Sight · Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
A quiet dock for paddling, bluegill, and an easy woodland loop.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Bass Lake South Access: Dock or Woodland Loop“You're approaching the access to Bass Lake's south shore, with parking at the end of Trails End Road. For a short, quiet stop, follow the paved path to the fishing dock and take a seat overlooking the water.”
Plays as you drive up to Bass Lake (South) Access in the Parkwolf Sleeping Bear Dunes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Bass Lake (South) Access is a small public launch and dock in the Platte Plains woods. It suits a relaxed fishing or paddling stop, with a bench looking across the lake; the 3.5-mile Bass Lake Loop starts from the same parking area if you want a longer outing. Follow the paved path from the end-of-road parking to the dock. A national lakeshore pass is required for inland-lake use.
Aspen, white pine, and cedar ring Bass Lake and shelter it from Lake Michigan winds. The dock gives you a clear view of water and wooded shore. Ten fish species have been recorded here, with bluegill reported as 73% of the population. On the loop, the woods open around Deer Lake and wetland; fall brings wintergreen berries along parts of the trail.
The parking area has nearby vault restrooms and a picnic table; the boat ramp is listed as wheelchair accessible. Power-driven boats are prohibited April 1 through October 31 and limited to 2 horsepower for the rest of the year. Dogs must stay on a six-foot leash. No food service is listed at the access, so bring snacks.
Wildlife
27 sightingsPiping PloverMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
70 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
56 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
68 sightingsSandhill CraneMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
58 sightingsPorcupineMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
31 sightingsLoonMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Sleeping Bear Dunes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBass Lake Loop3.5 mi · 2 hr · 0.1 mi awayAn easy 3.5-mile circuit through forest, lake, and wetland
EasyOtter Creek Loop4.6 mi · 2.3 hr · 1.8 mi awayA flat forest loop meets Otter Creek and old Aral's dock pilings.
ModerateLasso Loop Trail7.6 mi · 4 hr · 2.8 mi awaySoft sand, old dune ridges and a bay view toward the islands.
EasyTreat Farm Trail1.2 mi · 1 hr · 3.9 mi awayA short woods walk reaches a barn rebuilt piece by piece.
ModerateEmpire Bluff Trail1.5 mi · 1 hr · 4.4 mi awayA short wooded climb to the Lake Michigan double-dune view.
Sight · 0.3 mi awayDeer Lake AccessA small spring-fed lake reached by a narrow, rutted track.
Campground · 1 mi awayWhite Pine Backcountry CampgroundCarry your tent two miles to a six-site woods camp.
Beach · 1.9 mi awayEsch BeachA sun-warmed creek meets Lake Michigan at this beach.
Beach · 2 mi awayPeterson BeachA quiet Lake Michigan shore with bluffs on the horizon.
Campground · 3 mi awayPlatte River CampgroundA wooded basecamp for the Platte River and Lake Michigan.
Picnic area · 3.1 mi awayPlatte River Picnic AreaA shady picnic stop with river access and a one-hour float option.
Beach · 3.3 mi awayTiesma Road BeachA quiet Lake Michigan shore reached by a soft-sand dune climb.
Sight · 3.5 mi awayLoon Lake AccessA slow-water launch with a fishing dock and picnic area.Parkwolf’s Sleeping Bear Dunes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
