Sleeping Bear Dunes closes trails, trailheads, picnic areas, parking areas, and boat launches during pandemic—effective immediately
Photo of crowds on Empire Bluffs on Sunday, April 5, courtesy of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
From staff reports
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore reported today (April 14) that—in response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, United States Public Health Service, and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department—the National Lakeshore is closing trails, trailheads, picnic areas, parking areas, and boat launches until further notice, effective immediately. These operations are to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In addition, there will be a temporary ban on beach fires in the National Lakeshore. Previous closures of the visitor center, campgrounds, and restrooms will remain in place.
“The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is our number one priority,” stated the press release. “The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to assess the need for the closures and will notify the public as soon as we are able to resume operations. Updates can be found at www.nps.gov/slbe and on park social media channels.”
Sleeping Bear Dunes superintendent Scott Tucker told the Glen Arbor Sun last week that the Park was considering temporarily closing popular trails to the public, including Empire Bluffs and Pyramid Point, to limit large crowds from gathering on warm spring days during the coronavirus pandemic.
“People up here are not behaving,” said Tucker last week. “We counted 60 cars parked [two weekends ago] at the Empire Bluffs trailhead. People were not practicing social distancing.”
This past weekend yielded more of the same, said Tucker via email.
“Unfortunately, both Pyramid Point an Empire Bluffs were both popular hikes over the weekend,” wrote Tucker. “Although many attempted to social distance, it was very evident that many were not. Parking lots were full and the trails were extremely busy.”
