• Distance: 1.5 miles

• Terrain: Moderate, hilly terrain that is all sand with no shade.

• Vegetation: Trail winds through a highland, up to 400 ft above Lake Michigan. Loose, shifting sand on hilly terrain with cottonwood trees and native grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers.

• Trailhead: Stop #4 along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

• Pets: Leashed pets are allowed on trail.

Comments:
Want to experience the dune plateau? The 1.5-mile Cottonwood Trail is a great place to get out of your car, loop through the perched dunes, and see the sublime scenery up close. The Cottonwood trail loops over unique dune landscapes and offers spectacular views over golden sand dunes of the azure sky, aquamarine Glen Lake, white D. H. Day barn, ultramarine blue Lake Michigan, and distant verdant green of the Manitou Islands.

Fees: A National Park Pass is required. A variety of options are available and can be purchased online or at the Visitors Center in Empire.

Location: Parking lot at stop #4 on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Empire