Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) has announced opportunities to enjoy the park this winter.
There will be multiple activities to enjoy. All programs are free, but participants do need a park entrance pass or have an annual pass to join in the fun. Activities will be weather dependent.
First on the calendar are four ranger-led hikes over winter break! Hikes will be from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, and Saturday, Dec. 30. All hikes begin with an introduction at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire and then take place on potentially hilly and uneven terrain, covering 1-1.5 miles.
If there is enough snow, the winter hike will become a snowshoe hike. Snowshoes will be loaned at no charge to participants that do not have their own. The National Lakeshore has traditional and modern snowshoes available. Reservations are required. Please call 231-326-4700, extension 5010, for details and to make reservations. If you need to cancel your reservation, please contact the National Lakeshore so that visitors on the waiting list can be informed and take part in the hike.
Hiking is an enjoyable activity suitable for all ages and provides both fun and exercise. The ranger-led hikes are mildly challenging but proceed at a relaxed pace. Participants learn about the park’s unique features and winter’s effect on them by exploring and discovering clues on site. Be prepared and plan to be outside for about two hours. Dress in layers and wear waterproof boots to be most comfortable.
Then, starting Saturdays in January, the National Lakeshore will offer “Adventures at the Lakeshore.” Details will be announced later this month. In February, explore the National Lakeshore at night on a candlelit winter hike. Join park rangers on Saturday, Feb. 10 or Saturday, Feb. 17, between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Dune Climb to explore the park after dark.
In March, the National Lakeshore and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear will celebrate the coming of spring with the second annual Maple Sugaring Days on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. Further details for all these programs will be added to the park’s website calendar: Calendar - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
