US-MI-Sleeping+Bear+Dunes+NL+(north+of+Glen+Arbor)


 * =Birding in Michigan=

Leelanau County
=Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (North of Glen Arbor)= [|Good Harbor Bay Trail web site] [|Good Harbor Bay Trail map] [|Pyramid Point Trail web site] [|Pyramid Point Trail map]

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Good Harbor Bay Trail
Coordinates: 44.9368361, -85.8574031 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Narada Lake
Coordinates: 44.9330888, -85.9055328 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Sleeping Bear Dunes NL--Pyramid Point Trail
Coordinates: 44.9648587, -85.9267759 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

South Port Oneida Rd.
Coordinates: 44.9530579, -85.9400067 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Good Harbor Bay Trail
Good Harbor Bay includes a variety of habitats including lakeshore, dunes, pine plains, Shalda Creek, and woods. The 2.8 mile Good Harbor Bay Trail loop is mostly wooded and crosses several wooded wetland areas. If you walk this trail, it is recommended to take a trail map which is available at the trailhead. If you continue a short distance past the trailhead to the end of Lake Michigan Road, there is a small picnic area near the shoreline with good views of the bay.

The huge White Pines and the adjacent smaller pines, cedars, and scrub in the dune transition forest at Good Harbor Bay are traditional nesting grounds for Prairie Warbler. Please stay on marked trails in these areas, as this state-endangered warbler nests on the ground. Pine Warblers are also very present. From April through June and again in August and September look along the shoreline of Good Harbor Bay for migrating shorebirds, and scan the lake for migrating waterfowl. In summer you might see and hear fledgling Merlins begging to be fed.

Lake Michigan Road. Turn right (east) and travel about 0.7 mile to the Good Harbor Bay Hiking Trail. From [|Sleeping Bear Birding Trail: Good Harbor Bay Trail web site]
 * Directions:** Beginning from the intersection of M-22 and County Road 669, travel north on CR 669 about 1 mile to

Pyramid Point Trail
Pyramid Point is a spectacular trail and viewing site located in the Port Oneida area. About 2.5 miles of trails will take birders through open fields, northern hardwood forests, and to the crest of the dunes. The view from the top of Pyramid Point is great, but don’t expect to see birds on the water from this high steep bluff. Birds along the trail include Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, and Bank Swallows, a true reflection of the diversity of the ecosystems found on this trail.

The drive and directions to Pyramid Point are found below. For a more adventurous trip to and from the area, S. Basch Rd. continuing past the trailhead parking area is a gravel road that is an exceptional example of mature forested dunes. The canopy and steep ravines along this road harbor many deep woods species and the road will eventually take you back out to Basch Rd. and M-22. It is a worthwhile side-trip and makes for an exciting loop through the Port Oneida area (closed in winter).

From [|Sleeping Bear Birding Trail: Pyramid Point web site]
 * Directions:** From the intersection of M-22 and Port Oneida Road, (3.5 miles west on M-22 from the M22/County Road 669 intersection) turn north on Port Oneida Road and travel about 2.1 miles to the Pyramid Point Hiking Trail parking area. Turn right on S. Basch Rd. when you get past Camp Leelanau/Kohanna, the trailhead is located just up the gravel road on the left. Trail maps are available at the trailhead.

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Port Oneida
The Port Oneida Rural Historic District is an area within the National Park that is historically significant because it conveys the land use practices, Port Oneida Rural Historic District architecture, and evolution of agricultural technology common to subsistence farms of the upper Great Lakes region. Many of the turn of the century homes and farms have been preserved by volunteers. A loop including Port Oneida Rd., Baker Rd., and Kelderhouse Rd. traverses open meadows, climbs a small ridge into deep forest and pine plantation, and parallels lowland swamp. The entire loop is 3.5 miles, driving the loop is certainly easy, it’s a mix of paved road and gravel. Walking or biking the road provides a unique birding experience given the diversity of habitat.

In spring and summer look for field-nesting birds; you may find Eastern Meadowlarks, American Kestrels, Eastern Bluebirds, Upland Sandpipers and Bobolinks. If you are very lucky you might see a Sedge Wren, Sandhill Crane, or Wilson’s Snipe. Raptors often soar above the nearby hills, especially during migration in late April and early May. Sparrows include Vesper, Clay-colored, Fox, and Grasshopper. Alder and Least Flycatchers are found near the intersection of Baker and Kelderhouse.

There is a short spur that veers to the northwest from Port Oneida Rd. It ends at Lake Michigan and there are some newly constructed stairs that will take you down to the beach for water viewing opportunities.

From [|Sleeping Bear Birding Trail: Port Oneida web site] || L263739 US US-MI US-MI-089 44.9368361 -85.8574031 Good Harbor Bay Trail L585267 US US-MI US-MI-089 44.9330888 -85.9055328 Narada Lake L1186586 US US-MI US-MI-089 44.9648587 -85.9267759 Sleeping Bear Dunes NL--Pyramid Point Trail L2334420 US US-MI US-MI-089 44.9530579 -85.9400067 South Port Oneida Rd.
 * Directions:** From Glen Arbor, MI continue north on M-22 for 3.5 miles. Turn left on Port Oneida Rd which is paved. Travel along this road for one mile and turn right on Baker Rd. This gravel road will take you up a wooded ridge, force you to turn right at the top and you will descend down to Kelderhouse Rd. From here, take a right to go through the wetlands and you will end up back at Port Oneida Rd. completing the loop.