News

The 6th Annual Dune Dash

Posted on | by sbtrail

Join us for the Sixth Annual Dune Dash 4-mile run/walk on Saturday, August 19th. The race course showcases the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail located in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Starting and finishing at the base of the Dune Climb, runners follow the flat, paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail past rolling dunes and beautiful forests to the turn around point at historic Glen Haven. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Michigan.

All proceeds from this event will go to the continued construction and maintenance of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

What

A 4-mile run/walk along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. (Course)

Where

The race will start and finish at the Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. (map)

When

The race starts at 9am Saturday, August 19, 2017.

Who Benefits

All proceeds from this event will go to support the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

What’s the cost?

Adult 18 and up $30
Teen 13-17 $20
Child 12 and under $15

NOTE: Prices go up by $5 after August 17th. The Sleeping Bear Dunes charge an entrance fee of $15 per vehicle if you do not already possess a park pass.

What you get

Only participants registered by Friday, August 11th, will be guaranteed a t-shirt. All registered participants will receive professionally timed results, race bib, post-race refreshments and entertainment.

When and where is packet pick up?

Packet pick up will take place at The Filling Station Microbrewery, 642 Railroad Place, Traverse City MI on Friday Aug. 18th from 5pm-7pm. (map). Look-up your bib number rfeventservices.com/dunedash Participants may also pickup their packets at the Dune Climb on the morning of the race.

When is late registration?

Late registration will take place during packet pick up at The Filling Station Microbrewery. There will be no day of registration (In accordance to federal law, day of registration cannot take place within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.)

Will there be awards?

Medals will be awarded to the overall male and female finisher, and the top finishers in each age-group.

Want to volunteer?

Please e-mail us at dunedash@gmail.com

Where can I park?

Parking is available at the Dune Climb and approved adjacent lots within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. (map)

Sorry, race fees are non-refundable

Visit DuneDash.com for all the event details, online registration and volunteer information.

The 5th Annual Dune Dash

Posted on | by sbtrail

Join us for the fifth annual Dune Dash 4-mile run/walk on Saturday, August 20th. The race course showcases the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail located in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Starting and finishing at the base of the Dune Climb, runners follow the flat, paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail past rolling dunes and beautiful forests to the turn around point at historic Glen Haven. Don’t miss your chance to experience what will soon be known as one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Michigan if not the country.

All proceeds from this event will go to the continued construction and maintenance of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

What

A 4-mile run/walk along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. (Course)

Where

The race will start and finish at the Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. (map)

When

The race starts at 9am Saturday, August 20, 2016.

Who Benefits

All proceeds from this event will go to support the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

What’s the cost?

Adult 18 and up $30
Teen 13-17 $20
Child 12 and under $15

NOTE: Prices go up by $5 after August 18th. The Sleeping Bear Dunes charge an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle if you do not already possess a park pass.

Visit DuneDash.com for all the event details, online registration and volunteer information.
Flyer DUNEDASH_2016

Port Oneida to Bohemian Complete June 2016

Posted on | by sbtrail

Springtime freshness is in the air, flowers are in bloom and cherry blossoms are popping. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail has been cleared of winter debris and the trail crew from Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes has already started their weekly schedule to keep the trail clean and safe for its summertime users.

Bohemian RdAs if springtime wasn’t enough to be excited for, we’re thrilled to announce that the next section of trail north of Glen Arbor (from Port Oneida to Bohemian Road) will be completed by the end of May or early June!

There will be a great new boardwalk over the edge of Narada Lake, and the trail will go right past the historic North Unity School. This new trail segment will add 3.8 miles to the 13 miles of previously completed trail. The new section of trail will be comprised of 1.8 miles of crushed aggregate, 1.8 miles of asphalt and boardwalk along Narada Lake. The trail will be crushed aggregate through Port Oneida Rural Historic District. What a great addition to the trail!

Please join us for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Kelderhouse Farm on Friday, June 24th at 11:00am.

Enjoy the Trail this Winter!

Posted on | by sbtrail

Winter is an amazing time of year to enjoy the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The trail is groomed for classic cross country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing between Glen Arbor and Empire.

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes manages the maintenance and grooming efforts on the trail. They have a grooming crew comprised of 20 volunteers who groom the trail between Forest Haven Road in Glen Arbor to the corner of Voice and Bar Lake Roads just north of Empire for a total distance of 10 miles. The trail north of Glen Arbor, from Crystal View Trailhead to Port Oneida Road is not groomed but is open for back country and snowshoeing.

The highest prioritized section of trail groomed is between Glen Haven and Glen Arbor with a loop through the DH Day Campground. This section typically sees the most winter use.

The next section groomed is from Glen Haven to the Dune Climb. The trail is fully groomed from the Dune Climb to Empire when there are enough volunteers and the weather and temperature are ideal.

It takes a team of two groomers about two hours to groom from Glen Arbor to Glen Haven. A second team grooms one side of the trail from Glen Haven to Empire in two hours, and a third crew grooms from Empire back to Glen Haven. The total time required to groom the whole trail from Glen Arbor to Empire is six hours – if everything goes perfectly.

Grooming at temperatures above 30 degrees results in icy conditions, so grooming is more likely to occur when temperatures are cooler. When the trail receives over six inches of fresh snow with temperatures under 30 degrees, groomers use the roller to compact the snow and build base. When there is a compacted base the Ginzu Groomer is used. It has a set of knives that churn up the hard pack snow to create a new corduroy layer. Both sets of equipment have track-setters for making classic tracks on the outside of the trail.

If you’d like to be added to the SBHT Winter Ski Condition Report visit Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Etiquette for Fat Bikes

  • Please do not ride on the SBHT if conditions are too soft. If you are leaving a rut deeper than an inch, having a hard time riding in a straight line, or pushing your bike, the snow is too soft and you should not ride your bike on the trail.
  • Tires must be 3.7″ or bigger.
  • Tire pressure must be under 8 psi.
  • Do not ride on classic tracks.
  • Bikes yield to skiers.
  • Stay to right side of trail (not in the classic tracks) at all times.
  • Give skate skiers a wide berth.
  • Be an ambassador for the sport – stay polite, educate other bikers, discourage bad behavior, follow the rules, support grooming, and we’ll all have a good time this winter!

Volunteers Needed for Trail Cleanup

Posted on | by sbtrail

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Clean-up

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes continue to work with the National Park Service Tree Crew to widen the shoulders of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail between Glen Arbor and DH Day Campground. This was the segment of trail hit hardest by the August 2nd storm. While the trail has been cleared to make it safe for bike riding in just a few days after the storm, trail shoulders need to be cleaned up to allow space for the groomer for cross-country skiing. The groomer requires more space on both sides of the pavement.

Volunteers are needed to help pull branches and throw them back into the woods. With enough help  a chipper can be operated, which would be the preferred method of disposing of this wall of tree branches and limbs that line the trail…

Volunteers will be working on Thursdays Oct 8th, 15th & 22nd. Volunteers and Park Tree Crew will meet at 9:00 AM at the DH Day Campground Office and will work until about 3:00 PM each Thursday. If you can only come for part of the day, please come. If you can help, please email Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Trail & Beach Assessments – Volunteers Needed

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was awarded a Centennial Challenge Grant, celebrating 100 years of the National Parks. Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes are providing the matching funds required for this grant. The Grant is to assess 5 trails and 5 water areas in the Park with the intent of improving accessibility. Though just awarded, the grant deadline for completion is November 2015. Cindy Burkhour of Access to Recreation was awarded the contract for trail and beach assessment.
As part of the grant, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will help by providing volunteers to assist Cindy with the assessments. The volunteers will record data, measure trail width and note trail obstructions. Cindy will train volunteers as they work.
The next Assessment days will be Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11. Two volunteers are needed to work with Cindy each of these days from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Individuals do not have to commit to both days. However it is asked that individuals commit to a whole day.
Please bring a lunch and water. You will eat on the trail. Assessment will be done rain or shine – please dress appropriately for conditions. If you can help, please e-mail Jeanne Esch or Kathy Tuckerman.

Help Needed – Dune Climb Trailhead Work Bee

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes have been working with the Park’s Natural Resources Division to select native plants to landscape the area around the Dune Climb Trailhead for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Dune grass and bearberry and a few types of trees were selected. The trees and dune grass were planted last fall but weeds and some invasive plants have taken over some of the dune grass areas.

Mary Ann and Dave Borton have been leading the effort to remove the invasive plants and weeds to give the dune grass a chance to establish itself.

They need your help! We will be working at the Dune Climb Trailhead  Wednesday, October 14 at 9:00 AM until noon. You can come for whatever amount of time you have. Bring gloves, a bucket or basket, weeding tools, etc.

Please come out and help get this part of the trail cleaned up. The work they did the last couple of weeks really looks good, but there is a lot more to be done and we could really use your help. Contact Mary Ann by phone at 708-220-1231 or by e-mail at m.a.bort@hotmail.com

For more details on these and other volunteer efforts visit the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes website.