Glen Lake: Two Depths, One Glacial Story

Glen Lake sits right inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — and it’s really two connected lakes. Glaciers carved both halves during the Ice Age. A narrow bridge marks where Big Glen and Little Glen pinch together: Big Glen goes down 130 feet in places, while Little Glen is just 12 feet deep. The village of Glen Arbor and the D. H. Day Campground both sit on an ancient sandbar.

If you want to get on the water, head to the Little Glen Lake Picnic Area, just across M-109 from the Dune Climb. There’s parking, restrooms, picnic tables, and a launch for canoes and kayaks. The sandy bottom makes it a nice swimming spot, and anglers will find yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, brown trout, and lake trout. You’ll need a Park Pass to visit any of the national lakeshore’s inland lakes — check the NPS site for current fees.