Empire Bluff Trail

Dogs on a leash all year

Woodland trail to a bluff over Lake Michigan.

Source: National Park Service, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: Pets. Checked October 28, 2026.

Route shown on the map: about 1.4 km of trail as mapped in OpenStreetMap. Trails can include side paths, so check the park map for the walk you plan.

Follow the signs at the trailhead: parks can close areas to dogs for wildlife.

Show on the map

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: the rule in full

Leashed pets are allowed all year on Empire Bluff, Pyramid Point and Cottonwood trails and on set stretches of beach, including Glen Haven Beach east to the Glen Arbor boundary. Closed to pets all year: the Dune Climb face, North Bar Lake access, the Maritime Museum grounds and several beach sections.

Dog walks nearby

• Pyramid Point TrailDogs on a leash all year

Nearby beaches

• Glen Haven BeachDogs on a leash all year