Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the biggest recreational project supported by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. There are no trails in the National Lakeshore where bicycles can be ridden, and this trail will provide a wonderful new recreational opportunity for families and individuals to experience the Park outside of their cars. We hope to see people parking their cars and safely riding bikes to many of the popular destinations in the Park.

The trail will be a 27-mile hard-surface, multi-use trail that runs from the Beach Access at County Road 651 near the northern boundary of the National Lakeshore and runs roughly parallel to the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route of M-22 and M-109 to the Benzie County line at Manning Road south of Empire. The trail will run through Glen Arbor, Glen Haven, the Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center and Empire.

We are excited to announce that the first section of the trail will be built in the spring of 2012 from Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb and is expected to be completed by early July. The trail is a project of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route committee of Leelanau County and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Learn more about the trail by going to http://sleepingbeartrail.org/. Read the Fall, 2011 Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Newsletter.

A bike club rests at the entrance to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes has been involved in this project since it’s beginning. We strongly support this trail through donations, grants, and volunteer time in planning and fundraising.

The Campaign Cabinet for the fundraising activities has been very successful in getting grants and donations for design, engineering, and construction of the trail. At this point, a total of $6.3 million has been raised through federal grants. These funds require a match of $850,000 for completion, and to date, over $500,000 has been donated by private foundations and individual donation.

Construction of the first 5-mile trail segment between the Dune Climb and Glen Arbor will be completed by July, 2012. The immediate need of $350,000 will go toward design and engineering for the trail south of Pierce Stocking Drive to Empire. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will have over 13 miles of trail completed in 3 years if we meet these goals this fall and winter.

We need your help to complete the trail.
By donating to the trail, you will be creating a legacy for future generations to enjoy. We hope you will get involved and financially support the trail. Donors of $1,000 or more will be included on on the Donor Recognition Plaza at the Dune Climb, which is being planned now. For more information about the trail and to make a donation, click http://sleepingbeartrail.org.

We need your help to maintain the trail.
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes have agreed to maintain the trail once it is built. We will be developing maintenance procedures in co-operation with TART trails and volunteers will be needed starting in the summer of 2012. We also hope to have trail ambassadors who will regularly use the trail and assist visitors with questions and safety related issues. If you are interested in volunteering for the SBHT Trail Team, send an e-mail to info@friendsofsleepingbear.org.

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Map - 27 Miles from CR 651 to Benzie County Line