2019 Map of South Manitou Island

About this map

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore dominates the southern reaches of this maritime survey, illustrating the protected coastal environment of South Manitou Island. Bordered by the expansive waters of Lake Michigan, the island's interior reveals a network of SMI Trails/Old Roads that trace the historical movement of residents and visitors across the dunes and through the forested tracts. These paths provide evidence of the island's past utility, likely serving former homesteads or navigation points before the land was integrated into the national lakeshore. The terrain is marked by significant elevation changes, with contours highlighting the distinctive dune formations along the western shoreline. This map captures the island in its modern state as a preserved wilderness, where historical transport routes have transitioned into a recreational trail system within the Michigan wilderness.