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TART Trails and Cherry Republic have partnered to sponsor the “Charge Up the Dunes” raffle to raise money for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail campaign. The bearer of the winning ticket will drive away in a brand new Chevy Volt. The raffle has been limited to 1,200 tickets being sold at $100 each or three for $250. The Volt was purchased from General Motors at a significant discount, and it’s a chance to win a $45,000 car for $100.

Yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m., Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz and the National Park’s Midwest Regional Director Mike Reynolds cut the ribbon to officially open the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, which currently stretches 5 miles between the Dune Climb and Glen Arbor. Organizers and supporters hope that the Trail will one day stretch 27 miles, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line to Good Harbor Bay.

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes have been selected to receive a 2012 Active Trails Grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. Now in its fourth cycle, the National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program promotes national parks as venues for community engagement, and encourages healthy living through various forms of recreation and volunteer service on land and water trails. The $18,000 grant will enable the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to purchase signage for the first segment of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT), and to develop a “Trail Ambassador” volunteer program to assist in patrols and maintenance of the SBHT. The SBHT will be officially opened on June 20 at a 1:30 p.m. ribbon cutting event.

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.

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail officially opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) Dune Climb on Wednesday, June 20, at 1:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting celebrates the completion of nearly five miles of trail between Glen Arbor and the Dune Climb. When fully completed, the 27-mile trail will run from the southern edge of Leelanau County through the National Lakeshore, Empire, and Glen Arbor, to Good Harbor Bay. Construction of the remaining segments will continue as funds are raised.

The most beautiful place in America … the second healthiest nationwide, with the best beaches and chocolate … an epicurean and film destination. How about one more feather for the cap? Leelanau County could become a prime bicycle destination too.

The first phase of the long awaited Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail — between the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb and downtown Glen Arbor — is nearly complete. Pavement stretches nearly half the way from the Dune Climb to Glen Haven, but the remainder of the trail is already formed and tamped down. The trail’s grand opening is scheduled for June 20. In the meantime, check out this narrated video of a bike ride Saturday along the trail.

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.

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.

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin say that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has received a $1.3 million federal transportation grant to continue work on a 27-mile hike-and-bike trail.