Empire Bluff Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

 I took a hike up the Empire Bluff Trail today. This is the most used trail in 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

 There was a thick fog clinging to the surface of the cold lake. It obscured the view at times, then the fog would roll up the dunes and open up the view for a moment. It was lovely, and I had it all to myself.

 The view from the top!

Year-End Hike

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I was able to fit in a little hike during the holiday festivities. I headed to the lakeshore to hike one of my favorite trails, Empire Bluff.

The trail was a little snowy and icy at the bottom, but cleared off at the top. The day was mild and almost windless.

It was a little foggy, but most of it burned off while I hiked.

It was mild enough to take a break to watch the colors of Lake Michigan.

Merry Holidays to all.

Treat Farm Trail to Mount Baldy

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I took a lovely fall hike with my rucking friends. 'Rucking' is hiking with a weighted pack. 

(HERE is the facebook page for the Traverse Area Rucking Club.) We hike weekly alongside the Traverse City Track Club.

Sometimes, we have extra energy so we gather to hike again. 

With the leaves beginning to change and the air getting cooler, we headed to the lakeshore to hike through the Treat Farm to Mt. Baldy in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Harry (wearing his amazing kilt), Terri, and Homer

Lake Michigan and the magnificent dunes 

 The wind was howling when we reached the top of the dunes. What a view!

Homer, Terri, & Harry

Platte Bay

Hiking back to Treat Farm

The original Treat Farm

Some shots inside the farm house: 

Front porch of the house:

 This trail is just south of the Empire Bluff Trail and loops up to Mt. Baldly and back (about 2.8 miles). You could go up the Treat Trail (on Norcock Road off of M22 south of Empire), hike along the dune trail, then back down the Empire Bluff Trail.

Hmmmm....that might be my next day hike!

Wintery Empire Bluff

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I hiked one of my favorite trails today, the 

Empire Bluff trail. 

The overlook from the top of the trail is iconic "Pure Michigan." Check it out:

This dune is THE 'sleeping bear dune'

The woodpeckers are feasting in these woods. 

The pileated is especially good at gouging out the wood in search of a buggy meal.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

The Empire Bluff Trail is one that I revisit many times each year.  Here it is in late fall.

Enjoy:

Empire Bluff Trail

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

I recently revisited one of my favorite hikes along Lake Michigan's shoreline. It is the Empire Bluff Trail near Empire, Michigan. 

The view from the top is amazing.

 Two years ago, a strong storm with shearing winds blew through the area knocking down many trees. Those trees have been decaying, returning to the earth, giving habitat to creatures. 
The loss of those mature trees also opened up the canopy allowing more sunshine to reach the forest floor. New trees are taking their place. 

Some of these downed trees are taking on a sculptural quality as they lose their bark and weather away.

Some trees reveal how the wind has twisted them over time.

 This excellent spider lives along the trail, too.

Training for Isle Royale

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

On this windy, cool day, I took one last training hike before heading to Isle Royale to be part of a Moosewatch Expedition.

The misty view from the top of the Empire Bluff Trail

 It was in the high 30s, windy and rainy. Perfect weather to train for Isle Royale!

The wildflowers were braving the weather, beginning to show.

Trillium

Dutchman Breeches

The Empire Bluff Trail is one of my favorites to hike in any weather! 

Freshwater Dunes

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

Sleeping Bear Dune

The tallest fresh water dunes on in the world are on our Great Lakes. 

The tallest Great Lakes dunes are on Lake Michigan on the shores of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. They rise over 400 feet above the lake.

Perched dunes have layers of stone mixed with the sand

Perched dunes are steeper than dunes made of pure sand. The layers of stone stabilize these dunes.

Close up of stone layer in perched dune

Wind sculpts the top of this dune

Dunes without plants or trees growing on them are called "living dunes." These formations are still responsive to wind, waves, and gravity.

Small sand eroisions pulled by gravity 

Gravity acts on sand

Dune frosted with clouds

View from Empire Bluff Trail

Here's a link to info on the Empire Bluff Trail, one of my favorite hikes.

Climbing the dune at the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (the black dots are people!)

Perched dune along Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior

Explore our Great Lakes!