Located within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, MI, the Good Harbor Bay Trail offers a 2.8-mile loop through a diverse landscape. The trail begins with a short section of low coastal dunes, providing access to the picturesque Lake Michigan beach, before winding through wooded areas and a swamp with the help of a small bridge. Along the way, hikers can observe the different plant communities that have developed parallel to the shoreline, showcasing the gradual emergence of this land from being underwater at the end of the Ice Age.
The Good Harbor Bay Trail offers a flat terrain with a few small grades, making it suitable for all skill levels. This scenic trail takes visitors on a journey through an active dune zone, a shrub zone, a pine-oak forest, and the beginnings of a beech-maple forest, highlighting the transformation of barren beaches into thriving ecosystems over the past few thousand years. With its natural beauty and diverse vegetation, the Good Harbor Bay Trail is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers seeking a tranquil outdoor experience.
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