Free Admission Day at Sleeping Bear

By Jillian Manning | April 9, 2022

This Saturday kicks off National Parks Week. To celebrate, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is waiving their $25 entrance fee on April 16, making it the perfect day to visit the park in early spring. At this time of year, the sand is still chilly and compressed, which means you can explore the Dune Climb and other sandy hikes with a little less effort than it would normally take. Due to our colder spring, morel season isn’t quite here yet, but even if the mushrooms haven’t arrived, you can at least check out how your secret spot has fared since last spring. (At the lakeshore, you can forage for up to one gallon of personal use morels per day.) Last but not least, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is still open to foot traffic only—no cars—so you can enjoy all those gorgeous views on the 7.4-mile loop without elbowing for space among busloads of people. Plan your visit at nps.gov/slbe or call (231) 326-4700.