Recently, I had the opportunity to hike out into Sleeping Bear Dunes for a day, with my wife to accompany me. Being a hot sunny day, we slathered on the sunscreen, bug spray, and packed some bottles of water.  The water and sunscreen were a big help out in the dunes.

After hiking our way over to the shoreline, and following it for a while, we were lucky enough to stumble on the "Ghost Forest".  Skeletons of dead trees littered the dunes among the windswept sands.  Ancient trees, buried for years have started to appear as erosion works on the dunes.  It is amazing to see these old trees and to imagine the forest that was there at one time.

After a couple hours of exploring, the heat was getting to us and we decided to head back.  I can only imagine how beautiful the Ghost Forest is in the evening and plan to go back soon!

All photos available as prints, canvas, or vivid metal prints in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Gallery

Sentinels of the Dunes - Sleeping BearDead trees of a ghost forest rise up in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, near Empire Michigan.

Ghost Forest - Sleeping Bear DunesGhost Forest of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Ancient trees stand in the sand dunes, with scrub brush in the foreground. Empire Michigan

SB-140 9Q4A2548- BW_DataAn ancient, weathered tree, rises from the sands of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Lake Michigan and South Manitou Island can be seen in the distance. This tree is part of the dunes "Ghost Forest"