GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
Half & Full Start Location: Dune Climb Parking Lot off of Hwy 109 at Hunter Rd.
5K Start Location: Empire Beach - 10484 Niagara St. Empire, MI 49630
Finish Location: Empire Beach - 10484 Niagara St. Empire, MI 49630
Start Times
Marathon: 7:30 AM
Half Marathon: 8:00 AM
5k Run/Walk: 8:20 AM
Course Close: 1:30 PM
NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE PASS
Per Person Standard Entrance Pass
Message from National Park Service:
Participants may purchase their park pass at the visitor center, campgrounds, Dune Climb, or Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Staff will be at the Platte River Campground until 8:00 pm on Friday. The Philip Hart Visitor Center in Empire will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily for pass sales. They can also utilize the self-pay stations at North Bar Lake, Peterson Road Beach, or the Maritime Museum Beach. Other beaches have self-pay stations but those 3 are the closest to Empire. If they don't have time to purchase a pass before the race, they can always do it after the race is over.
Full and half marathon participants must have a valid Sleeping Bear Dunes Entrance Pass on race day, either before or after the race. Information can be found here to purchase a pass.
This is NOT a parking pass. Regardless of where you park, you will still need this pass.
5K participants, spectators, and volunteers DO NOT need a Sleeping Bear Dunes Entrance Pass
