Sleeping Bear Dunes may close popular trails if visitors don’t obey social distancing
Crowds gather on the Empire Bluff trail last Sunday, April 5. Photos courtesy of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
From staff reports
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent Scott Tucker is 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. “We counted 60 cars parked last weekend at the Empire Bluffs trailhead. People were not practicing social distancing.”
National Lakeshore staff witnessed the same on the Pyramid Point trail. With more sunny days ahead next week, Tucker is worried about visitors spreading the pandemic.
[While Empire Bluffs, Pyramid Point and the Dune Climb are among the most popular destinations, there are dozens of public entry points to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Visit the Lakeshore’s website for a detailed map and list of hiking trails.]
In addition, said Tucker, visitors have attempted to break into more than half of the locked vault restrooms at the trailheads. To make matters worse, someone spread human feces on the door to the vault toilet.
“This is really frustrating. We’re trying to provide an outlet for public health,” said Tucker, who confirmed that he does have the authority as National Lakeshore superintendent to close portions of the Park. He would consult first with the National Park regional headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, and with staff in Washington, D.C., before making such a move.
“If this doesn’t change, there could be trail closures.”
Playing “wait and see” with Park events
This was going to be a banner year for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with a lineup of events scheduled to celebrate the Park’s 50th anniversary. But all public gatherings are on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, as Tucker and Park staff look to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department for guidance on encouraging social distancing.
The first of several community discussions about the future of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, to be held in Beulah, was postponed. The same with a stargazing party at the Dune Climb, a Spring Break film series, spring Ranger programs, and camping at mainland campgrounds and on the Manitou islands.
Major events held within the Park, such as the M22 Challenge on June 13, the Manitou Music Festival Dune Climb concert in mid-July, and the Port Oneida Fair in early August are all in question.
“We don’t want to contribute to community overload during the pandemic,” said Tucker. “We are talking with our community partners and playing wait and see.”
Meanwhile, the Philip A. Hart Visitors Center in Empire closed on March 17, and all Park staff are teleworking from home. Tucker has postponed bringing on more than 60 seasonal staff until after Memorial Day. Before he can ramp up his team, Tucker must find a place to house them. Guidance from the CDC suggests no shared employee housing.
