Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a designated scenic route in Michigan, about 7 km (5 mi) long.
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a scenic route within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, in western Northern Michigan in the United States. The roadway, with its "scenic vistas and gentle curves", is located off state highway M-109 between Empire and Glen Arbor. It runs for 7.4 miles (11.9 km) through forest and dunes areas, providing access to scenic overlooks of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the surrounding park land. Interpretive markers along the roadway are keyed to the National Park Service's printed guide to the drive. Over 80,000 vehicles make the trip, in addition to bicyclists, hikers and skiers who use the road each year.From Wikipedia — Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo stops along the way
Sand DunesThe Sleeping Bear
LighthouseManning Memorial Light
LakeGlen Lake
Sand DunesCrystal River Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)
Scenic ViewpointBay View Trail
Sand DunesPlatte Bay East Dune and Swale Complex (Major)
Sand DunesGood Harbor Bay Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)
LighthouseSouth Manitou Island Lighthouse
LighthouseNorth Manitou Shoal Light Station
LakeCrystal Lake
LighthouseNorth Manitou Island Light
LighthousePoint Betsie Light
Tips for scenic drive photography
- Drive the route in both directions — the views change completely.
- Plan stops for golden hour at the highest overlooks; use pull-outs, never stop on the roadway.
- Check seasonal closures for high-elevation roads before you go.
- A polarizer cuts windshield-like glare on wet roads and foliage.