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!

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Part 1)

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 met up with my hiking friends and headed to America's first designated National Lakeshore,

Pictured Rocks,

along the northern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

Yes, it was snowy and chilly and exhilarating. 

Me, Zan, Julie and April

The Au Sable Lighthouse

Snowy campsite at Benchmark campground

There is a 12-mile stretch of beach along the lakeshore. We hiked several miles here at the edge of Lake Superior.

Lake Superior Rocks

Can you find me in this photo? 

Massive sandstone formations dominate the western portion of the lakeshore. It's difficult to get the scale of these formations until you find the person in the shot.

We hiked five days...more to come.

Kayaking Lime Lake

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've been exploring more of the many inland lakes that connect to Lake Michigan. This week, I paddled Lime Lake in Maple City just west of Traverse City.

This lake is about a mile across and has a shallow shelf along the edge that extends inward from the edge for a long way. This made for a calm paddle.

Here are some photos:

Freshwater shellfish live in these shallow areas.

Looking north across the lake.

Some old cedars blown down by mighty winds.

Evidence of an old sawmill gathered at the southern end.

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.

Rising Great Lakes

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 got out to the Lake Michigan shoreline today. I went to one of my favorite beaches. It has a 50-step set of wooden steps to get down to the shoreline. The steps are well away from the rising lake, but recent windstorms allowed the waves to ruin the bottom few steps:

The wild waves deposited driftwood all over the beach...

and even this uprooted tree was tossed on the shore.

With the missing steps, I was the only one on this beach for over an hour. Perfect for social distancing. Stay safe, everyone.

Waning Ice on the Shores of Lake Michigan

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/

There was very little ice on the surface of the Great Lakes this winter. 

And now, in late March, the only ice I saw on my lakeshore walk today (with social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic) 

persisted on trees and roots that had been splashed by waves.

The result was sculptural...

jagged...

and told the story of wind and waves.

In this time of necessary isolation, it was lovely to wave to passing lakeshore strollers, to give a smile, to remember that we are in this together.

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!

Great Lakes Speaker

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've had a busy year traveling and speaking about my adventures exploring our magnificent Great Lakes. Last week was my busiest with 6 events in 5 days.

I love sharing my journeys with audiences, and these events were packed.

The venues ranged from Senior Centers, to a community college, to an expo center, and a library. 

My newest talk:  Isle Royale, Wilderness Island
was delivered at two of these packed venues.

Georgetown Connections Senior Center in Jenison, MI 

The big screen at the Wyoming Senior Center

Nice crowd for my Lake Michigan talk

The room fills for my Isle Royale talk in Northville, MI

120 people attended my talk on the islands of our Great Lakes at Schoolcraft College

The room was packed at Schoolcraft College!

My final event was at the Buy Michigan Now festival in Jackson, MI. Hundreds of people came out to support Michigan products and Michigan authors.

I am currently booking engagements for 2020.

See my list of events past and future HERE.

And to inquire about my availability to speak at your event, go HERE.