2026-05-05 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Conduct Multiple Prescribed Fires this Spring

Image Description:
Map of the southern portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with north at the top. Lake Michigan forms the western boundary as a large blue shoreline curving along the upper-left. Several beaches and access points appear along this shore, including Platte River Point Beach, Platte River Point Water Access, El Dorado Platte River Access, and Peterson Beach. The Platte River flows west toward Lake Michigan near these sites.

Inland, the landscape consists of forests, wetlands, and lakes. Mud Lake lies west of center, with Loon Lake to the south near Platte River Campground and its ranger station. Bass Lake and Otter Lake appear in the northeastern wooded area, with a labeled Bass Lake South Access. Wetlands surround Mud and Loon Lakes and extend through the Platte Plains region.

Roads include M-22 on the far east side running north-south, and N. Scenic Highway across the southern edge running east-west. Smaller roads include Deadstream Road leading toward Bass Lake, and Martin and Saffron Roads branching off N. Scenic Highway. Unpaved roads and trail access points connect campgrounds, beaches, and inland features.

Trails and recreation sites include the Platte Plains Trail and Lasso Loop Trailhead, White Pine Backcountry Campground with a marked trail access point, Bookeloo Lodge, and Platte Plains Picnic Area Water Access.

Two prescribed fire units identified in NPS fire-management materials are located within the forest interior. The Lasso Loop Prescribed Fire Unit occupies 671 acres near the Platte Plains Trail system between Mud Lake, Loon Lake, and forested dune ridges. The Peterson Road Prescribed Fire Unit, 513 acres, lies north of Lasso Loop between Peterson Beach and the wooded interior west of Bass and Otter Lakes. Both units fall entirely within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.