Sleeping Bear Dunes Na

Table 2: Alternatives Comparison 

No-Action Alternative Preferred Alternative Alternative A 

Overall Vision 

Reflects current conditions and activities Provides a baseline for comparing the other alternatives 

Lakeshore valued primarily for preservation of its natural resources and for opportunities for visitor enjoyment of natural, cultural, and recreational resources in a scenic outdoor setting. 

Lakeshore valued primarily for conservation of its natural resources. 

Lakeshore valuopportunities in 

Management Zones 

No-action alternative is not zoned. high use - 3%

exp history - 5%recreation - 25%exp nature - 67%

high use - 1%exp history - 5%recreation - 19%exp nature - 74%

Wilderness 

30,903 acres (43%) (from the 1981 “Wilderness Recommendation)” 

32,200 acres (46%) 33,600 acres (47%) 14,400 acres (2

Includes areas on North Manitou and South Manitou islands, north and south portions of mainland, some county road rights-of-way 

Addition of Sleeping Bear plateau; exclusion of developed county road rights-of-way, exclusion of Port Oneida and Cottage Row on North Manitou Island; other minor revisions. 

Addition of Sleeping Bear plateau; exclusion of developed county road rights-of-way, exclusion of Port Oneida and Cottage Row on North Manitou Island; other minor revisions. 

North Manitou Cottage Row. 

Natural Resources 

Natural resource management programs continue to emphasize protection of natural resources an

Not zoned and therefore cannot be directly compared to the other alternatives. 

Second largest amount of experience nature zone, which emphasizes natural resource conditions. 

Largest amount of experience nature zone, which emphasizes natural resource conditions. 

Least amount oemphasizes nat

Not zoned and therefore cannot be directly compared to the other alternatives. 

About one-third of Lakeshore in zones where natural resources may be modified to preserve cultural resources or provide recreational opportunities 

About one-quarter of Lakeshore in zones where natural resources may be modified to preserve cultural resources or provide recreational opportunities 

About two-thirnatural resourccultural resourcopportunities 

Cultural Resources 

Preserve as many historic structures and landscapes as possible. 

Not zoned and therefore cannot be directly compared to the other alternatives. Historic structures and landscapes managed as specified by management zone (some treatments are accomplis

Note: Percentages below, referring to numbers of historic structures, are based on a total of 262 structures (detailed in table 20); some 

70% preserved, rehabilitated, or restored 79% preserved, rehabilitated, or restored 69% preserved, rehabilitated, or restored 74% preserved21% preserved or rehabilitated 13% preserved or rehabilitated 3% preserved or rehabilitated 16% preserved 9% preserved 8% preserved 28% preserved 10% preserved 

Visitor Orientation 

Information, interpretation, and educational opportunities at Empire visitor center, Glen Haven, and South Manito

Interpretive activities at major visitor use areas 

A variety of interpretive and educational programs would continue. 

Same as no-action. Same as no-action, except that interpretive 

opportunities would emphasize natural resource themes. 

Same as no-act

On South Manitou island, concession-operated farm tours would continue. 

Same as no-action. Vehicle portion of farm tours on South Manitou 

Island ends at west end of Chicago Road (NPS portion of loop road restored to natural conditions). Tours would continue on foot from road end. 

Same as no-act

No concession auto tours to the Giant Cedars. Concession auto tours to near Giant Cedars 

considered. 

Same as no-action. Concession aut

considered. 
Sleeping Bear Dunes Na

No-Action Alternative Preferred Alternative Alternative A 

Visitor Facilities, Opportunities, and Activities 

Road access remains essentially the same. Road access remains essentially the same; all 

developed county roads zoned compatible with motor vehicle and bicycle use. 

Road access remains essentially the same, except NPS-owned Tiesma Road and a portion of the farm loop on South Manitou Island are closed and restored to natural conditions; all developed county roads zoned compatible with motor vehicle and bicycle use. 

Road access rescenic road woCorridor; all cocompatible wit

Trails remain essentially the same. Same as no-action, except add M-22/M-109 

hike/bike trail, bay-to-bay hike/paddle trail, and Bow Lakes trail. 

Same as preferred alternative. Same as no-act

hike/bike trail, Lakes trails, polane/trail along 

Campgrounds remain essentially the same. Same as no-action, except add backcountry 

campgrounds associated with bay-to-bay trail; remove Valley View campground; and provide new designated campgrounds on North Manitou Island. 

Same as no-action, except add backcountry campgrounds associated with bay-to-bay trail and remove Valley View campground. 

Same as no-actcampgrounds arelocate D. H. Dnew designated camping on No

Lake Michigan beach access remains essentially the same. 

Same as no-action, except improve parking at end of Esch Road and possibly at Platte River Point. 

Same as no-action, except close Tiesma Road (NPS owned). 

Same as no-actPeterson Road facilities at Plat

Lake Michigan boat access remains essentially the same. 

Same as no-action, except allow for study of improved boat access near Platte River Point. 

Same as no-action. Same as no-act

improved boat 

Inland lake use and access remains essentially the same (motorized boats allowed on School, BassLeelanau County, North Bar, and Loon lakes). 

Same as no-action, except no longer allow motorized boats on Bass Lake (Leelanau County) and North Bar Lake; improve access for nonmotorized boats at some inland lakes. 

Same as no-action, except no longer allow motorized boats on Bass Lake (Leelanau County). 

Same as no-actShell and Tuckeinland lakes. 

Picnic areas remain essentially the same. Same as no-action, except upgrade Glen Lake picnic 

area facilities. 

Same as no-action, except remove Glen Lake picnic area and restore site to natural conditions. 

Same as no-actareas. 

Ferry service for day and overnight stays on South Manitou Island and overnight stays on North Manitou Island would continue. 

Same as no-action, plus allow occasional ferry service for day trips to North Manitou Island. 

Same as no-action. Same as no-act

for day trips to 

Platte and Crystal river access areas remain essentially the same. 

Same as no-action, except upgrade or relocate Crystal River access area. 

Same as no-action. Same as no-act

Crystal River ac

Dune Climb would remain essentially the same. Same as no-action. Same as no-action. Same as no-actBicycle use allowed on roads used by motor vehicles. Same as no-action, plus conduct evaluations for 

expanded bicycle use in zones that permit it. 

Same as no-action, plus conduct evaluations for expanded bicycle use in zones that permit it. 

Same as no-actexpanded bicycconsider bicycle 

Hang gliding would continue at designated sites. Same as no-action. Hang gliding use at Empire Bluffs suspended. Same as no-actSome areas crowded or degraded by overuse. User capacity management strategies implemented to reduce crowding and protect resources, a

Benzie Corridor

Continue to purchase lands on a willing-seller basis for future development of scenic road and bike lane/trail; current conditions (nothing built); no construction costs are included in cost estimates; no impacts are assessed. 

Continue to purchase lands on a willing-seller basis for future development of scenic road and/or a hike/bike trail (nothing built within life of plan); no construction costs are included in cost estimates; no impacts are assessed. 

Recommend removal of Benzie Corridor from Lakeshore boundary (nothing built); no construction costs are included in cost estimates; general impacts of removing the corridor from Lakeshore boundary are assessed. 

Continue to pufor developmen(built within life included in cosassessed in this 

Bow Lakes

Continue nature observation and backcountry hiking on informal, undesignated trails . 

Construct a loop trail and small parking area. Same as preferred alternative. Construct a mu

The National Park Service would acquire properties within this area of the Lakeshore, on a willing-seller basis, as they become 

Estimated “Full-time Equivalent” Staff*

66 79 77 

Estimated Cost in Millions*

$22.0 $32.9 $29.8 

* For more information see “Appendix C: Cost Summary of GMP Alternatives”