build your Sleeping Bear Dunes trip.
You've seen all three days. Open the free drag-and-drop planner and tune it for your dates, your pace, and whether you add a paddle or an island ferry day around your Glen Arbor base.
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.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
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Sleeping Bear Dunes route.
The park pass, the Dune Climb and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the Sleeping Bear Point and Pyramid Point trails, Good Harbor Bay, the Empire Bluff finish, and the base-town plan you need to see it all in a long weekend.
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