Resort Amenities

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better beach to relax without a crowd than at Sleeping Bear Resort. We have a private beach available to our guests with lakefront views, beach chairs, and loungers. We recommend bringing extra chairs, beach towels, life jackets, and beach toys to fully enjoy a day at our private beach!

Guests can access 8 – 12 foot Jackson kayaks and kayak paddles at no charge. We also have two stand up paddle boards available. These sit-on-top kayaks are stable and fun for beginners and experts. At the far end of Herendeene Lake is a narrow waterway that leads into Fuller Lake. We recommend taking one of our kayaks into Fuller Lake for some real privacy. Fuller Lake is 12 acres in size and is a great place to really get away from everything. You are welcome to bring your own kayaks and paddles boards to use, but we recommend keeping them up near your cabin so other guests don’t confuse them with what we provide. We strongly suggest everyone brings their own life jackets as we do not provide them for you.

Our resort’s 20-foot water bouncer is arguably the most popular summertime resort amenity for both kids and adults. It can be used as a water trampoline but also a great place to lounge in the sun during a hot summer day. We put the water bouncer in the lake in early to mid-June based on the lake temperatures, and it stays in the lake until after Labor Day!

We provide three fishing boats for our guests to use during their stay so they can spend a day out on Herendeene Lake. Our lake has several different species of fish like bass, blue gill, perch, pike, and other types of pan fish. We do prefer you catch and release since we don’t have a good spot to clean fish.

Northern Michigan vacations aren’t complete without an evening bonfire with delicious s’mores and a fun night of stargazing. Sleeping Bear Resort provides private firepits for each of our cabins and the Bear’s Den. We also provide firewood and a firewood wagon at no charge during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

The main beach staircase features three separate viewing platforms with breathtaking lake views. We also have a cozy swinging porch swing that overlooks the lake, and each cabin has 2 Adirondack chairs. The Lodge also has a fantastic covered porch with a lake view, and private staircase leading to the beach. The Bear’s Den has its own private Adirondack chairs, private patio overlooking the lake, and a two person swing. The staircase leading down to our new fishing dock, with beautiful viewing platforms is located at the edge of the backyard behind the Bears Den. The staircase and fishing dock are available for everyone at the resort to use.

If you want to participate in some friendly competition, Sleeping Bear Resort has a shuffleboard court, corn hole, and there is a small children’s play structure in the courtyard. The shuffleboard is located next to the lower viewing platform. You’re welcome to setup corn hole wherever you like in the courtyard; you can usually find it against the building between cabins #3&4. The Children’s Play structure has a slide, two swings, and a baby swing, and is located closest to cabin #6 and the Lodge. The Bears Den has its own small play structure with a slide in the backyard.

We will provide snowshoes for guests who want to embark on a winter wonderland adventure during their winter stay.

Find Snowshoe Trails

Embrace the magic of winter as you gather around our cozy campfires. Even in the cold, it’s a fun and memorable experience to share stories, sip hot cocoa, and roast marshmallows under the crisp night sky. Bundle up and enjoy the warmth of the fire with friends and family as you create lasting memories at our resort.

Benzie County provides a well-established network of snowmobile trails that traverse scenic forests and rolling hills. With plenty of routes to explore, it’s an ideal destination for a Northern Michigan snowmobiling experience. Sleeping Bear Resort serves as the perfect base camp, offering comfortable accommodations and a short drive to trailheads, making it easy to launch your next snow-filled adventure.

• DNR Info on Snowmobiling
• Benzie Snowmobile Trail Map PDF
• Interactive Map

Enjoy the tranquility of ice fishing on Herendeene Lake, a serene winter pastime available to resort guests. While the resort does not provide equipment, guests are welcome to bring their own gear and enjoy the peaceful, frozen expanse of the lake. It’s the perfect way to embrace the beauty of winter and experience a classic Northern Michigan tradition.