Searching for dog-friendly spots around Leelanau? From the Sleeping Bear Dunes to Leelanau State Park, explore some of our favorite Fido-friendly preserves and parks.
All Leelanau Conservancy natural areas allow your canine companions. The best dog walking trails are at DeYoung Natural Area, Clay Cliffs Natural Area, Palmer Woods Forest Reserve, Krumwiede Forest Reserve and Chippewa Run Natural Area. (Note: Pets and humans are discouraged from visiting ecologically sensitive areas, including Soper Natural Area and Gull Island Preserve.)
Dog-Friendly Sleeping Bear Dunes
In Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, dogs are allowed on most trails and on beaches from the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven to the western edge of Glen Arbor, from Pyramid Point to CR-669 and from CR-651 north to the park boundary. Pups are also welcome at the Glen Lake picnic area just across M-22 from the Dune Climb.
Photo by Taylor Brown
The Leelanau State Park, at the northern tip of Leelanau County, has 8.5 dog-friendly miles of trails! Dogs are also allowed at the state park campground, but make a note to skip the beaches, as they’re home to protected nesting areas for the endangered piping plover.
Photo by Leelanau Conservancy
Find this article and more in the June 2021 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine; or subscribe and get Traverse delivered to your door each month.