Trail Highlight - Platte Plains
by Kristy Tompkins
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore maintains approximately 117 miles of hiking trails, including those on the mainland and both North and South Manitou Islands. When seeking out peace and solitude on your hike, perhaps try a lesser traveled or a longer distance trail. Just plan ahead with a map, snacks, water, emergency supplies and your Park pass. Download the NPS app and find your map before you leave. Then take a deep breath and let the sights, sounds and scents of the wilderness surround you.
The Platte Plains Hiking Trail might be just what you need to unwind. Although a popular trail, this large trail system consists of three loops with several trailheads within the Park boundaries. The Bass Lake Loop is 3.5 miles of easy, mostly flat, soft terrain passing through woods and beside Bass and Deer Lakes. Otter Creek Loop is also an easy, mostly flat 4.6 miles passing through woods along Otter Creek and around Otter Lake. Lasso Loop is a wooded 6.3 miles with a few moderate hills and access to Lake Michigan.
Our newly updated book, Hiking Trails of Sleeping Bear Dunes, is for sale in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center. This is a great guide to have in your pack while out on the Park trails. While there, grab information on the Trail Trekker Challenge and begin keeping a record of the hikes you complete within the Park. If you can complete all 14 mainland hikes in one year, you will become an official Trail Trekker! Just bring your completed record book into the Visitor Center to claim your prize. Bragging to your friends may or may not be encouraged; just bring them with you to accomplish your goal!
Do you love the trails and want to become a Friend? We are always looking for new volunteers to join our Adopt a Trail program. These volunteers keep our trails clean, chat with visitors while out, and report back to the Park about trail conditions.
Originally posted on July 17, 2022.
Updated July 29, 2026
Pine forest on Platte Plains Trail
Bass Lake
Bridge on Otter Creek Loop