Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
A one-way forest loop of about 11 km with several lookout points. The most famous, Stop 9, sits atop a 100-meter-high sand bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.
The scenic drive passes through beech and maple forests and dunes, with 12 numbered stops. From them you can see Glen Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and North and South Manitou Islands. Stop 9, the "Lake Michigan Overlook," sits atop a sand bluff about 140 meters high, and the view is spectacular. The slope below is extremely steep. Warning signs note that going down is easy but climbing back up is very hard, and rescue costs are high, so it's not recommended to run down. The drive takes about an hour. You can also ride a bicycle. A national lakeshore pass is required. It is most beautiful around sunset.
Opening hours
About 09:00 until after sunset (seasonal)
Nearby sights
- Sleeping Bear Dunes Dune Climb
- Glen Haven Historic Village & Maritime Museum
- Empire Bluff Trail
- Glen Arbor
- Pyramid Point
- South Manitou Island
- Point Betsie Lighthouse
- Fishtown (Leland)