Untouched. Unkept. Uninhabited.
It’s as gorgeous as it sounds. But you can’t take in Pierce Stocking’s snow-dusted dunes and ice-topped lakes by vehicle, not at this time of year. You’ll need to dig out those snowshoes or cross-country skis and break a sweat. You’ll find the 7.4-mile road looping through the park is just as Mother Nature left it. The drive is closed to cars in the winter and unplowed, leaving beautiful wide swaths of unmarred snow to traverse, side by side with a buddy. Combine that with stunning views and 120 inches of snow on average each year, and you’ve got an awesome afternoon adventure.
Most people choose to hike to one of the overlooks (there are 12 marked stops along the drive, including five overlooks). Plan on two to four hours to do an out-and-back route. There are rolling hills and steep inclines along the road. Don’t let this stop you. Bring a water bottle, a snack and a love for Northern Michigan’s winters.
Photo by Kandace Chapple
Photo by Kandace Chapple
Related Read: Heading to the sand dunes in Summer? Winter? Start planning your trip at our Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore page.
2 Overlooks to Enjoy at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
After parking, walk to the wooden “toll house” (you can see it from the parking lot). You’ll likely see a footpath already beaten down the unplowed road. Pierce Stocking Scenic
Drive is a loop, so you can choose to go left or right at the “Y” in the road, which is just a few minutes’ walk past the toll house.
Photo by Kandace Chapple
Related Read: 3 Sleeping Bear Dunes Winter Activities + Food & Drink Ideas.
Head to the right at the “Y” on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and travel a half-mile down the road to the wooden covered bridge that puts the “scenic” in this stretch of the park. Most of the snowshoe and ski tracks turn back at the bridge; only the hardiest keep going. If you have the gumption, you’ll need to put in another mile, a lot of it uphill, before the world drops away on your right, revealing views of both Big and Little Glen Lake, M-22 and the famous outline of Alligator Hill in the distance.
Stop #9: Lake Michigan Overlook
Head to the left at the “Y,” and trek about two miles to the most astonishing view of sand and sky you’ll ever find. The boardwalk is 450 feet above Lake Michigan and the sky can be anything from a brilliant blue to a deep winter gray. (Even the cloudiest days are worth it!)
Tips for Your Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Snowshoe this Winter
Parking: There’s a plowed parking lot to the right when you pull in, as well as clean modern outhouses.
Entrance fees: Vehicles need a park entrance pass. Purchase a seven-day pass for $25 or an annual pass for $45 at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.
Pets: Dogs aren’t allowed in this part of the park from Dec. 1–March 31.
Map: There are eight miles to explore, none of them groomed. Study the map at the parking lot and pick your loop. Tip: Snap a photo with your phone for reference! Visit nps.gov/slbe for more information.
Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and founder of the Michigan Girl Bike Club (which is a Snowshoe Club in the winter!). She can be reached at kandacechapple.com.
Photo by Kandace Chapple
Photo by Kandace Chapple
Related Read: Where to Find Sleeping Bear Dunes Groomed Trails this Winter.