In Leelanau, Our Skyscrapers Are Sand Dunes

Eight years ago, the excellent Pantheos blog shared a list of Michigan’s coastal “skyscraper” dunes. I think it’s always a good time to point out exactly what we are preserving in our national parks which is in this case really big sand dunes!!

  1. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire Bluff Main Dune) in Leelanau County = 526 feet (2nd picture was taken from there – more Empire Bluff on Leelanau.com)
  2. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire Bluff, second peak) in Leelanau County = 492 feet
  3. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire Bluff Dune, third peak) in Leelanau County = 479 feet
  4. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Momma Bear Dune) in Leelanau County = 473 feet
  5. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Old Baldy Dune) in Leelanau County = 469 feet
  6. Arcadia Dunes (highest dune) in Benzie County = 460 feet
  7. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Shauger Hill Dune) in Leelanau County = 460 feet
  8. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Pierce Stocking/Overlook 9) in Leelanau County = 450 feet
  9. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune NE of N Bar Lake) in Leelanau County = 447 feet
  10. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune NW of Aral Hills) in Leelannau County = 430 feet

OK, OK – so I’m cherry picking the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Let’s have a look at the next ten…

  1. Sleeping Bear Dunes (South Manitou Island – five highest dunes) in Leelannau County measure at 424 feet 338 feet, 329 feet, 325 feet, and 319 feet respectively
  2. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune SE of Momma Bear Dune) in Leelanau County = 417 feet
  3. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire Radar Station Dune) in Leelananu County = 407 feet
  4. Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire Bluff Overlook) in Leelanau County = 400 feet
  5. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune E of N. Bar Lake) in Leelanau County = 397 feet
  6. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune east of Shauger Hill Dune) in Leelanau County = 388 feet
  7. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune east of Momma Bear Dune) in Leelanau County = 384 feet
  8. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune north of Shauger Hill Dune) in Leelanau County = 381 feet
  9. Sleeping Bear Dunes (dune S of Old Baldy Dune) in Leelanau County = 381 feet
  10. Lookout Point Dune in Manistee County = 379 feet

photos by problogic

Dusk at one of the smaller Sleeping Bear Dunes near Glen Haven – note the microscopic person standing atop the dune. (photo by problogic/pantheos)
View from Empire Bluff Dune overlook to the north – more enormous dunes are visible in the distance. photo by problogic/pantheos)
2025 Cheese Shanty Opening Day: Friday, April 18th!Endangered Piping Plover Pair by JamesEyeViewPhotographyGabby, the Oldest Plover is back home in Sleeping Bear!