Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Scenic Highway · Empire, Michigan
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a one-way loop of about 7.4 miles inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, off M-109 near Empire. A lumberman built it privately in the 1960s so others could see the dunes he knew, and the National Park Service later absorbed it. It has about a dozen numbered stops, among them a covered bridge, a cottonwood trail and the Sleeping Bear Overlook, with the Lake Michigan Overlook the main draw: a platform roughly 450 feet above the lake. It suits drivers, families and photographers, and takes about an hour. The road is narrow and one-way, so you cannot turn back, and it is closed in winter, commonly open from about late May to mid-November. A National Park Service pass or fee applies, and RV and trailer limits apply, so confirm both before you drive. Fall colour and sunset are best. Do not run or slide down the dune edges, since rescues are costly and dangerous. Bring water and a layer, as the overlooks are windy and shops are far.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, M-109, Empire, Michigan, 49630, United States
The drive is seasonal and closes in winter, commonly opening in late spring and closing around mid-November when snow arrives, with exact dates set by the National Park Service and weather. It usually runs in daylight hours, with a gate that closes at dusk or a set evening time, so check the posted closing time if you want a sunset at the Lake Michigan Overlook. Confirm opening and closing dates with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before you travel, especially in April, May and November. A park pass or entrance fee is required at the gate or pay station, and a fee applies per vehicle. Spring storms and fallen trees can close the road briefly, and the loop is one-way only.
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