Cory Morse
Fall colors over Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 2015. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com
With sugar-sand beaches, pristine lakes and rivers, and dark night skies perfect for stargazing, it's easy to see why Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has become one of Michigan's most beloved summertime destinations.
And yet, here's a little travel tip: The park is just as spectacular come fall.
"It's just such a pretty time of year," said Merrith Baughman, the park's chief of interpretation. "It's a slower time of year, too."
Baughman noted that visitors numbers have been increasing in October in recent years, but that a bit of a lull in September makes now a perfect time for a peaceful trip -- especially because the waters are still swimable, even in Lake Michigan.
"It's slow to warm up but slow to cool down," she said of the Big Lake.
Of course, if you want to see Sleeping Bear's hills and shoreline bursting with fall colors, October is the best month -- but the timing can be tricky. Because of the park's shoreline location, fall color changes happen a bit later than they do farther inland. Your best bet for perfect timing? Follow the park for updates on Facebook or Instagram, or call the Visitors Center before you come, Baughman said.
And when you're here, go beyond the usual popular spots, like the Dune Climb. Seek out color in more unexpected locations -- like along rivers and lesser-known hiking trails.
Unsure where to start? Read on for a few of Baughman's favorite spots for fall color at Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, No. 11
Of all the stops along the park's seven-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the one that most folks are familiar with is Overlook No. 9, where a large viewing platform perched on the edge of a dune offers a stunning view over Lake Michigan.
But if fall color is what you're here for, a water view won't deliver. What you're looking for is just a little farther along the drive: Overlook No. 11, which looks back over North Bar Lake and Empire Bluff to deliver eye-popping autumn hues.
"That's one of my favorite spots to just go and look at color," Baughman said.
Of course, the rest of Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is pretty great, too.
Related: This Sleeping Bear Dunes scenic route is one of the most spectacular in the U.S.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
A barn in Port Oneida
Port Oneida
Port Oneida is one of the park's lesser-known landmarks, yet it's absolutely worth seeking out: The 3,400-acre historic district has preserved farmhouses, barns, schools and other structures dating back to the area’s European settlement era, making for beautiful, moody contrasts against golden fields and fiery hillsides.
"Port Oneida in the fall is wonderful to walk around. It's never a crowded place," Baughman said.
Baughman also pointed out that many of the homesteaders planted their own sugar bushes: stands of maples for tapping and making maple syrup.
"So there are a lot of maples that are just gorgeous," she said. "We get some of our best color in Port Oneida."
Related: New Sleeping Bear Dunes orchard to reestablish historic homestead apple trees
A farmhouse in Port Oneida
North Bar Lake
North Bar Lake
The North Bar Lake overlook along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is wonderful, but so is the lake itself, which sidles right up to Lake Michigan and is flanked by forest.
"North Bar Lake itself is just gorgeous in the fall -- just to hike back in there, walk around the lake and be on the lakeshore," Baughman said.
Stars over North Bar Lake
The trail to Lake Michigan at North Bar Lake
Empire Bluff Trail
Empire Bluff Trail
All of Sleeping Bear Dunes' trails are fantastic in their own ways -- but, as Baughman succinctly put it, "Empire Bluff is always beautiful."
The 1.5-mile round-trip out-and-back trek winds through a forest before dishing up sweeping views of Lake Michigan, North Bar Lake, and the beaches of Empire. The trail is pet-friendly and, though a bit hilly, forgiving even for less-experienced hikers.
Related: Empire Bluff Trail is one of the best hikes in Michigan
Overlooking Lake Michigan from near the Empire Bluff trail
Empire Bluff trail
Platte River
The scenic Platte River winds through the park all the way to Lake Michigan, which is why so many visitors love a lazy float along its waters during the summertime. But come autumn, when the throngs of people in tubes and rafts finally die down, the river provides a unique and serene way to soak up the fall colors.
"It's beautiful to canoe the Platte River in the fall," Baughman said. "That’s just a gorgeous trip down to the Big Lake."
Baughman noted that this time of year does mean there will be anglers along the river. She suggested putting your canoe or kayak in at the El Dorado Boat Launch, located past a fish weir.
Stars over the Platte River
The historic barns of D.H. Day
Related: Sleeping Bear Dunes is just as stunning in the winter
Related: 12 mind-blowing spots in Sleeping Bear Dunes
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