Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a National Lakeshore in Michigan. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 6 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Sleeping Bear Dunes
We matched 6 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Lakes (1)
Lighthouses (2)
Sand Dunes (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Sleeping Bear Dunes the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:19 AM | 9:06 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:29 PM | 241° | 9h 10m |
| February | 7:46 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:12 PM | 253° | 10h 26m |
| March | 7:58 AM | 8:36 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:50 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 7:00 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:29 PM | 285° | 13h 29m |
| May | 6:16 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:06 PM | 298° | 14h 50m |
| June | 5:58 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:48 PM | 9:33 PM | 305° | 15h 35m |
| July | 6:13 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:45 PM | 9:29 PM | 302° | 15h 16m |
| August | 6:47 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:52 PM | 291° | 14h 05m |
| September | 7:24 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:57 PM | 275° | 12h 33m |
| October | 8:00 AM | 8:40 AM | 6:21 PM | 7:01 PM | 259° | 11h 01m |
| November | 7:42 AM | 8:27 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:17 PM | 244° | 9h 34m |
| December | 8:16 AM | 9:05 AM | 4:16 PM | 5:04 PM | 237° | 8h 48m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.9284, -86.0271); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:48 AM – 6:08 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| April | 3:47 AM – 5:07 AM | 1.3 | 15° |
| May | 1:45 AM – 3:55 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| June | 12:06 AM – 3:16 AM | 3.2 | 16° |
| July | 11:50 PM – 2:00 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| August | 10:47 PM – 11:57 PM | 1.2 | 15° |
| September | 9:38 PM – 9:58 PM | 0.3 | 12° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from from 50 F to 83 F. Rain and sun are equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water--heat exhaustion is common, especially when hiking on the dunes. Fall: Temperatures range from 40 F to 70 F. Fall foliage is at its peak around mid September. Winter: Temperatures range from 15 F to 40 F. Snow is common and is on the ground for most of the winter. Dress in warm layers.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 71% average cloud cover) and April as the cloudiest (88%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $40.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From the south (Detroit or Chicago areas) :Take US-31, US-131, US-27 to M-115 & M-37, I-75 and M-72 North to Traverse City, then west on M-72 to the Village of Empire. You will see the visitor center as you enter Empire on your right. You may also get to Empire from the south via US-31 to Ludington and then north to Manistee. You can follow either US-31 or M-22 from north of Manistee. From the north (Michigan's Upper Peninsula), take I-75 to Grayling and follow M-72 to Traverse City or take US-31 south
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Group Camping
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
