Photo Journal: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan

People from the coasts -- East and West -- consider the Midwest a fly-over zone. But they are missing the beauty of the Great Lakes. On a sunny, summer day, the coastline along Lake Michigan offers stiff competition to the oceans that serve as this country's bookends.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is about 25 miles west of Traverse City along Lake Michigan.

The biggest attraction at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the Dune Climb. The view from the parking lot looking up is intimidating. It's steep! There is always much debate on whether to climb the dune with or without shoes. Even though the sand gets hot mid-day, my vote is to leave your shoes at the bottom. Climbing up the dunes is only half the fun -- the real challenge is running down the dune at the right speed so you won't tumble head over heels. Climbing the dunes can be enjoyed by young and old. We saw babies in backpacks and a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

From the top of dunes there is a stunning view of Lake Glen.


How did Sleeping Bear Dunes get its name? The Chippewa Indians told this story to explain the origin. This legend of sleeping bear is courtesy of the National Park Service.

Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but eventually the cubs tired and lagged behind. Mother bear reached the shore and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. Too tired to continue, the cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit Manitou created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the faithful mother bear.

Located a couple of miles from the Dune Climb is the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. This seven-mile loop offers a dozen points of interest and overlooks showing the diverse landscape from the dunes to the beech-maple forest. This photo is from Lake Michigan overlook.

Visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes can stay for a few hours to a few days. There are ranger programs, camping, hiking as well as a Maritime Museum at Sleeping Bear Point and the historic village of Glen Haven. Philip Hart Visitor Center is located in Empire.

Have you been to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Share your reviews and photos on Gozaic.

Mary Billingsley is director of media relations for Gozaic.

Photos by Mary Billingsley.