Pyramid Point offers epic views, but the back dunes are just as picturesque

LEELANAU COUNTY, MI – A humbling reminder of the power of Mother Nature sits atop the Pyramid Point Dunes Lookout in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

A short climb gives you an epic view of Lake Michigan and its many depths with Caribbean blue reflections. There’s a reason this trail rivals postcard places like Empire Bluff and Pierce Stocking Scenic Walk.

The cascading sand gives the illusion of a gentle descent, but don’t be fooled. It is a steep fall, formed during the Ice Age, which can be almost vertical in places.

To avoid landslides, the park strongly advises against going down the cliff.

The popular viewpoint gives you a 373-foot view. Standing here, you are the closest to the Manitou Islands from anywhere on the mainland.

Climb a little further to the highest point of 957 feet and admire the immensity of Lake Michigan from the edge of a perched dune. See and feel the large lake lapping at the bottom – windbreaker recommended.

Starting from the parking lot, you can reach this iconic spot in about 20 minutes following the 0.6 mile gravel trail. It’s not uncommon to see people hiking in jeans or dressed up for photos.

The trail is moderate, aside from the final climb to the overlook. Your calves will tell you when you have reached the slope.

RELATED: Hike past century-old farms and glacier-formed cliffs in the Sleeping Bear Historic District

The Pyramid Point Trail is a 2.6-mile loop that passes through the remains of 19th-century farmhouses.

The view is epic, but the history and biodiversity of this region are just as impressive.

Pyramid Point is within the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, which is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive state-owned historic agricultural landscape.

With this in mind, this is an important reminder that the open dune area near Pyramid Point is fragile and visitors are encouraged to stay on the trail.

RELATED: Sleeping Bear on a mission to save rare 19th century apples from extinction

Return to the loop to wander through forests of century-old beech and maple trees, home to some of the largest trees in the park.

Viewing the back dunes through the woods is equally picturesque and a reminder that Michigan’s sand dunes are unique in their freshwater coastal forests.

This combination of topographic relief, vegetation and climate is only found in the Great Lakes State, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

This trail is right on the edge of Sleeping Bear’s Capital W Wilderness, which encircles some of the the 26 interior lakes of the parklike Shell Lake.

Largely untouched by humans, these are some of the prettiest fall colors if you can catch them.

In total, the park has 32,000 acres of “raw nature,” according to the National Park Service.

You can also start on this meadow loop to pass through grassy plains, woods and then climb the sand dunes to head towards the Pyramid Point lookout.

You can find more information about the trails at nps.gov/places/000/pyramid-point-trail.htm.

MORE SLEEPING BEARS STORIES:

Pancake breakfasts, Milky Way and Lake Michigan: a stay at the Sleeping Bear Inn

The legendary Sleeping Bear Overlook offers magnificent sunsets and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan

‘We’re in a Forever Deal’: Find out how heirloom apples are preserved at Sleeping Bear