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Activity Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City

Dune Climb

An activity in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City
Photo: Andy Grabenstetter · Google

Why go

Climb a huge sand dune; the full hike to Lake Michigan is 3.5 miles round trip.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Traverse City, alongside 3 bars & cafés, 3 places to eat and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Dune Climb, 0.1 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Activity · Adventure
Neighborhood
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Price
$
Time needed
2 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Traverse City. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Dune Climb

    Steep 110-foot sand climb; the full trail to Lake Michigan is 3.5 miles round trip.

    Activity · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 0.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail

    Paved bike path linking Empire, Glen Arbor and Glen Haven through the lakeshore.

    Activity · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 1.5 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Glen Haven Historic Village

    Restored lumber-era village with the Cannery Boat Museum and a blacksmith shop.

    Sight · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 1.6 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    7-mile loop with Lake Michigan Overlook, 450 feet above the water.

    Sight · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 1.6 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    Seven-mile loop through the dunes with overlooks 450 ft above Lake Michigan.

    Sight · 2.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Cherry Republic

    Flagship store for tart cherry products, with free tastings and a café.

    Shopping · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 2.8 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Dune Climb is a stop on our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Traverse City

Dune Climb is our only activity pick in Traverse City; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Traverse City guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Traverse City run from 28°F in February to 74°F in August; October is usually the wettest month. For Dune Climb itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Traverse City from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Traverse City weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Dune Climb, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Dune Climb, Glen Arbor Township, MI 49636, USA
Coordinates
44.88373, -86.04416
Destination
Traverse City, Michigan

Dune Climb: quick answers

How much time do you need at Dune Climb?

Plan on about 2 hours at Dune Climb. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Dune Climb?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Bring water and shoes; the sand gets hot.

Where is Dune Climb?

Dune Climb is at Dune Climb, Glen Arbor Township, MI 49636, USA, in Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Dune Climb?

Dune Climb appears on Great Lakes Hidden Gems, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Dune Climb to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Traverse City.

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Lists & regions

Also in Traverse City

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.