North Bar Lake
Empire, Michigan · on North Bar Lake · Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $25
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About North Bar Lake
North Bar Lake is a small, shallow inland lake within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Empire, Michigan, separated from Lake Michigan by a low dune and sand bar. It is an NPS-managed, officially recognized swimming beach and a favorite swimming hole for its calm, sun-warmed water, a warmer lake to swim in than the colder, wave-driven Lake Michigan just over the dune.
North Bar Lake sits in a low dune landscape immediately behind the Lake Michigan shoreline, occupying what was historically a bay of Lake Michigan before a sand bar closed it off. A short trail crosses fore dunes between the lake and the open Lake Michigan beach, and the connecting outlet channel between the two water bodies shifts or closes depending on wave action and sand deposition.
Swimming at North Bar Lake
The lake has shallow, clear water over a sandy bottom and is noticeably warmer than adjacent Lake Michigan, making it well suited to families with small children and casual swimmers. Many visitors swim in the channel area where the lake meets Lake Michigan to get calmer, warmer water on one side and cooler, wave-washed water on the other; there is no lifeguard on duty.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located about 3 miles from Empire, Michigan, within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; reached via a paved parking lot near the lake (GPS approximately 44.8442, -86.0676) followed by a short trail to the shoreline.
Parking: Paved parking lot at the trailhead, described by official sources as adequate for visitor access.
The hike in
Unnamed beach-access trail from the North Bar Lake parking lot (no official trail name posted; referred to generically as the North Bar Lake trail)
- To the water
- About 760 feet (~0.14 mi) one-way, flat and hard-packed, from the parking lot to the North Bar Lake shoreline
- Time on foot
- About 5 minutes to North Bar Lake; add 10-15 minutes to continue over the dune to Lake Michigan
Difficulty: Easy to North Bar Lake (flat, hard-packed); moderate if continuing to Lake Michigan (steep, soft sand dune crossing)
Trailhead: Paved NPS parking lot at the end of the North Bar Lake access road off Michigan Ave (M-22 corridor), about 3 miles from Empire, MI
The lake itself is reached almost immediately (760 ft); visitors who want to continue over the dune to Lake Michigan add roughly another 400-600 feet of steeper, soft-sand trail (NPS cites ~400 ft portage distance, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes cites ~600 ft of steeper sandy trail)
This is a short walk-in, not a true hike; no elevation gain of note to the lake itself, with only the optional Lake Michigan dune crossing requiring real effort.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
NPS describes the lake's 'beaches of pure sand and small outlet to Lake Michigan' as ideal for kids to play in, and the water is shallow, calm, and warm over a sandy bottom. However, there is no lifeguard on duty, NPS safety guidance urges keeping children within arm's reach and using life jackets, and the connecting channel to Lake Michigan can expose swimmers to rip currents and colder, rougher water just a few feet away.
Parking
Paid, Covered by Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS entrance pass: $25 private vehicle (7-day) or $45 annual park pass; no separate parking fee
Paved parking lot at the trailhead off Michigan Ave, about 3 miles from Empire; entrance pass required for the national lakeshore (confirmed on official NPS fee schedule), not a standalone parking charge.
Restrooms
Yes
One vault toilet near the parking lot (per Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes); no drinking water on site.
Water clarity
Clear
Multiple official and first-hand sources, including the NPS and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, consistently describe shallow, clear water over a sandy bottom; no additional independent commentary on clarity has been verified.
Hours
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and North Bar Lake within it, is open 24 hours a day; only specific facilities like visitor centers and campgrounds keep separate posted hours.
On the water
Restrictions: Carry-in access only (no boat ramp or trailer launch); power-driven vessels prohibited April 1-October 31 and limited to 2-horsepower motors the rest of the year.
NPS notes paddlers can launch on North Bar Lake and portage roughly 400 feet across the dune to also paddle Lake Michigan; standard paddling safety practices (PFDs, checking weather, not paddling solo) are emphasized by NPS.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and canoe trips, standup paddleboard (SUP) rentals, plus bikes and seasonal ski/snowshoe gear; primarily oriented around trips on the nearby Crystal River rather than North Bar Lake itself
6249 W River Rd., Glen Arbor, MI 49636 (roughly 7-8 miles from North Bar Lake)
Backstory
North Bar Lake was historically a bay of Lake Michigan; longshore currents built a sand bar that separated it into an inland lake, and the connecting outlet channel to Lake Michigan periodically opens and closes with wave action and sand deposition.
North Bar Lake: FAQ
Does North Bar Lake charge a fee?
Entry requires a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore pass (cited by a first-hand source as $25 for 7 days or $45 annually); NPS park pages did not separately itemize a fee for this specific beach.
Is North Bar Lake kid friendly?
NPS describes the lake's 'beaches of pure sand and small outlet to Lake Michigan' as ideal for kids to play in, and the water is shallow, calm, and warm over a sandy bottom. However, there is no lifeguard on duty, NPS safety guidance urges keeping children within arm's reach and using life jackets, and the connecting channel to Lake Michigan can expose swimmers to rip currents and colder, rougher water just a few feet away.
How hard is the hike to North Bar Lake?
A hike is required, about About 760 feet (~0.14 mi) one-way, flat and hard-packed, from the parking lot to the North Bar Lake shoreline to the water (about 5 minutes to north bar lake; add 10-15 minutes to continue over the dune to lake michigan). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for North Bar Lake?
Paved parking lot at the trailhead off Michigan Ave, about 3 miles from Empire; entrance pass required for the national lakeshore (confirmed on official NPS fee schedule), not a standalone parking charge.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to North Bar Lake?
NPS notes paddlers can launch on North Bar Lake and portage roughly 400 feet across the dune to also paddle Lake Michigan; standard paddling safety practices (PFDs, checking weather, not paddling solo) are emphasized by NPS.
When is the best time to visit North Bar Lake?
Summer for warm-water swimming, with June and September cited by a first-hand source as favorable for swimming and beach days with smaller crowds; fall noted for dune foliage color.
What are the rules at North Bar Lake?
Pets are prohibited on the beach. Power-driven vessels are prohibited April 1 through October 31 and limited to 2-horsepower motors the rest of the year (carry-in access only, no boat ramp). Portions of the beach may close seasonally to protect nesting piping plovers (a threatened species), and visitors are asked to stay on established trails to protect Pitcher's thistle and dune-restoration areas.
What water body is North Bar Lake on?
North Bar Lake is on North Bar Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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