Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on snowshoes this winter! Join park rangers for a guided snowshoe hike every Saturday throughout the winter, starting on Saturday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m. Meet at the visitor center in Empire. If you do not have your own, snowshoes will be loaned out at no charge.

Inside the visitor center, park rangers will first provide basic snowshoeing instructions and then everyone will travel by car to the trailhead or area of the National Lakeshore pre-selected for that day. Once there, the park ranger will help participants learn about the park’s unique features and winter’s effect on them by exploring and discovering clues on site. Be prepared and plan to be outside until about 3:00 p.m. Dress in layers and wear waterproof boots to be most comfortable.

Not only is snowshoeing easy, fun, and good exercise, it is also an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. The park ranger-led hikes are mildly strenuous, yet they proceed at a leisurely pace for only one and a half miles at the most.

Since the National Park Service has a supply of snowshoes for use within the National Lakeshore, participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass to join in the fun. Reservations are required. Park ranger-led snowshoe hikes are limited to 30 participants.

Snowshoe Hikes
Dates: Every Saturday Weekly from 01/07/2012 to 03/31/2012
Times: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Meet at the visitor center

Fees: Park pass required

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134, extension 328, for details and to make reservations or visit the website at www.nps.gov/slbe. Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

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