pyramid point trail

wes1031

I always try to bring out of town guests out here regardless of their physical abilities. There is a short (1/2 mile) well maintained trail from the parking lot that goes uphill through the trees to open up to beautiful view of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. This is a great spot to see the dunes and you don't even have to get sand in your feet if you don't want to. If you are just there for a view, it is great to take in the scenery and maybe even enjoy a picnic. If you are looking for something a bit more strenuous and physical, run down the dune to the lakeshore. Be warned though, the run down is much easier than the run up and it is somewhat physically demanding to make the trek from the bottom to the top. Also, wear some shoes that you don't mind getting some sand in if you decide to go to the bottom. I am still shaking sand out of a pair of shoes that I was wearing on a dune trip two summers ago..

Jenniferleigh30

After hearing the great reviews my mom, sister and I decided to stop for a hike. The hike is pretty steep and will take you a while if you're out of shape but it is doable. The view is decent. You get almost the same view from the Empire Bluff Trail and that was is easier to navigate. Driving in and out of the area was a bit tricky. We had a 4-wheel drive Explorer and I'd be nervous in anything less. The road was very rocky and full of deep pot holes full of mud. There's no signage to get you back to the main road so hopefully you have a map!

IndyAngie

My partner and I visited in early October 2014. We had to hunt a bit to find the trailhead (the park service maps aren't the best) and were rushing a bit to arrive with time to get to the top before sunset.Nice, although a bit steep and heart-pounding, hike through a white birch forest -- maybe 20 minutes -- to reach the overlook. While the view is indeed impressive (and the few other visitors present were inching WAY TOO NEAR the edge of the dune for my comfort; see posted signs for safety and note, rescue is performed at a fee!), we were disappointed that at this time of year, the sunset is not viewable from the top of the bluff (probably is in June-July, when sun sets further north on the horizon).There is one fallen tree you can sort of sit on (but probably not for much longer, as it looks to be getting overtaken by sand) but otherwise, don't expect to linger long. You pretty much hike up, look around for a bit, then turn around and go back. Enjoy the view!

KimberlyS4

Since I have mobility issues, we meandered roads I don't think we were supposed to be on, but found breathtaking scenery and peaceful woodlands.

457mikee

It is a great place to see some dunes and not pay for any parking. Beautiful drive in the back country to find this gem.

AMAY1776

This overlook and trail were a high point of our trip. It was incredible beautiful and peaceful place.

meganmP6149HM

We took the 20 minute trail up to the dune lookout (which was wonderful) and then decided to take the longer trail down to meadow and then back up and around the woods. It was the perfect length and not that difficult. We aren't hikers or big athletes and we handled it just fine. Highly recommend.

hh219

This is a short hike that should be doable for most people. Even though you are essentially ascending a dune, the trail goes through the forest and there are steps in the path so it doesn't feel like as much of a climb as it is. The views are gorgeous!Please obey the signs and don't be the person who needs rescued from climbing down the dune. If you want to climb, take the time to go to the actual Dune Climb area where there are rangers and proper facilities for that kind of activity. Pyramid Point is meant to be a scenic overlook -- the lake-facing side of the dune is very steep. If you have a dog with you, make sure you have it on-leash. When we were visiting this last weekend, a dog got away from its owner, ran down the dune, and swam probably a half a mile or so out. I did not envy the owner who had to go fetch his dog and then figure out how to get them both back up the dune again.

trbeer

We hiked Pyramid Point but we didn't go down the dune to Lake Michigan. We've done this before at Pierce Stocking Drive so we know how difficult it is to climb back up. The view of the 2 Manitou Islands, the Manitou Passage and the 2 Fox Islands was beautiful. We had hoped to hear and see more birds as we hiked through the woods and the meadow but there weren't many. We enjoyed this hike.

Ralph49615

This is a great trail both for the beautiful view at the top, as well as varied woods and meadow terrains. Nice climbs up/down hills are challenging, but not difficult.

Alive2332

We did the short route, since we had a lot of ground to cover that day. But we ended up spending a lot of time at the top because it was so beautiful. Not difficult and highly recommended.

hoosierref

Short easy hike. Well worth the amazing view once you get up there.If you were on a budget, and didn't want to pay the $10 for the Sleeping Bear scenic drive, do this trail, and the sunset at Empire Bluff Trail, and there is two breaktaking free views!Follow the signs advice...if you aren't in excellent shape, and work out regularly, do NOT try going to bottom of dune. Go down a 1/4, then come back up, and be thankful when you realize that was more than enough!

751kw751

Nice hike thought the woods, gradual uphill slopes that are medium difficulty. Beautiful View at the end with a steep dune down to the water if you are feeling adventurous.

michrocks

We've been vacationing in northern Michigan for years and somehow overlooked this particular hike on our many trips to the area. I've always been a fan of Pierce Stocking Drive and all the beautiful views from the various overlooks. This is another one of those fantastic views. The day we were there it was somewhat hazy in the distance so our view of the Manitou islands was limited - I'd love to return on a clearer day and spend more time. Bring water and a camera. I wish I had been wearing tennis shoes instead of flip flops - the gravel on the descent tends to move under your feet as you are walking - better traction would have helped. As mentioned by other writers, there are various hikes to take - we started the meadow hike but when we realized that we were descending with no end in site (the trail marker does not mention how long the hike is - check at the trail head for a better idea of length), we elected to skip it - having no desire to hike UP when we were done.

barnet38

We took the trail straight to the Lake Michigan overlook. The trail to the overlook was about 0.7 miles but the pretty views were worth the effort. Even though the trail was busy, we were still able to find a secluded spot at the overlook and it felt as though we had the point to ourselves. There was a meadow loop portion to the trail to make it into a longer hike, but we had to skip it due to time.Bring water, bug spray, and a camera for this hike.