Cottonwood Trail — Attraction in Glen Arbor Township

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Cottonwood Trail

The Cottonwood Trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes is absolutely breathtaking! 🌿 The loop offers stunning panoramic views of the dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding landscapes. The hike itself is moderate, making it perfect for all skill levels. Along the way, you'll encounter diverse flora, shifting sands, and peaceful moments of solitude. Every turn offers a new scenic reward, especially if you're there during sunset—the colors are magical.

Be sure to bring water and sunscreen, as there’s little shade, but the expansive views more than make up for it. It's truly a unique and unforgettable experience! Highly recommend if you're visiting...

At about 1.75 miles, this trail isn't difficult because it's amazingly long. It's more to do with the sand you wind up trudging through, as well as the general lack of any substantive shade. There are also numerous points where people have carved additional (unmarked) trails to other dunes, so an app like AllTrails can be very helpful. There are sign posts that are pretty easy to find so you can make sure you're on the right track, too.

In addition to views of Glen Lake, Dune Climb, and Lake Michigan, it's pretty cool being able to walk through and see all the diverse types of plants that are able to survive in such a unique...

The Cottonwood Trail is a stunning (1.5-1.75 mile loop) hike located inside the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. This hike offers stunning views, takes you to the top of the Dune Climb, as well as offers other stunning lakeshore and Glen Lake views. There's a little side trail on the west side of the loop that's not on the map that takes you to the top of a dune and offers stunning views.

This is one of the only hikes on dunes that is dog friendly. Just keep your pets on the trail as much as possible and respect the dunes fragile ecosystems.

Note: National Park pass is required to...