Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes is on the northwestern shore of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, west of Traverse Bay. A Chippewa Indian legend resulted in the unusual name for the area, which in the story represents a mother bear (the main dune) and her two lost cubs (the two islands.) About 12,000 years ago, the last glaciers retreated, leaving deep basins which became the 5 Great Lakes, as well as the hilly terrain surrounding the basins. Eventually, prevailing westerly winds built the perched and beach dunes found in the park. In the photo below, Ellen poses about 1/3 of the way up the first dune...

Three more dunes beyond this one gets you to a view of Lake Michigan and South and North Manitou Islands about 12 miles offshore, seen far in the background below. Both islands are administered as wilderness areas -- no vehicles or services. Tomorrow we ferry over to the larger of the two, North Manitou, which comprises 15,000 acres. As a gauge to what that means, the perimeter trail is a bit over 20 miles in length, and interior trails total another 15 miles or so.

We'll be there 5 days and hope to cover as many of those miles as we can as we explore the old homesteads, barns docks, cemetery, school, orchards, lakes, bluffs, and forests. Check back then to see more photos and for a trip report.