(231) 326-5134
9922 W. Front St., Empire, MI 49630
www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm
Now as I mentioned earlier, this area is home to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and after we slept like bears at the homestead, we headed to one of the best under the radar hikes in the area, Pyramid Point. Even though it’s a short, fun and easy hike, Park Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich went along with me, just to make sure I survived.
We started up the trail, and before I knew it, we were at the top. When you come over the crest of the dune, you’re suddenly hit with an incredible jaw-dropping view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding islands. You’re hundreds of feet above the water and the white sand dune falls almost straight down to the beach below. You’re up so high and can see so far that you can actually see the curvature of the earth. If you do hike down to the beach at the bottom, please make sure you have the time and are in pretty good shape. It’s far and very steep.
Park Deputy Ulrich told me that he has friends who work at many of the iconic national parks around the United States like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. He went on to explain that when they visit, they say they had no idea this kind of immense and majestic natural beauty existed in Michigan, and that it gave them a new appreciation for this state.
On our show, the views looked great, but to be honest, cameras don’t even begin to do this spectacular view justice. So I really think you need to get up there soon to see it for yourself. I honestly can’t remember a time when I hiked so little and saw so much. The view from the top of Pyramid Point was something I’ll remember the rest of my life.