The first hike we did when I moved to Traverse City was the Pyramid Point Trail. We were so excited to explore the area and see the big gorgeous views of Lake Michigan and we were told that the Pyramid Point Trail was the perfect place to do so! Well, I am here to confirm, it is! I will never get over the feeling I had the first time we arrived at the viewpoint. I turned to Jake and said, “I’m never leaving!” This trail is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of Northern Michigan. Also, for those who don’t want a long hike, it’s just a quick 1/2 of a mile to the viewpoint from the trailhead. You can either walk to the viewpoint and then go back to the parking lot or you can take the full loop for a longer hike of almost 3 miles.
P.S. pretty much all these photos were all taken with a disposable camera so they are a bit grainy and the color is distorted.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING THE PYRAMID POINT TRAIL
The Pyramid Point Trail is a 2.7-mile trail loop, the trailhead starts with a small dusty path and moves through a few different environments. Overall, I would say that this hike is short but still intermediate because there are several steep hills. Also, it’s the perfect hike to enjoy on a sunny day as half of it is shaded.
After the short dusty path through the meadow you will arrive in a beautiful forest surrounded by beech and maple trees .
Then about a half of a mile later you will arrive at the high bluffs for your gorgeous view of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands!
The first time we visited we were here in mid-August. On a Saturday and it wasn’t too busy? I think we got lucky? If you come on the weekend prepare for crowds as this trail gets busier and busier every time I go.
Here you can either continue on the trail along the lake that will take you through the forrest again or head back to the parking lot. Also, the last 0.4 miles of the loop follows Basch Road so watch out for traffic as you return to the trailhead.
CAN YOU WALK DOWN THE BLUFF TO THE WATER?
So this blog post is a bit misleading but I wanted to take my mistakes to teach all of you! There are many places in Northern Michigan where you can walk down the dunes and make the very strenuous walk back up, but unfortunately, Pyramid Point Trail is not one of them. When we came here we had just moved to the area and there were no signs stating that you couldn’t go down to the water. We were also told by others doing the hike that you were allowed to, but if you couldn’t get back up you had to pay for the coast guard to rescue you. So of course we wanted to take the challenge and try it! Later I learned they actually advise against this to protect the dunes and natural habitat of the area and they have to do many rescues so please refrain from doing so!
But I obviously have to share our photos from when we did…
Half way down we saw a bald eagle soar above us!
The way down was so much fun but SO hot! It was so refreshing to hit the water for a swim.
The way up though. You guys, it literally kicked our asses and I completely understand why they don’t allow you to do it anymore. When we did this we were in great shape and still stopped 100 times before we reached the top. Fun challenge, but definitely wouldn’t do it again even if it was allowed!
IS PYRAMID POINT TRAIL OPEN YEAR ROUND?
The answer is yes! You can visit this beautiful trail at any time of the year. I have only been in the summer as I typically visit Empire Bluff Trailhead in the winter but I am going to visit this winter and will add some pictures to this blog after I do.
WHAT TO BRING ON YOUR HIKE
If you have the time I recommend having a little picnic up there so you can really take in the view before finishing the loop.
- Pack your own lunch or pick something up in Glen Arbor on the way to the trailhead.
- Cherry Republic and Good Harbor Grill are great options.
- Blanket
- Chacos or tennis shoes
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Lots of water
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Pyramid Point I couldn’t recommend it more! Please make sure to respect the dunes while you enjoy the gorgeous views Northern Michigan has to offer. To learn more about this trail or to make sure it’s open, check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes website. Also, you can click the link to learn more about my adventures in my home state of Michigan!
Thanks so much for reading along!
