| Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | |
|---|---|
 Various smaller dunes located within the Sleeping Bear Lakeshore | |
 Location of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | |
| Location | Benzie and Leelanau counties, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Empire, Michigan Glen Arbor, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°51′N 86°03′W / 44.850°N 86.050°W |
| Area | 71,199 acres (288.13 km2)[1] |
| Established | October 21, 1970 |
| Visitors | 1,501,117 (in 2022)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a U.S. national lakeshore in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Located within Benzie and Leelanau counties, the park extends along a 35-mile (56 km) stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, as well as North and South Manitou islands, preserving a total of 71,199 acres (111 sq mi; 288 km2). The park is known for its outstanding natural features, including dune formations, forests, beaches, and ancient glacial phenomena. The lakeshore also contains many cultural features, including the 1871 South Manitou Island Lighthouse, three former stations of the Coast Guard (formerly the Life-Saving Service), and an extensive rural historic farm district.
The park is administered by the National Park Service, and was established on October 21, 1970.[3] In 2011, the area won the title of "The Most Beautiful Place in America" from Good Morning America.[4] In 2014, a section of the park was named the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness by the United States Congress.
- ^ "Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore, Michigan, Park Statistics". National Park Service. April 10, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Annual Park Ranking Report for Recreation Visits in: 2022". National Park Service. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "A Nationalized Lakeshore: The Creation and Administration of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: by Theodore J. Karamanski". www.nps.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ Orso, Alberto & Parise, Sabrina (August 17, 2011). "Sleeping Bear Dunes Voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America'". Good Morning America. ABC News. Retrieved September 21, 2014.