Sleeping Bear Dunes Snowshoe

Sleeping Bear Dunes is a National Park 45 minutes to the west of Traverse City.  We've been wanting to get to this park since moving to Michigan to see the hundred foot sandscapes.  I guess we didn't think the first time would be in the winter, but it was still spectacular.

This area got hammered with snow.  Luckily the roads were empty.

This is a scenic drive they close in the winter jut for XC skiing and snowshoeing.

Sing with me: "the hills are alive"

Interpretive snowdance

Pine forest-y goodness

Ah, back at the start when we still had energy.

Cody got a serious workout in every step.

Huh, didn't see any bikes this time out.

This must be one of those Russian maps with the funny hats.

An homage to Vermont.

Oh deer.

We blazed all of this ourselves through 2-3 foot drifts.

Don't eat the yellow snow!

Unstaged.  This is what every step was like.

Frozen lake

Ice fishing

All day smiles.

Nice snowbeard.

Scenic overview parking lot.  Where does all this snow go when it melts?

Long winter shadows

The view was totally worth it.

Sand under there, I promise.

Peninsula out past the water

Where are all the purported bicycles?

Cody is up to her armpits trying to keep up.

Hark! I see sand.

Dunes rule.

Losing steam 1.5 hours into this hike.  The sun lifted spirits.

Did I mention there are hills?

We really want to bike these roads.

Finally a downhill.

Indefatigable. 

When will it end!  We miscalculated the distance back to the car. 

Top 5 all time pic of Cody in her element.

Back to the glorious pines after 2.5+ hours

We love the winter

 And we love a tired puppy.