Winter Hiking

I went out to the lakeshore today to hike my trail for the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. This volunteer organization does important work to help maintain and improve the gorgeous National Lakeshore. Volunteers do a variety of tasks, including:

• Adopt-An-Access Point (Accessibility)
• Adopt-A-Beach
• Adopt-A-River
• Adopt-A-Trail 
• BARK Rangers
• PSAR Log
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Trail Ambassadors
• Track Chair Report
• Administrative Projects

I have been a volunteer trail hiker for a couple of years now. I periodically hike the Bay View/Farms Loop trail and report on any down trees or other conditions on the trail.

Chilly, but gorgeous hike

Panoramic of the overlook

I'm not sure what made this tiny little trail in the snow

Lake Michigan from the trail

I love getting out on the snowy trails. 

First Hike of 2021

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/

Happy New Year!

My first hike of the New Year was out at the Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The first dune off the parking lot was dotted with kids on sleds. It's a great ride, even when there's just a dusting of snow.

I love to watch the interplay of sand and snow on these dunes:

And the sand and snow reveal which creatures are on the move in the landscape.

I love this landscape in any season. It's an extra-challenging workout when the snow begins to drift amongst the dunes.

A late season freighter moved through the Manitou Passage today (below).

Happy 2021 everyone. 

We made it through 2020. Yay!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Trails

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 have enjoyed being an Adopt-A-Trail volunteer this year for the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Each month (April thru September), volunteers hike their assigned trail and report on any downed trees, pick up trash, and greet visitors on the trail.

My trail is the Farms Trail which is part of the Bay View series of trails.

It has been wonderful to see this trail in three seasons. This month, the leaves were beginning to change and the old apple trees on the trail were laden with fruit. 

Did you know you can forage in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore? 

Yep. 

It's perfectly fine to pick a few apples along the way.

I usually head to the lakeshore after my hike. This time, the lake was calm and lovely.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Adopt-A-Trail

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 live near the gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I often hike the beaches and trails in the park.

So, I decided to volunteer as an Adopt-A-Trail hiker with the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

This all-volunteer group coordinates with the national lakeshore to keep this park safe and wonderful for all visitors.

Last year, over 13,000 volunteer hours were logged in the park.

There are many ways to volunteer with this group including:

• Adopt-An-Access Point (Accessibility)
• Adopt-A-Beach
• Adopt-A-River
• Adopt-A-Trail (For Rustic Trails Only)
• BARK Rangers
• Invasive Plant Brigade
• PSAR Log
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Trail Ambassadors
• Track Chair Report

Since I'm a devoted hiker, I chose to 

Adopt-A-Trail. My Farms Trail is part of the Bay View Trail. This looping trail also has a cut-through trail (Ridge Trail) with a gorgeous overlook out on Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands. The trail winds through forest and farm lands. 

Check out these photos:

The sandy trail goes through mixed forest

Peaking through the trees out onto the lake

Massive white pine along the ridge

The trail skirts historic farmland

Massive tree along the trail

View from the lookout on the Ridge Trail

Volunteers wear orange vests while in the park

There's even a bench at the overlook

Strawberries in bloom along the trail

Adopt-A-Trail volunteers are asked to hike their trail once a month from May-September and report on trail conditions.