Camping At Sleeping Dunes National Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes, along Lake Michigan, is one of two national lakeshores in Michigan, the other being Pictured Rocks along the Lake Superior shore. This special place's heraldic landforms are the dunes that have accumulated atop lakeshore headlands, including such extensive collections as the five-by-three-mile Sleeping Bear Plateau. Campers here can lay their heads not far from the rolling surf of the huge lake or in the interior of a remote offshore island. Spending the night in Sleeping Bear Dunes, after all, gives you the luxury of deep exploration.

The National Lakeshore

Campers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore explore a rich coastal environment of mixed northern hardwood forests, scattered wetlands, oldfields and the famous sand dunes lying upon old glacial moraines that comprise the headlands. The refuge protects some 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, allowing visitors the chance to see a wilder, undeveloped coast than exists along many other parts of the Great Lakes.

Developed Campgrounds

There are two major developed campgrounds at the national lakeshore. The Platte River Campground has a broad range of sites, including those electrically equipped for RVs as well as both standard and walk-in tent sites. The campground offers plenty of water sources, restrooms with camp sinks and showers. Some of Platte River's campsites are reservable; the Park Service notes that during the height of the summer visiting season, the campground tends to fill up each night. D.H. Day Campground is less developed, but still accommodates RVs and car campers; none of its 88 sites can be reserved.

Group Camping

Camping for large parties is possible at the D.H. Day and Platte River group campgrounds, as well as Bay Group and Weather Station group campgrounds on South Manitou Island and on North Manitou Island. For all the group sites except those on North Manitou, reservations are mandatory from late May to the beginning of October, as of 2010.

Backpacking

Those who wish to carry their world on their backs and embark for more remote territory should consider backpacking. On the mainland, backcountry camping is available off the Platte Plains trail at White Pine Backcountry Camp near Lake Michigan, and at Valley View Backcountry Camp to the northeast of Glen Arbor. Established backcountry sites are available on South Manitou Island at the Bay, Weather Station and Popple campgrounds; while backpacking is allowed on much of North Manitou Island as long as it is 300 feet or more from water sources, structures and other campsites and off-trail.

Details

Reservations for those campsites that may be held in advance can be made six months in advance online or over the phone. Backpackers need both park passes and camping permits and, except for North Manitou, must pitch their tents only in established sites. Fires can be constructed only in the metal rings provided, and only using dead and downed wood.