Empire Bluff Trail
Postcard views!
Empire Bluff Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 173 ft
Type: Point-to-point
Fee: Because this trail is in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, all visitors are required to have a weekly vehicle entrance permit, an annual park pass or a per-person pass if they arrive on foot, bicycle or motorcycle. For more information on a park pass, click here.
Description: This trail is a “must do” when you come to the Michigan Pinky! With breathtaking views of the sparkling blue waters of Lake Michigan from atop a 400+ ft sand dune, visitors often describe this trail as “jaw dropping” and “iconic”.
It is a great hike for families, as the whole trail can be accomplished by most people in under and hour. You’ll hike through beech and maple forests and end with an often-photographed and painted view of the national lakeshore.
Leashed pets are permitted.
Empire Bluff trail is open year-round and makes a good snowshoeing trek in the winter.