Empire, Leelanau County

Beaches

The Lake Michigan beach at the end of Peterson Road is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in the Lakeshore. Peterson Road is a gravel road that you can take through the woods for about a mile to a small parking area with a restroom. It is located in the southern part of the Park near the intersection of M-22 and Deadstream Road. From this beach, you can see the bluffs along Sleeping Bear Point and Empire Bluff. On a clear day, you can also see South Manitou Island. This is a popular place for swimmers on a hot summer day, but parking is limited, so you might have to park along the dirt road.