Sleeping Bear Dunes new trail

News item from earlier this week....I know some of you (CJ?) might be very interested in seeing this! Any thoughts or comments?

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore could be in line for a makeover that includes a 35-mile hiking trail and the setting aside of 45 percent of the land as protected, roadless wilderness.

The federal parkland headquartered at Empire in the northwestern Lower Peninsula contains some of Lake Michigan's most striking coastline.

Federal officials say they expect to approve the changes as part of a new management plan before year's end.

The plan is designed to "offer some improvements to visitor access and recreational opportunities, but still provide a wilderness recreational experience, mostly in places that are currently providing that," said park Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich.

The planned Bay-to-Bay Trail would stretch along 35 miles of shoreline from Platte Bay to Good Harbor Bay, although the specific path remains to be determined.

It would include a hiking path with intermittent campgrounds so hikers could complete multi-day trips.

COOL! I would love for both of those things to happen, a long trail and the wilderness areas. I'll have to keep an eye on those developments! Thanks, Toni!

CJ

CJ, I'll let you know if I hear anything else. I know some private property owners near the area are not too thrilled with the news, but seeing this is federal property, I don't think they will have much impact on the plans.

Toni, Thanks for passing this info along. It sounds like a change for the better! Do you have a link?

Brian

Thanks for the news. I would like to take the drive up from Cleveland when its done
Brian
http://badams.zenfolio.com/

It's great to see so much interest in this!

Brian V....There really isn't any one single link and I did check the SBD web site itself, but there wasn't anything there. I first found it in our local newspaper, which had the identical article that is online from various sources. You might want to Google "New trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes" at various times for updates and I will keep an eye out also.

Toni, thanks for the info. I checked the NPS site and there was nothing on the news. I didn't shoot there this year (kept going to the UP) but it is one of my favorite places in the magical mitten.

Brian

I should at least put up the link to the official SBDNP web site. There are numerous links on the site that you will find helpful, such as places to stay and what to you will find in the park itself, plus the surrounding area such as Leland, which is known as Fishtown, and the historic Port Oneida area, which is also within the park.