Hi there!
You can swim at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the beach at Sleeping Bear Point is one of them!
There are many Lake Michigan beaches you can visit in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The Sleeping Bear Point beach is a Lake Michigan beach that requires a little bit of effort to get to compared to other beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
You can consider it a “very Sleeping Bear Dunes” type experience!
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3 ways to get to the beach at Sleeping Bear Point
1. Hike across sand dunes to Lake Michigan
Even the shortest route from the parking lot to Sleeping Bear Point will require a little bit of walking across sand dunes to get there!
Walking directly to the beach from the parking lot is around 0.3 miles one way. You’ll be walking entirely through sand, so it’ll take longer than a normal walk. Maybe it will take 10-15 minutes one way to get to the beach.
2. Dune Loop Trail
Instead of heading straight for Lake Michigan, you can hike a little more across sand dunes before you head to Lake Michigan by hiking the Sleeping Bear Point dune loop trail.
If you want to do the full Dune Loop Trail first and end at Lake Michigan, then you may want to start from the other smaller trail from the parking lot. You’ll see a different trail at the parking lot (near the bathroom, that’s not the obvious looking main trailhead). If you start from the main trailhead and do the dune loop first, you’ll end up back at the parking lot, and then you’ll need to take the first part of the main trail again to go to Lake Michigan.
The loop is around 2 miles, and once again you’ll be walking entirely on said so it’ll take longer than a normal 2 mile walk. Maybe give yourself around 1 hour, possibly longer.
3. Part of the dune loop trail to get to Lake Michigan
If you don’t want to do the full loop but still want to get a little bit extra sand dunes hiking in, then: start at the main beach trailhead, follow the sign for the dune loop trail, and go to the part where you can see a trail that leads to Lake Michigan! (Pictures below.) And then you can follow the regular beach trail back to the parking lot. Maybe this will be a 30-40 minute walk.
4. Kayak to Sleeping Bear Point
Arrive to Sleeping Bear Point by kayak!
For example, you can camp at DH Day campground that’s near Sleeping Bear Bay of Lake Michigan, and then you can kayak along the coastline to reach Sleeping Bear Point.
Take care not to step on the dune grass!
Dune grass is said to be fragile and an important part of the coastal ecosystem. So as you are walking across the sand dunes, take care not to walk on the dune grass!
Cost to visit Sleeping Bear Point Beach
The beach is officially a part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
It’s listed at the parking lot that this is a “fee area.”
There’s no one actively monitoring the Sleeping Bear Point area but it’s still a good thing to have a Sleeping Bear Dunes park pass or another kind of national park pass when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!
You can get a park pass at the Sleeping Bear Dunes visitor center (about a 15 minute drive from the beach), or there are a number of self-pay stations throughout the park, including at the Maritime Museum that you’ll pass on your way to Sleeping Bear Point.
In 2020, a one week pass was $25. See current fees here, where you can also buy your pass online.
Things to do near Sleeping Bear Point Beach
aka ideas for planning out a perfect day in Sleeping Bear Dunes that includes a Lake Michigan beach!
1. Maritime Museum (Sleeping Bear Point US Life Saving Service)
The Maritime Museum is about a 2 minute drive from the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead. This is a historic site. This was run by what would have been considered the US Coast Guard of the time. There is beach access here as well.
This will likely be a quieter beach.
2. Glen Haven Beach
This is maybe a 3 minute drive from the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead. You’ll pass this on your way to Sleeping Bear Point.
4. Glen Haven historic village
Before you get to Glen Haven Beach, you’ll pass through the Glen Haven historic district. You can take a walk down the street to get a closer look at the historic buildings that have been preserved. This will give you a glimpse into what the area used to be like.
5. Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail extends for around 20 miles and there are many spots that you can pick it up, including in the Glen Haven historic district. This makes it a few minutes ride from the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead.
6. DH Day Campground
This is the campground that’s closest to Sleeping Bear Point. There’s also Lake Michigan beach access a short trail from the campground.
If you are staying at the DH Day Campground, then you can actually bike from the campground to the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail!
It will be around a 3 mile ride round trip.
Likewise, you can walk there on the same trail too.
Otherwise, the drive from DH Day campground to the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead is around a 5 minute drive.
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And now…
More PHOTOS of Sleeping Bear Point Beach!
For google maps, there is the Sleeping Bear Point trailhead.
This will take you past the Glen Haven historic village, and then onto the short Sleeping Bear Dunes Road.
Then right after you pass the Maritime Museum you’ll see a sign for Sleeping Bear Point and that will take you onto the also short W Sleeping Bear Drive that leads to the parking lot.
There’s a bathroom at the parking lot.
You’ll see the beach trail right from the parking lot, and off you go to the Sleeping Bear Point beach and Lake Michigan!
And you’ve made it to the Lake Michigan shoreline!
And…
Be safe when swimming at a Lake Michigan beach!
In some ways, the Great Lakes can act like an ocean. Rip currents are a thing in the Great Lakes, including in Lake Michigan. Know before you go, just in case!
And that’s a bit about making a visit to Sleeping Bear Point Beach!
See the list of more Lake Michigan beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes!
And the best of Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Also see some of the great hikes in Sleeping Bear Dunes, including hikes to a Lake Michigan beach!
Making it a Michigan road trip?! More Lake Michigan beaches in Michigan:
Also see Lake Superior beaches in Michigan’s other national lakeshore!
Plus, see the best of Michigan’s national lakeshores.
HAPPY VISIT TO SLEEPING BEAR POINT BEACH!
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