National Park Service rangers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will continue their weekly "Saturdays at the Lakeshore" hikes this weekend.

RANGER PEG Burman of the National Park
Service leads a birdwatching hike at Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore last season.
Weekly ranger-guided hikes will resume at
the national park this Saturday.

The programs begin at 1 p.m. each Saturday at the Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire where a park ranger provides an overview and directs participants to a specific location to begin the hike.

The ranger-led hikes are described as “mildly strenuous,” and proceed at a “leisurely pace” for about one and a half miles. Visitors should be prepared for outdoor conditions and plan to stay until about 3 p.m. Following is a list of remaining events offered this month:

• April 12, “The World of Frogs.” Ranger Peggy Burman will help visitors learn all about frogs in their natural environment.

• April 19, “A Flurry of Early Wild Flowers.” Visitors will hike with a ranger through one of the best wildflower habitats in the region.

• April 26, “Junior Ranger Day.” Special morning and afternoon activities will be offered for everyone to earn their Junior Ranger badge.

The hikes will be offered Saturdays through June, then daily in July and August, with Saturday afternoon hikes resuming again in September and October.

Schools and other groups may request walks and tours with National Park rangers throughout the year.

The hikes are free and reservations are not required. However, participants need to purchase a park pass to participate. Passes are $10 per vehicle, valid for seven days; or $20 per vehicle, valid for an entire year.

For more information about the hikes or other Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore activities, phone the Visitor Center at 326-5134 or visit www.nps.gov/slbe online.