Hi there!
Cottonwood Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes is around 1.5 miles long and is perfect if you want to get the experience walking across sand dunes!
And, because you will be walking through sand, it means that it does require more effort than just a regular 1.5 mile walk!
So the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is one of the most popular things to do in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
And it’s on this drive that you’ll find the main trail access point to Cottonwood Trail.
It’s one of the Sleeping Bear Dunes hikes that you can get views of sand dunes!
It’s a stop to make along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive if you’re looking to stretch your legs a bit while getting views of sand dunes and Lake Michigan without the crowds!
Highlights of hiking the Cottonwood Trail along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
1. You’ll be hiking across sand dunes.
It’s a sand trail!
2. You’ll see Glen Lake from above.
3. You’ll see vast stretches of sand dunes with Lake Michigan in the background!
What you are seeing is actually the start of the Dune Climb Trail, which is another great hike across sand dunes to consider. It’s a sand trail that will take you to a Lake Michigan beach. From the Dune Overlook on the Cottonwood Trail, you can see the Dune Climb parking lot, and maybe you’ll see some people walking across the sand dunes too.
You can also go down to these sand dunes from the Cottonwood Trail if you want! Just keep in mind that if you go down, you’ll have to hike back UP the sand to get back on the trail!
The history of the present day Cottonwood Trail sand dunes
So goes the story of the old days of Sleeping Bear Dunes about Louis and Marion who owned a Glen Haven store back in the day, according to the National Park Service:
They began renting horses to visitors who wanted a unique view of the dunes.
Then Louis had an idea.
He fit a 1934 Ford convertible with balloon tires and took people on a 14-mile circuit for 25 cents.
It was a hit.
Over the next 4 decades, Louis and Marion updated their “dunesmobiles” 3 times and took thousands on a safari into “Michigan’s Sahara.”
👆 You can see an illustration at the trailhead of what the “Sleeping Bear Dunesmobile” looked like.
And then, in the late 1970s, the dune rides stopped as part of a conservation effort to protect the sand dunes.
Today, there are also some protected areas along the Cottonwood Trail.
Try not to step on dune grass!
Dune grass is said to be fragile and an important part of the coastal ecosystem. So try not to step on it!
Location of Cottonwood Trail
So again, the Cottonwood Trail is located on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
As you’re driving, there will be a sign for Cottonwood Trail. This is listed as stop #4.
It will be just past the Dune Overlook (stop #3). This Dune Overlook will give you views of the same dunes of Cottonwood Trail, but from a bit of a distance so it’ll be from a slightly different angle.
There is a small parking lot at the Cottonwood trailhead with not very many spaces.
You may also consider just parking at the Dune Overlook (where there’s more parking) and walk over to the Cottonwood Trail.
There is one spot for RV parking at the Cottonwood trailhead.
🌳
And now…
PHOTOS of Cottonwood Trail
I did this hike in August 2020.
The Cottonwood Trail is a loop so you could go in either direction. I started off by going on the trail that leads to the left, aka saving the best (the dunes overlook) for last! If you want to make it a shorter hike, you can also go straight to the dunes overlook and back.
But, for the complete experience, make it a loop!
This trail isn’t too long. It’s listed as around 1.5 miles total. Hiking across sand does take longer, and you may want to stop and rest when you get to the overlook. So it will be best to give yourself around an hour.
Since Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is popular, the Cottonwood Trail likely won’t be completely deserted if you go during peak summer season, but there probably won’t be too many people!
Bring WATER and SNACKS on your hike just in case!
It’s also a good idea to always have a gallon jug of water (or 2) in your car so you will never need to worry about being too far from water!
Now, starting the trail…
You’ll start hiking on the trail, and very shortly you’ll come across the intersection where you can choose to do the whole loop by going off to the left/straight. 👇
Or you can head straight for the Cottonwood Trail dune overlook by taking the trail off to the right. 👇 If you do the whole loop starting from the left, this is where you’ll end your hike.
And then off hiking through the sand you go!
And that’s a bit about hiking across sand dunes on the Cottonwood Trail!
Take a look at more stops to make along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
More of the best places to see sand dunes in Sleeping Bear Dunes:
- Lake Michigan Overlook (Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive)
- Dune Climb Trail
- Empire Bluff Trail
- Sleeping Bear Point Trail
- Pyramid Point
- Old Indian Trail
See the best hikes in Sleeping Bear Dunes!
Plus the best of Michigan’s national lakeshores!
HAPPY HIKING THE COTTONWOOD TRAIL!
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