Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail

06/11/2026

Where will the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail take you this summer?
Explore the more than 21 miles of non-motorized trails through the beloved Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Enjoy the national lakeshore in a new way this summer, and get to know these unique landscapes at a slower pace on foot or on wheels.

05/28/2026

We're less than a month away from the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year! We hope you are enjoying these extra-long and extra-special hours on the trails. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the perfect place to enjoy some time with friends and family.

05/19/2026

Talk about an ultimate sign of spring! The staff at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore completed their post-winter maintenance of the Pierce Stocking Drive. The Drive is officially open-- go and enjoy!

05/12/2026

Calling all artists!
Do you love the Port Oneida Fair, enjoy the historic district, and care deeply for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore?
Consider submitting a design for the 2026 Port Oneida Fair, and share your talents with our community!

Deadline for submissions is May 27!

Calling all artists! This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore invites YOU to create artwork inspired by our nation’s history and the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. Your original piece could be featured in this year's Port Oneida Fair (POF) poster!

We encourage artists to incorporate elements of Freedom 250 in their artwork. For example, you can include symbols of freedom, history, or American pride alongside the beauty of Port Oneida. Let your creativity tell a story of heritage, history, and community.

The POF committee requests all artwork to be original and two-dimensional. Preferably horizontal in orientation, approximately two units high by three units wide. We may crop your image slightly to fit the poster format.

To submit your work, email the highest quality image (jpg, tif, gif, or png) to [email protected]. Files should be under 1MB. Please include the title, size, and medium of the piece. You may submit up to five entries and there is no entry fee!

Deadline for submissions is May 27. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your art in celebration of our history and community.
For more information, visit the POF webpage here:
https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/pofair.htm

05/08/2026

Spring is settling in on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The forecast shows all the right signs for a perfect day in the trail. We hope to see you out here!

04/24/2026

What a way to round out Volunteer Month! Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes volunteers and community members come together to bring the magic of the Lakeshore alive!
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is better for it, thank you to all who contribute to this incredibly special place.

04/10/2026

Our favorite little flyers are back! Plovers are making their way to their northern home for the summer. Keep your eyes peeled for plovers as you ride along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail this summer!
Remember to keep a healthy distance from these birds to ensure they keep coming up to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.

Plover OGY won the race and is the first to arrive back to Tiesma Beach on the shores of Sleeping Bear Dunes. These tiny, resilient shorebirds travel hundreds of miles from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to nest in the very same sands where they were hatched.

📈 A Record-Breaking Comeback
We are heading into the 2026 season with incredible momentum. Thanks to years of dedicated conservation work, we are seeing a remarkable recovery:

In 2025, Sleeping Bear Dunes hosted a record-breaking 34 nesting pairs!

Across the entire Great Lakes, the population hit a new high of 88 unique pairs—the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the species.

Sleeping Bear Dunes continues to be the most productive nesting ground in the region, fledgling 48 young plovers last year alone.

How the Friends Support the Mission:
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes are proud to partner with the NPS to ensure these birds have a safe place to raise their chicks. Your support directly funds:
Protective Signage: We help maintain and install the educational signs at key nesting sites.
The Plover Patrol: We provide essential volunteer and financial support for the monitoring programs that protect nests from predators and human disturbance.
Community Education: Through outreach and digital resources, we help visitors understand how to "Share the Shore" responsibly.

📸 A Note for Hikers & Photographers:
If you spot a Plover, remember the "Rule of Thumb": if you can’t cover the bird with your thumb held at arm's length, you’re too close! Let’s give them the space they need to start the 2026 season strong.

Have you spotted any tracks or "sand cotton balls" on your morning hike yet? Let us know in the comments!

04/02/2026

Think Spring!!
In about a month, you will see wildflowers dotting the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail all through the Lakeshore!
It’s coming soon, and we sure are ready!

Here you can see a trailside trillium from an early May adventure last year.

03/27/2026

We made it to Spring Break for Northern Michiganders! For all of us sticking around, check out this awesome activity line-up at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!

Now is your chance to really understand just how the Dunes were formed!
See you there🤞

Spring break is right around the corner!

Are you a local to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area and planning a staycation? Or perhaps you're traveling this way instead? Either way, we have some fun family-friendly programs in store for you!

During the week of March 28 - April 4, come enjoy a variety of activities:

Tuesday, March 31, at 9:30 am
Wildlife Detectives: Join a ranger to help solve the case of the missing berries with our Wildlife Detectives story time. Ages 3-9.

Wednesday, April 1, at 11 am
Wonderful World of Beavers: A short, guided hike (0.5 - 1 mile round trip) to learn about these marvelous mammals. For all ages, reservations required.

Thursday, April 2
10 am - 12 pm
Create a Critter: Drop in to explore animal adaptations from different animals at the park and design your own critter. Get your creative brain flowing! For all ages.

1 pm - 3 pm
Dune Formation: Ever wondered how these beautiful dunes formed? Explore hands-on with our new interactive sandbox! Ages 8 and up.

Friday, April 3, 10 am - 3 pm
Design Challenge: Starting each hour, learn what microplastics are and how they affect Lake Michigan. Then, design a machine to help remove them from the Lakeshore!

For more information on these and other events, visit the Lakeshore's calendar: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photo: NPS

03/20/2026

Check out those epic drifts! Today is the perfect day for an adventure in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Grab those trusty snowshoes or skis and get on the trail!