Empire Bluff
Overview
Directions: Empire Bluff Trail, Honor, MI 49640
Parking Lot: Gravel
Restroom: Vault
Water: None
Trail Length: 1.5 miles out and back
Terrain: Wooded and mildly hilly
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Map
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More About the Trail
This is one of the most popular trails in the Park because of the outstanding vistas of Lake Michigan, South Bar Lake, Empire, and Sleeping Bear Dunes. You will find many spring flowers on this trail. Photographs of the view from the end of this trail are often used when describing Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Most of this trail is in designated wilderness.
There are some abandoned historic farm implements along the trail about 0.1 miles from the trailhead. A bench is located near the trail about 0.6 miles from the trailhead. The view of Lake Michigan, South Bar Lake, and Sleeping Bear bluffs is spectacular from this bench. The trail goes a short distance to a relatively narrow boardwalk and observation platform.
Accessibility Notes
A vault toilet is near the parking lot, but the slope to reach it is 12%. There is also a small curb barrier at the door to the vault toilet.
The trail is packed earth at least 36” wide except for a section of boardwalk near the overlook that is only 24” wide.
