Adopt-A-Trail

Maintaining trails for all.

There are over 50 miles of mainland trails in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! They’re an excellent way to experience the variety of natural ecosystems that exist in the Park and to see beautiful vistas that are inaccessible from a vehicle.

Downed trees or broken branches from high wind can block the trail, and erosion from rain run-off can cut gullies into the trail, making a hike more difficult or dangerous. Trail volunteers commit to hiking their trail about once each month to clear small obstructions and to communicate larger obstructions or other trail issues.

Trails in the Adopt-A-Trail program

  • Old Indian Trail

  • Platte Plains Trail

  • Empire Bluff

  • Windy Moraine

  • Shauger Hill

  • Cottonwood

  • Dune Loop

  • Sleeping Bear Point

  • Alligator Hill

  • Bay View

  • Pyramid Point

  • Good Harbor

  • Kettles

Trail Maps

You can get more details about each trail from our online Hiking Trails brochure. This brochure is also available in paper form, for a free-will donation, at several locations within the park, including the campground offices and the Visitor Center in Empire.

Full Descriptions of the trails and maps can be found on our Trails Page.

The 2021 Adopt A Trail Manual is available as a resource for our volunteers. If you have a question, check the manual or contact Tracy Barrilleaux the Adopt-A-Trail Manager.

Adopt-A-Trail Manual

View and print a pdf version of the manual and contact phone numbers to carry with you

To learn more about becoming a Adopt-a-Trail volunteer

1st
Review the full Adopt-a-Trail Volunteer Description

2nd
Complete a Volunteer Registration Form and one of our Volunteer Coordinators will contact you to answer questions and get you into the program

3rd
Our Volunteer Coordinator will help you sign up as a Volunteer-in-Park (VIP) at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you are already a VIP, we will add this job to your existing VIP profile. If you are not a VIP, fill out the Volunteer Agreement Form

4th
The AAT Manager will provide a short orientation and training session and answer any questions you may have. You will get the materials you will need including an annual pass, volunteer vest, trail map, SLBE park map, and Tree Reporting and Emergency Contact Card

5th
Volunteers are to submit a Rustic Trail Report including hours worked and any observations about the trail after each trail walk