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Sleeping Bear Dunes NPS

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The official Instagram of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Tag us using #ShareSLBE and we may feature your photo! (Please no watermarks)

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Did you know that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is home to the nation’s largest Rural Historic District?

The Port Oneida Fair in August celebrates this region’s history and ways of life. To recognize the importance of Port Oneida's distinct properties, a farm will be featured every Friday before the fair!

First up is the John & Ingeborg Thoreson Farm! After settling in Suttons Bay from Norway, the Thoreson's moved to Port Oneida in 1901. The Thoreson's farm was the first in Port Oneida to sell cherries from their orchard. To Leonard Thoreson, his family's farm and Port Oneida were places of community and collaboration. For instance, neighbors often pitched in when it was time to pick cherries at Thoreson Farm.

As a fine arts hub in the National Lakeshore, this same community spirit is found on Thoreson Farm today. The Glen Arbor Arts Center uses the former Machine Shed for art classes. The 3,400 beautiful acres that make up Port Oneida continually inspire the creations of both local and visiting artists.

There are many opportunities to tap into creativity in Port Oneida, whether self-guided or at an upcoming event! Starting this summer, courses on traditional skills and crafts are offered through the Sleeping Bear Folk & Field School. Each class takes place at Thoreson Farm and is available thanks to park partner Sleeping Bear Forever. To explore course offerings, go to phsb.org/experience/sleeping-bear-folk-school/

Photo 1: NPS/G. Vanden Belt

Photo 2: Sleeping Bear Forever Archive

Photo 3: NPS/G. Vanden Belt

#SleepingBearDunes #PortOneidaFair #FarmFeatureFriday A red granary built with a large sliding door on its left side, several white windows, and a white railing in its center right leading up to a door. To the granary’s right is a small red corn crib with a roof and consistent gaps between its siding where light gets through. A gray wooden barn sits behind the corn crib on the right. Tall grasses and wildflowers are slightly blurred in front of all of these buildings. by @sleepingbearnps

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2 days ago

No, those aren’t cotton balls with legs running around on the beaches.

It’s hard to believe, but those are actually piping plover chicks. And here at Sleeping Bear Dunes, there are quite a few of them!

47 chicks have fledged this season, and that number could continue to grow. At 23 days old, fledged chicks can fly and are more likely to avoid predation.

Remember those plover pairs from April? They’ve been quite busy these past few months. “Chick” out these updates:

GOO and BbL (Bubble) went steady this season, fledging 3 chicks!

OGY and LVY also fledged plover triplets.

YOV and bbO (Baby-O) apparently wanted in on the triplet parenting, because they fledged 3 chicks as well.

As for bVR and ORX? Well…that’s where the plover drama comes in. bVR’s old boo-thang, YOYO, swooped back in to claim her man, and they fledged two chicks this season. Congrats to the happy couple! (Sorry, ORX.)

At this point in the season, chicks might be anywhere on the beach.
Here’s what you can do to help them:

Keep beaches trash free. Trash can attract plover predators, especially ravens and crows.

Make sure dogs are leashed and brought only on permitted beaches.

Obey all plover fencing and signage.

Give plovers space! If you see them, stay at least 100 feet away.

Soon, chicks will begin to fly south. If you’re out in the park and encounter these endangered birds, make sure to wish them well on their journey!

NPS Photo/V. Cavalieri

#PetsInThePark #GreatLakesPipingPlover A close-up image of an adult and baby shorebird on a rocky beach. The adult bird is gray and white with black feathers around its neck. A puffy, gray and white chick stands in front of the adult bird. by @sleepingbearnps

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4 days ago

Ok folks, here is the plan for today!

The 11 am "Staying Home in the Great Lakes: Anishnaabek Stories of Strength" program is moved to the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center.

The 9 pm Star Party and Candlelight Hike is becoming an INDOOR "Starry Night at the Museum" event.

See details below.

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Details for Saturday's Starry Night at the Museum Program.

6-10:30 pm – last planetarium program at 10 pm

Inside the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, you will find cozy “candlelight” activities, with the main attraction being the Sharing Star Stories program inside an inflatable dome planetarium. A 30-minute program will be offered at the start of each hour. The planetarium is ADA accessible.

Other activities will include:
exploring the traits of nocturnal animals,
learning about stars and constellations,
discovering how to navigate at night,
creating your own constellation to take home,
and more!

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm Graphic of Two silhouetted figures stand by a lakeside under a starry sky featuring a bear constellation and bright beams of light. Text reads Starry Night at the Museum Philip A. Hart Visitor Center Saturday, July 18, 6-10:30 pm. by @sleepingbearnps

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8 days ago

There's a lake out there somewhere....?

The area continues to be under a hazardous Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke.

Once again, all ranger programs have been moved to the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and extra indoor activities have been added to the calendar.
https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

The Glen Haven museums also remain closed today.

NPS Photo/M. Johnson Dense smoke obscures the horizon over a calm, shallow body of water with visible pebbles beneath. by @sleepingbearnps

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9 days ago

Air Quality Update!

The skies are spicy today, so we’re taking the fun inside! If possible, avoid strenuous outdoors activities, especially for those with heart disease and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

All ranger programs have migrated to the great INDOORS of the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center.

The Glen Haven Blacksmith Shop, Cannery Boat Museum, and Maritime Museum are closed today for the safety of the dedicated volunteer docents.

A full calendar of indoor activities is listed on the website.

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm Text over scenic background. Air Quality Alert: All ranger programs on July 16, 2026, moved to Philip A. Hart Visitor Center due to hazardous air quality. by @sleepingbearnps

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10 days ago

Need a break from the smoke? Tonight's Twilight Talks are being moved indoors to the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center. You can catch both programs back-to-back starting at 8 pm.

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the program. The visitor center is open only for the program. No additional visitor center services will be provided. Text over image: All outdoor twilight talks moved indoors to Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, MI on July 15, 2026, due to unhealthy air quality. by @sleepingbearnps

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10 days ago

From our friends US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan:

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Michigan today due to elevated levels of particulates produced from wildfires in Canada. If possible, avoid strenuous outdoors activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. For more information, please visit the EPA’s Air Now site for up-to-date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov graphic from the Gaylord, MI Weather Office. photo shows a hazy orange sun obscured by smoke, with a tree silhouette in the foreground. Text LOCATIONS – All of Michigan. HAZARDS – Elevated levels of fine particulates produced from wildfires in Canada. IMPACTS – Pollutants expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range; Unhealthy possible across EUP/Northern MI. ACTIONS – Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, if possible, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases. by @sleepingbearnps

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11 days ago

This Week's Twilight Talks are here!
These engaging evening programs at both the D.H. Day and Platte River Campground Amphitheaters are open to all visitors!

Plus, two special events this Saturday, July 18:

Staying Home in the Great Lakes: Anishnaabek Stories of Strength
11 am — Glen Haven Picnic Area

Star Party and Candlelight Hike
9 am — Dune Climb
See full details on the website calendar:
https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

#SleepingBearDunes #TwilightTalks #NationalPark #FindYourPark Do this same for this one"Twilight Talks" event poster for Platte River Campground Amphitheater, Sleeping Bear Dunes, 8 PM nightly, open to all. Dune and lake landscape background. Schedule: July 13 Mon, Enhancing Your Park Experience with Technology; July 14 Tue, What's the Catch? (Lake Michigan wildlife); July 15 Wed, Shipwrecks: The Bones of Lake Michigan; July 16 Thu, Tails of the Night (nocturnal animals); July 17 Fri, Flower Power; July 18 Sat, Star Party at Dune Climb, 9 PM. nps.gov/slbe. by @sleepingbearnps

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12 days ago

At Sleeping Bear Dunes, the ONLY fireworks needed are already in the sky!

Did you know that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the best places in Michigan to stargaze? Far away from city lights, dark skies come alive at night with thousands of glittering stars and even the Milky Way! It's nature's own fireworks show.

Fireworks are not permitted in the park, so this holiday week, skip the sparklers and look UP!

Have you ever seen the Milky Way at Sleeping Bear Dunes?

#SleepingBearDunesNationalLakeshore #NightSky #DarkSkies White text on a red background. "All fireworks prohibited in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore." by @sleepingbearnps

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25 days ago

Twilight Talks: June 28 – July 2
Here's the schedule of this week's campground programs. Each night at 8 pm, park rangers bring the stories of Sleeping Bear Dunes to life through science, history, sound, and hands‑on discovery. All programs are free and open to all visitors.

🌟 Want more activities?
Be sure to check out the full lineup of holiday‑weekend programs on the park’s website:
https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm "Twilight Talks" at the Platte River 8 PM every night. open to all visitors.
June 29: Enhancing Your Park Experience with Technology Four ways to use technology to enhance your National Park experience.
June 30: What's the Catch? Become a Junior Ranger Angler.
July 1: Shipwrecks Explore the shipwrecks and maritime rescues in Manitou Passage.
July 2: Tails of the Night Learn the truths behind popular stories of the night and feel the connection to the children and elders of our past. by @sleepingbearnps

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a month ago

Ever wonder what life was like before cars, grocery stores, or online shopping? In Glen Haven in the late 1800s, there was ONE place that kept the whole community running. The blacksmith shop! ⚒️

Imagine a smoky workshop filled with the clang of hammers and the glow of a roaring fire. The blacksmith was like the community's ultimate problem-solver.

Farmers needed tools to harvest crops. The blacksmith made them.
A wagon wheel broke on a muddy trail. The blacksmith fixed it.
Horses needed shoes to work the fields. You guessed it — the blacksmith!

Without a blacksmith, the whole town would grind to a halt. They shaped iron and steel into everything people needed to survive, from door hinges to boat anchors for Lake Michigan fishermen.

Today, you can visit the historic Glen Haven Blacksmith Shop and watch the action. See volunteers like Tom and Joanne creating authentic, hand-crafted parts for other national parks.
If you see them, let them know you appreciate their talents. Come check it out!

#SleepingBearDunes #NationalPark #History #GlenHaven Man in a red T-shirt wears gloves while using a hammer on red-hot metal atop an anvil. A fiery forge and wooden beams of the building are in the background. by @sleepingbearnps

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a month ago

What do deer, bears, turkeys, and turtles have in common?

Answer: They don't care about roads or vehicles.

Animals are good at hiding along roadsides, and they can decide to cross at any time. It is important to be aware that animals are around, even when you do not see them.

The best way to avoid injuring wildlife is to drive slowly and scan the road and roadsides as you drive.

If an animal is in the road, avoid swerving. Brake and use your horn to scare it out of the road. For turtles, brake, and when safe to do so, pass in the oncoming lane.

Moving turtles from the road can be incredibly dangerous for both drivers and turtles. Always consider your own safety first.

https://www.fws.gov/story/tips-helping-turtle-cross-road

NPS Photo of a snapping turtle/A. Loggins A large snapping turtle with a rough shell and textured skin moves across a forest floor. by @sleepingbearnps

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a month ago