First Ascent Trips are designed just for incoming UM freshmen!

Come hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, one of the most beautiful places Michigan has to offer! The park was established for its outstanding natural features, including dunes, beaches, forests, and ancient glacial phenomena on the shores of Lake Michigan. We'll spend the first night camping right inside the park before hitting the trail in the morning. We'll cover around 8 miles of trail and set up camp, spending the evening exploring the dunes, taking in the sights, cooking a spectacular dinner, and hanging out around a roaring fire. After hiking out to the vans, we'll head to the solitude of Wilderness State Park on the shore of a Great Lake and spend the following day on the historic grounds of Mackinac Island. We'll explore the beautiful island by bike, the preferred method of transportation on car-free Mackinac. This will truly be a trip to remember in places that beg to be returned to again and again.