About
Length4.7 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain250 ft up
Typical time2 hr 30 min
TrailheadMineral Springs Road, Dune Acres
SurfaceBoardwalk, forest path, then deep sand dunes
Best seasonYear round. Spring and autumn migration are the birding peaks; summer beaches are busy and winter is bleakly beautiful.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌼 Wildflowers🦌 Wildlife🌲 Old growth

Henry Chandler Cowles studied plant succession on these dunes in the 1890s and effectively invented ecology as a discipline. The trail crosses marsh, black oak savanna, ponds and finally a big sand dune down to a quiet stretch of Lake Michigan beach.

Tips
Rated the hardest trail in the park because of the deep sand at the end - the climb back over the dune is the whole difficulty. Parking is limited and separate from the trailhead sign; follow the directions carefully.
Location

Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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