Michigan · National Lakeshore trail

Empire Bluff Trail - The Old Farm

in Michigan

The glacial soils around Sleeping Bear are quite sandy and not very fertile for farming. However, certain crops, including hay, can be grown here successfully. From post #2, you can see a metal sculpture.

Oh, but wait, that's actually a piece of rusted farm equipment from the time of the Great Depression. This McCormick Deering No. 7 mowing machine was manufactured between 1929 and 1940. The horse drawn mower cuts a swath about five feet wide.

The enclosed gearbox, a significant improvement over earlier models, allowed for efficient gear lubrication, prevented hay from getting tangled in the gears, and provided safer operations for man and animal. With the development of modern farm equipment, many such pieces of old machinery were abandoned in the fields. A number of old farms are scattered throughout the park and help to preserve the flavor of another era.

States: Michigan
Trail type: National Lakeshore trail
Centroid nearest city: Grand Rapids, MI · 128 mi · ~3.7 hr drive
Centroid coords: 44.7995°, -86.0600°

About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

National Lakeshore

This trail is inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a national lakeshore managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/empire-bluff-trail-the-old-farm.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Empire Bluff Trail - The Old Farm and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.