Each year thousands of people use over 50 miles of trails on the mainland in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 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 branches due to high win block the trail, or erosion 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

At this time, there are 14 hiking trails in this program. Some trails have additional loops or spurs.

• Old Indian Trail (Lake Michigan Loop, Red Arrow Loop, Green Arrow Loop)
• Platte Plains Trails (Lasso Loop, White Pine, Bass/Deer Lake, Otter Creek Loop, Otter Creek West, Otter Creek East, White Pines Campground Spur)
• Treat Farm
• Empire Bluff
• Windy Moraine
• Shauger Hill
• Cottonwood
• Dune Loop
• Sleeping Bear Point Loop and Spur
• Alligator Hill  (Advanced Trail,  Intermediate Trail, Easy Trail, Big Glen Lookout Spur)
• Bay View (Farms Loop Trail, Ridge Loop Trail, High Trail, Low Trail, Moosewood Loop Trail)
• Pyramid Point (Main Loop Trail, SE Loop Trail)
• Good Harbor Trail
• Kettles Trail

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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.

How to become an Adopt-A-Trail Volunteer:

1. Review the full Volunteer description for the Adopt-a-Trail Program.
2. Fill out our online Volunteer Registration Form. A Volunteer Coordinator will get in touch with you and will set up training with the Adopt-A-Trail Manager, who will help you select a trail, provide training, and get you the materials you will need including an annual pass, volunteer vest, trail map, SLBE map, and Tree Reporting and Emergency Contact Card.
3. After training, each time you patrol your trail, file your patrol report using our online Rustic Trail Reporting Form to report the hours you spent and to report any maintenance issues that require handling by Park Maintenance Staff.
4. 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.

Having volunteers regularly hike the trails assures that they will be clean and in good condition for future visitors.

Skills and Abilities Needed by Volunteers:

The volunteer’s physical conditioning must be good enough to permit walking moderate distances. They should be comfortable interacting with park visitors and using their best efforts to answer questions and provide a positive image of the park as well as the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes organization.

Time Commitment of Volunteers:

Volunteers are asked to patrol their trail once per month from April through October.  Patrolling more frequently, and patrolling other trails is encouraged.

Duties & Responsibilities of volunteers:

The volunteer will patrol the trails and provide a situation report including windfalls, drainage problems, erosion, vandalism, and litter. Volunteers certified for using hand tools by the Park are allowed to cut low-hanging limbs or branches and small downed trees that block the trail.

The volunteer may also pick up litter, remove leaves and debris from drainage, and remove sand from boardwalks. The volunteer may greet and provide park education and assistance to park visitors using the trail.

Volunteers are to submit a Rustic Trail Report including hours worked and any observations about the trail after each Trail Walk.