Looking for the best photo locations near Traverse City, Michigan? Traverse City is a photographer’s dream, with beautiful overlooks of Lake Michigan, hiking trails, and incredible sunsets. From sand dunes to wild rivers, here are the best photography locations near Traverse City, Michigan.

Best Photography Locations near Traverse City:

I was lucky enough to grow up spending every summer near Traverse City, and have had a chance to explore many of the trails, lakes, and rivers. The Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of my favorite spots the Midwest, and I have a soft spot for the Manistee River. For more of my favorite hiking trails, paddling routes, secret camping spots, and photography locations, check out Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes.

Hidden Gems is my independently published hiking, paddling, camping, and photography guide. It covers the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, Northern Wisconsin, the North Shore of Minnesota, and Isle Royale National Park. This book is a great tool for planning your Midwest adventures, and a great way to support independent writers like myself.

In the meantime, here are the best photography locations near Traverse City, Michigan:

Empire Bluffs

Looking for one of the most iconic photography locations in Northern Michigan? Head out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and tackle the Empire Bluffs Hiking Trail. This trail takes you out to an incredible view of the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan.

The Empire Bluffs trail is beautiful, but can be crowded, especially on peak summer and fall weekends. I recommend leaving early in the morning, or planning your hike around sunset to avoid the crowds. Note that the Empire Bluffs Trail is not accessible in the winter.

When hiking, be sure not to venture off trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes! This National Lakeshore is full of fragile dune grass. Hiking on unofficial trails harms fragile coastal ecosystems by destabilizing dunes and contributing to erosion.

By hiking on unofficial trails and creating your own trail, you widen a trail and encourage others to follow that unofficial path. Over the course of a summer, more visitors venturing off trail has a cumulative damaging effect on the sand dunes and ecosystems around them. Help ensure that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore stays open for all visitors in coming years by adhering to park rules while visiting.

Overlook Nine

Headed to Traverse City in the fall? One of the most magical Michigan autumn destinations is the Pierce-Stocking Scenic Drive in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Drive this short, one lane road for views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, a beautiful fall forest, and the best sunset spot in Michigan.

Overlook Nine along the Pierce Stocking Scenic drive is easily the best spot in Michigan for sunset photography. Here, you can watch the sunset over Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands from a 400-ft tall sand dune.

Click here to start building your Northern Michigan fall bucket list!

Clay Cliffs Natural Area

One of the most overlooked photography locations near Traverse City, Clay Cliffs is a beautiful hiking trail near Leland, Michigan. From Clay Cliffs, you can watch the sunset over Lake Michigan, or the sunrise over Lake Leelanau.

Clay Cliffs is the perfect unique spot for photography near Traverse City, and is likely to be much less crowded than the Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’re looking for beautiful secret hiking trails with the look of the Sleeping Bear Dunes but none of the crowds, the trails around the Leelanau Peninsula might be perfect for you.

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The Manistee River

The Manistee River is one of the most scenic rivers in the Lower Peninsula. Lucky for hikers, much of the North Country Trail runs along the Manistee River. This makes the Manistee a perfect destination for photographers looking to capture scenic bends in the river, or canoeists in the water from above.

I recommend hiking along the Manistee River in the fall to watch the leaves change, or in June when the wildflowers are in full bloom. For hiking routes and canoe routes on the Manistee River, check out this trail guide.

Torch Lake & River

Torch Lake is known for it’s Caribbean-like, crystal clear water and it’s boating scene. Head out to Torch Lake in the early morning to capture dreamy sunrises and get the lake completely to yourself. In the autumn, steam will hover over the lake just after sunrise and burn off as the sun peaks over the hills.

Torch Lake is a great place to try out underwater photography, with clear water and shallow spots to stand. While Torch Lake gets most of the attention, I recommend taking a canoe or kayak down the Torch River in the early morning.

Torch River not only has the same beautiful blue water of Torch Lake, but it also is an excellent spot to spot wildlife, and a good spot for a protected and easy paddle. Watch out for boat traffic as the day wears on! Torch Lake is beautiful, but it is busy.

Grass River Natural Area

If you’re looking to spot wildlife, walk through a thick forest, and play with the leading lines of a boardwalk, grab your camera and head to the Grass River Natural Area. The Grass River Natural Area is located near Bellaire, Michigan, and offers accessible hiking trails through a sedge meadow, over Finch and Cold Creeks, and out to the Grass River.

Here, you might spot river otter or white tailed deer, or watch a variety of bird species along the river. I’ve seen the river otter here most often in the late afternoon/early evening. In general, the Grass River Natural Area is overlooked as a photography destination and you are likely to have the trails to yourself.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful and unique things about the Grass River Natural Area is the tamarack trees. Tamarack Trees are deciduous conifers, the only native North American pine tree to loose its needles in the winter. In the Fall, you can spot tamarack trees by their striking orange and yellow needles. The Grass River is a great place to walk through tamarack groves and appreciate unique fall color.

The Grass River Natural Area is one of the best photography locations near Traverse City for fall color, wildlife photography, and more.

Enjoy finding the best photo locations near Traverse City? Find your next adventure:

• Discover the best places to kayak near Traverse City
• Explore the 15 most beautiful Great Lakes Travel Destinations
• Here are 30 Midwest hiking trails, ranked best to worst. Where does your favorite fall?

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Want detailed road trip advice, links to incredible campsites, and more? Join the Hello Stranger Newsletter for outdoor advice from your favorite paddling guide/indie outdoor writer (me!)