Be prepared to feel the pain of the climb. The view from the top is breathtaking! I recommend…read moretaking it slow and steady. My kids ran up and down the dune. Additional scenic views if you climb the second dune. Plenty of parking. Bring your own water. Note: This is not the newsworthy dune climb that costs thousands of dollars to be rescued. This is the dedicated dune climb for visitors to enjoy.

For those visiting TC and wanting a more rugged experience, drive west to Sleeping Bear Dune and do…read moreyour best Timothee Chalamet impression. The dune is impressive. Like you've been transported to a desert planet. And this is the climb that makes you question your life choices. But don't be deterred. Get to the top and enjoy the view.

Such a beautiful scenic area with plenty of short distance hikes that offer fantasies views for the…read moreminimum effort requires. We have the national park pass which we were able to use during our visit. We stopped by numerous overlooks and of course, the main one where you can see the two land mass/bear cubs lay and the mama bear watching over them. You can read about the lore and why this area is named sleeping bear dunes. It's a cute, albeit sad story of love and loyalty and never leaving behind those you love. Now on to the wondrous nature view you'll find here. Sand dunes, yes! But also a beautiful lake view unobstructed by modern buildings. Pure nature beauty. This really is a place to visit. Don't skip it if you're in the area! It is dog friendly. There was even a kind man up on top of the dunes overlooks giving treats to pups. Our pup enjoyed the treats and the attention and I enjoyed creating memories with her and my husband in the middle of nature. Go check it out!

Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must if you are nearby! There are beaches that are free to enter, but to…read morego into the actual park and see the big dunes, you have to pay $20 per car, or you can get in with a National Parks pass. Most of it is drivable once you're in, and you can park your car off to the side of the road and view multiple different overlooks. The dunes are huge I was surprised. They're much bigger than I am used to seeing at Indiana Dunes! We stopped at the Lake Michigan overlook. There's a parking lot with plenty of parking. To get up to the overlook, you'll have to walk up a smallish sand dune. It's easier if you take your shoes off. Once you get up, there's super steep dunes that many people attempt to go all the way down then climb up on all fours. It's extremely hard to get back up!! Walking through sand is not easy. There's even a sign that warns you of the dangers of doing so and the damage it does to the dunes. There was a firetruck and ambulance on sight ready to rescue anyone.

Fantastic ! Very clean restrooms, and showers…read more Well maintained grass cutting, and tree trimming. Check it out . Pull your rig in here and set a spell. Take a hot shower . Enjoy the island on your bicycle,motorcycle, or car . Have fun !

My first Door County experience included driving up the peninsula to the car ferry (with a couple…read moreof stops on the way), and onto Washington Island for a weekend of camping and sightseeing. I believe Washington Island Campground is THE ONLY camping on the island. The island has an "old timey" feel to it where everyone waves as you drive by and is very kind to tourists from what we experienced. As one lady we spoke to put it "They are so nice it's almost creepy". But onto the campground itself...it's not right there once you get off the ferry, maybe a couple of miles away. Fairly easy to find if you use the map they provide at the ferry station. I have not been to a campground in a long time but this one seemed fairly comparable to most I've been to. They have RV/trailer camping, horse camping, tent (electric or non) and cute little cabins you can rent. The grounds have a main office that sells wood for $6 a bunch (tip: you can probably name your own price if you buy more than one) and other small items but it's not a huge selection or anything. Besides, you're camping right?! They also have an inside lounge type area with a TV, pinball and other games, a pool table and an ATM. This would be good if you were waiting for someone to shower or it ended up raining, but we never had a use for it. Onto the showers...they are pretty clean and they are the type where you pop in a quarter and 6ish minutes later you have to add it again. BUT... you do get the quarter back so it's a free shower. The showers and flush able toilets are connected to the main building, but there is one other set of pit toilets on the other side of the grounds. If you have a site further away you may want to drive if you need the flushing toilets. The campsites were okay, some are better than others. We camped in the non-electric tent side and because it was before the busy time hits on July 4th we had pick of the sites which was cool. We were literally the only ones there for two nights, aside from random RVs and horse campers. And please note, sites near the horses can hear the horses in the morning hours lol. Site #20 is a popular one and would be good for two tents and cars, but it had less grass than we wanted. Bug wise we had no ticks and we didn't really have an issue in late June with mosquitos or anything else. We saw lots of interesting bugs/wildlife on the island such as a tree frog that sat on our chair for two hours near the fire, a lot of tadpoles in the campground man-made pond, a snake in the road and bald eagles. Just a really nice weekend overall. I would camp here again for sure, but would also consider renting one of the cabins. Our only true complaint was this: the people who run the office are very nice and were very accommodating. However, they keep their dog tied up 24 hours a day outside of the office and that just bothers me a lot. One of the times we had to give him water because he was out and no one was around. I feel like he is a bit neglected being tied to a 5' rope all of time and that alone might prevent me from camping there again. I should also mention, they have their own black horse on the property with an electric fence around it. I guess most people know what an electric fence looks like (including my boyfriend who accidentally touched it and got shocked but was ok after his bad headache passed) but I think they need to have a sign on it so small children and those who do not know are warned. That's it. It's a nice campground and I would more than likely return sometime.

Looking for a little peace and quiet in Door County? Whitefish Dunes State Park is a wonderful…read moreplace to kick back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan! Pack a picnic lunch, beach towel, blanket, and swimsuit, and settle in for an afternoon of sunshine, sandy beaches, and waves gently rolling ashore. Ahhh, now that's my kind of afternoon! There's plenty of parking (be sure to pay the park admission fee!), restrooms, a small gift shop, vending machines, and picnic areas with grills. The dunes themselves are beautiful, although we've noticed they've gotten smaller over the years. And one little word of warning: Watch out for those seagulls! They're not the least bit shy and would happily help themselves to your peanut butter and jelly sandwich if given the chance. Please don't feed them! A beautiful, peaceful place to slow down, breathe in the fresh air, and simply enjoy everything that makes Door County so special.

I'm adding in an update since my last review was 4 years ago, but please also see my previous…read morereviews. This is a lovely park, and since my last visit they have rebuilt the access to the beach that is near the parking lot. They've also added a blue mat that makes it easy to walk along the beach between entrance 1 and 2. The beach is beautiful and a great place to look for fossils. After climbing back up to the trail at the second access point a park employee alerted us to the presence of orange slime mold on some stumps. Apparently it is a rare phenomenon and the bright orange goop is actually a collection of harmless amoebas. I learn something on every vacation! We hiked the loop and then continued on the new connection to Cave Point Country Park which made for a really nice half day hike!

We were unfamiliar with this campground, but we made reservations months in advance for two nights…read moreof tent camping in June, 2023 in Loop 4 (site 418). And, we're so glad that we did. It's a wonderful campground that is well-maintained by the National Park Service. The sites are huge, with a lot of space between you and your neighbors. The pads for pitching your tent are equally large, flat, and sandy -- and each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The clean bathrooms and showers are down the road, as are heavy duty containers for trash and recycling. The Rangers at the office were very friendly, and helpful. They also warned us to be bear-aware, as bears had been spotted near the campground. (We didn't see any). Unfortunately, there weren't any nature programs during our 2-night stay but we were there mid-week. We were staying at this campground primarily to visit the main sites of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Most of the main attractions (Empire Bluffs hike, Dune Climb, Scenic Drive) are about ten or more miles away. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a path adjacent to the campground that went down to Lake Michigan (about one mile each way). It mostly flat with walking in sand the closer you get to the lake. You could also drive down to a park at the end of the road. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset. There are also nearby options for bicycling and kayaking. The campground is a bargain at $26 per night for tent camping. (You also need to pay the entrance fee for the national park). There was a nice mix of other campers ... solos with a dog or two; retirees; and young families. All were quiet and abided to the rules for quiet hours and no generators in loop 4. We also lucked out with respect to the lack of bugs. We had been fighting mosquitos and midges in other wooded areas in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but hardly had any insect issues at this campground. Two things worth mentioning. (1) Given the warnings about being bear aware, the NPS should consider installing bear boxes at each site for the storage of food and other scented items. (2) Firewood can be purchased at a "vending machine" for $7. While the machine for traditional firewood was working, the one for a composite substitute that we wanted to try had a broken credit card reader (and we didn't have the right denominations to pay cash). Overall, a great trip!

There's a lot to recommend this place: running water and flush toilets, plenty of firewood (for…read moresale on the honor system via Venmo, so you can grab it at any hour of the night), lots of sites, lots of trees so you don't immediately feel like there are lots of sites, and a great location in the natural beauty of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. But: if you've been spoiled by the rugged awesomeness of southern Utah campsites, if your kids think that a good campsite has to have something interesting to climb or do within spitting distance of your tent, if you are looking for something more than basically a forested parking lot in a very beautiful place, then even this great spot will disappoint you. Alas, I am the latter kind of camper, the kind who mostly camps only as a chance to stay someplace otherwise inaccessible. So this is fine camping if you love camping, but it's not the kind of camping that makes you a camping lover.

Such a beautiful place... you can spend days exploring and enjoying the area or just do the dune…read moreclimb! I love National Parks and this is a beautiful National Lakeshore that I highly recommend Lots of people don't realize you can't see the lake from here- just a quick climb up and drive down the road to the cannery or to Pierce Stocking Drive will give you a great view

Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of Michigan's true gems! Such unique landscape and along a significant…read moreportion of the coastline of one of our (best) Great Lakes, there is so much you can do here! You can hike, climb, play, swim, tube, the list goes on! These dunes are MASSIVE - some of the biggest in this country! If you're Michigan raised like I am, you were taught the legend of Sleeping Bear Dunes as a kid growing up. If you haven't heard the legend, I highly recommend that you look it up before coming here, just for some fun (perhaps a bit depressing) history, but it informs our natural landscape in this area & I hold that close to my heart. I honestly highly recommend doing Sleeping Bear in all seasons BUT summer. I personally am not a huge fan of heat, let alone hot sand, with no shade anywhere, on a summer's day! Sleeping Bear is also so popular during the summer since it's one of our biggest tourist destinations for Michiganders and non-Michiganders alike. So if you want to avoid the massive crowds and also actually enjoy exploring the extensive dune system and gorgeous views of Sleeping Bear without breaking too much of a sweat, come in the spring or the fall! If you love winter sports like cross-country skiing, DEFINITELY check out Sleeping Bear in the winter when so many of the trails switch over to cross-country skiing trails exclusively! I absolutely love Sleeping Bear Dunes and it's another reason why I'm so thankful to have been raised and continue to live in Michigan. There is so much diversity and variety in what Michigan has to offer, and I'm just so proud that Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of those things.

This is a nice little park with a lovely view and beach space. There are two playground spaces, a…read morelittle lighthouse (possibly just decorative, but it was cute and added to the scenery), basketball and volleyball courts, and a boat launch. Restrooms are available, and there are parking lots (for a fee). Benches and picnic tables are also available. The playground we opted to check out was set right in the sand and was much enjoyed.

We took a trip from traverse city to check out the dunes & this was the closest beach we had found…read more We came in May and there was literally no one there. It was peaceful! Water was clear and we found so many rocks. It had two playgrounds and a shallow side on the opposite side of the lake. Although, the water was shallow enough for my two year old to play in on the actually Lake Michigan side. We loved this beach so much!! Parking is $1 an hour. Bathrooms on site as well

I'm adding an update since it's been 4 years since my last review of this park, but please also see…read moremy 2 earlier reviews. They have completely rebuilt the fire tower adding an accessible ramp. While we are able to climb stairs, we enjoyed the ramp a great deal. I'm not a huge fan of open stairs and found this wide ramp that is intended for both wheelchair users and walkers to be a very pleasant way to reach the viewing platform and return to ground level. The view from the top is amazing on a clear day. We also walked part of the sunset bike trail as an out and back which was lovely. We started at the beach, headed toward the lighthouse and continued on to the bluffs/cliffs before turning around. It was about 6 miles round trip and had lots of wildflowers and beaches along the way. This is a great trail for anyone who doesn't want to navigate a lot of tree roots or rocks. Other updates: The lighthouse is being refurbished and is scheduled to reopen later in June 2026. There are now food trucks near the beach if you don't feel like bringing a picnic lunch!

This is a review of the park of someone who went there on a rainy day to see some spots but did not…read morecamp or spend a lot of time. To access the park, you have to pay a vehicle admission pass at the visitor center. Daily pass for out-of-state plates is $16. The rates are different for Wisconsin plates and senior citizens. 12-month pass is available as well. The small gift shop in the visitor center has magnets, stickers, paper weights, shirts, etc. There are also comfort rooms inside. It was raining when we visited. The rain stopped for a bit and we were able to see Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. We weren't able to go in the lighthouse because it was still early and not yet open. It was okay from the outside. We also went to see the Eagle Tower. Since it was raining and dark clouds were all over, we did not see the nice view that this spot is known for.

For any outdoor enthusiasts exploring around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore...I highly…read morerecommend staying here at Empire Township Campground!! Yes...I discovered it through the trusty ole app on my phone called CAMPENDIUM! In fact, I've used Campendium to locate plenty of campsites, RV Trailer Parks and rest stops along my plenty of travels these last few years. Definitely...if you're an adventurer...download Campendium. And what's great about it is that you can find campsites at the last minute/spur of the moment. That's how I came upon this Empire Township Campground. After driving all day to Sleeping Bear Dunes...I knew I needed a place to camp out because there weren't many accommodations offered in the area. Campendium mentioned to just show up here and it's first come, first served. I visited back in late May of this year 2021. The camp host was very friendly. She mentioned had I visited over the weekend, the campsites would have been full. So fortunately, I showed up on a Tuesday evening and there were plenty of spaces available. There were 60 campsites for me to choose from. The host handed me a map and told me to pick a site that was unoccupied and then return to the entrance where she'd secure my reservation. I picked Site #6 located right near the shower house. It was $25 per night for primitive camping. Having already planned out my Sleeping Bear Dunes itinerary ahead of time...I booked for 2 nights here for $50. So...I'd spend the first night here, hang out all day at Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore the following day, return back here for my 2nd evening, and then finish up my explorations of the area the last day and eventually move onto my next destination. For being here for 2 nights...I surprisingly planned out everything perfectly! Here are some details about this Empire Township Campground... It's located 5 miles outside the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center and the quiet little town of Empire, Michigan. My cell phone reception worked perfectly so I was able to watch a movie inside my tent one night before going to sleep. They have 3 showers. But...bring quarters with you as they charge .50 cents for every 3 minutes of hot water use. I used $1.50 and took my time cleaning off for 9 minutes. Outside the shower house there were a few electrical outlets which allowed me to plug in my phone and generator to grab some power. They actually offered AMP Power at some sites. In fact, I probably should have paid extra (which I'm sure wouldn't have cost much) for the accessible AMP Power. Oh well, my bad. My campsite #6 featured plenty of space and room. I felt like I was in the heart of nature and far enough away from other campers to have some privacy. The whole setting here was really pleasant. The camp host does sell ice to keep drinks cold as well as firewood to ignite flames for chilly evenings. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Also, charcoal grills are allowed as well. One night I barbecued some hot dogs during a scenic sunset. There's also dump stations for RV's. For locating this Empire Township Campground...simply plug the name into Google Maps and you'll have no issues finding it. They have real toilets for when using the bathroom, not vault toilets or porta potties. That's always a nice aspect. I can't think of anything else to say other than my 2 night experience here was quite memorable for all the good reasons. For anyone interested in getting ready to explore the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan and heading north, I highly suggest making Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore a priority to visit and choosing this Empire Township Campground as a your place for enjoying nights in the great outdoors.

Easy to find, good communication. Good amount of bathrooms and trash cans spread out. Campsite was…read moreclean. Personally prefer above ground campfires for ease of physicality and cooking

A great walk to the lakeshore through the woods. Not a hard hike, great for the family, but a bit…read moreof a trudge through the sand dunes. It's worth it though as there was no one else on the beach when I was there, although it was rather early morning (got back to the parking lot at 1100). Black and Green Arrow trails are nice but take insect repellent in the summer; these trails wind around and between several ponds and marshy areas.

This trail is relatively short and uninteresting, but in looking ahead at the trail guide, there…read morewas going to be a point where it would jut out to Lake Michigan, halfway through the trail. We were really looking forward to that, only to realize once we approached that this stretch of the trail did not allow dogs. The 0.3 miles (one way) of straight uphill climb it took to get to that Lake Michigan view was closed off to dogs even though this trail was listed as dog-friendly? Honestly, that was quite disappointing. So we had no choice but to continue on and loop back around to head towards the parking lot. A very underwhelming hike indeed.