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E.G.D.A Winter Beach Walk at Good Harbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan
Posted by Jody on March 6, 2013
Today’s Featured Guest Writer/Photographer is Beth Dole:
Sleeping Bear Dunes in Northern Michigan has wonderful beaches, and few ever get out to explore their winter beauty. This week Good Harbor beach made national news for a peculiar formation of ice balls on the beach (see last picture). I couldn’t wait to get out there and check them out, but by the time the weekend rolled around the dynamic beach had of course changed. Now it was frozen sand and ice, with frozen ice balls. The beach was icy enough one could ice skate on it, the rocks were frozen solid with great ice formations to explore.
Winter Wonderland at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
My advice to all is to visit the beach all year round, winter can be delightful on the beach.
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes (Photo by Beth Dole)
Ice Balls (Photo by Leda Jo)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Northwestern Lower Michigan along the shores of Lake Michigan. The Visitor Center is in Empire, MI about 25 miles from Traverse City. Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. Sleeping Bear Dunes is as old as continental ice sheets and as young as the 1970 Establishment Act that set aside the Lakeshore for preservation of the natural resources and for public use. The most prominent features, and those for which the park is named, are the perched dunes above Lake Michigan. These immense sand dunes are “perched” atop the already towering headlands that are glacial moraines. The dune overlooks at the Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above Lake Michigan. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water oriented.
About the Author: Beth Dole is the mom of two teenagers, avid outdoors person, loves the beach, can be found hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, kayaking in the north country when not writing blogs about heart disease.
A couple more helpful links:
The Official Website of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau
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Please stop by and visit Beth at her very informative and helpful blog: Rehabilitate Your Heart.
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Just a note: Beth, you are so right! Any time of year is the perfect season for a trip to the beach. Your photos are absolutely wonderful! Many, many thanks for sharing your beautiful, beachy part of the world with us! ~Jody
Maryanne said
I love the beach all year round too. Skipped this year for the first time because of the hurricane, it’s just too depressing. My husband and I even take long weekend trips to the beach in the winter. It’s so fun when it’s all quiet. It’s a whole new world.
Jody said
So sorry about the hurricane this year, but you are so right. Some of our best beach trips have been during the winter months. So peaceful. It’s almost like having the whole world to yourself.
E.G.D. said
And in many places, the shelling is better in the winter months!
Jody said
Right you are!
ehkstream said
Sleeping Bear is a wonderful place in all seasons, it was my home turf for many years. These ice formations are familiar, the sand laden coatings and wind twirled icicles. Kayaking in Good Harbor was a favorite pastime, gliding over fields of glacial boulders looming eerily underneath, seeming to be within arms reach in the clear water yet a fathom or more below. Thanks for this excellent pictorial!
Jody said
What a beautiful place to live! & Beth really did a bang up job! I just want to hop on a plane and head to Sleeping Bear Dunes right now!!
~ Please feel free to share your beachy experiences with us too! We’d love to see and experience as many beaches as possible!
ehkstream said
Can do Jody, though my times there were before digital cameras and I have few pictures. I do have a couple of now humorous fotos when I had a friend and her !4 megapixel! Sony (the ones with the floppy discs) camera recorded my newly completed totem pole at Good Harbor beach. I’ll dig them up…
Jody said
Evolution of X said
Awesome photos!
Jody said
I agree! Beth really got up close and personal for us.
diggingher said
What amazing pictures, I’ve never seen anything like it!
Jody said
Me neither! Aren’t they great?
kiwiskan said
Amazing photos. You won’t find these on New Zealand beaches
Jody said
I’ve never even heard of these ice balls before! I’d love to see them for myself some day.
Kodiak My Little Grizzly said
Wow very cool photos
Jody said
Yes, Beth really did an amazing job!
Rolling Harbour said
What extraordinary pics! Some of them look a bit sci-fi – not a place to park your beach chair, just in case…
Jody said
Sonia said
This is so fascinating!
Jody said
Yes, it really is! I’d like to see these for myself some day.
lynnwyvill said
Love these photos. I love the beach in winter, but it is so cold! Thanks for sharing. i
Jody said
I know! It’s such a different feeling to be in the beach in coats, scarves, and gloves! The cold winds can be brutal but the scenery is always worth it.
rehabilitateyourheart said
Eye protection too, as the wind is brutal and you can’t see much through watering eyes. unless your are shielding them with a camera
lynnwyvill said
Right you are. I have a photo taken years ago where I’m bundled up just as you describe. I still get really cold when I look at it!
tosid01 said
WOW! AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! I must visit this place sometime! Amazing Pics! I am going to Press this, if I do it right! My absolute Favorite is the 4th to the last! I call it “Pebbles Frozen in time” LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Jody said
Wonderful!! It is sooo beautiful, isn’t it!? Your enthusiasm is very much appreciated (and contagious)!
Thank you!
rehabilitateyourheart said
I like the name Pebbles frozen in time
tosid01 said
You are welcome! And Thank You as well!
kara said
it’s scaary :s
great photos nonetheless!
Jody said
Thank you and thanks so much for stopping by!