Phase One of the Heritage Trail, a paved, 10-foot-wide multi-use trail, which runs from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor, is the first leg of what supporters envision will one day be a 27-mile trail from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line running north to Good Harbor Bay. Though it has been operational for over a month, the Heritage Trail’s official grand opening is scheduled for June 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb.
Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce that on Saturday, June 9, the entrance fee to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be waived in honor of National Get Outdoors Day. “National Get Outdoors Day encourages healthy, active, outdoor fun and I can’t think of a better place to get outdoors and have fun than at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,” said Superintendent Shultz.
After several years of limited piping plover nesting activity in the Glen Haven area of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore), four pairs of the federally endangered shorebird have made that beach their home for the summer. This easily accessible location provides visitors an excellent opportunity to view a rare bird in its natural habitat, as well as have questions answered by National Park Service employees and volunteers who will be on site throughout the nesting season.
To show our appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. Military, on Saturday, May 19 – Armed Forces Day – the National Park Service will begin issuing an annual pass offering free entrance to all 397 national parks for active duty military members and their dependents.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be hosting a kickoff meeting for Adopt-A-Beach volunteers on Thursday, May 24 from 1-3 p.m. at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center on M-72 in Empire. If you are looking for a way to help keep Lake Michigan beaches beautiful while enjoying a relaxing walk on the beach once a month, you’ll want to learn more about the Adopt-A-Beach Patrol. Many of the volunteers are families or groups of friends who enjoy hiking beaches together.
The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Great Lakes Invasive Plant Management Plan (IPMP) for the following 10 parks located in the Great Lakes region: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS), Grand Portage National Monument (GRPO), Ice Age National Scenic Trail (IATR), Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU), Isle Royale National Park (ISRO), Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS), Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PIRO), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE), St. Croix National Scenic River (SACN) and Voyageurs National Park (VOYA).
National Park Week will run from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, April 29 across the country. Visitors can enjoy the beauty and wonder of 84 million acres of the world’s most spectacular scenery, historic places, and cultural treasures for FREE.
use bike trail that will run the length of the National Lakeshore, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line to Good Harbor Bay. The first phase of the trail, expected to be complete by July, is a 4.3-mile section along M-109, from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor. Check out Sun editor Mike Buhler’s photos of the trail here.
Whether you are a new or frequent visitor, spring is an excellent time to enjoy Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Explore the farmsteads of Port Oneida, look for signs of spring, learn about the birds migrating back to the area and hike along magnificent trails. A Ranger-led hike in the park can be a great way to spend the afternoon. Join Park Rangers as they share some of their favorite places during Saturdays at the Lakeshore this spring.
Glen Arbor residents Bill and Vicki Anderson, who were among the first supporters of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT), have issued a challenge pledge with a 2:1 match for all donations to the new trail through the end of March. The campaign still needs to raise $30,000 in order to secure the full Anderson Challenge match of $50,000. Bill Anderson shared with Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails his family’s motivation for posing the challenge match.