Chippewa Run Natural Area
Managed by Leelanau Conservancy
67 acres1.4 mi of trail
Orchard LoopBeaver Pond LoopOld Field TrailCreek Crossing Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Photo: Rachel Kramer · CC BY 2.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Empire
27% of Empire’s land is conserved, and virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. The biggest trail networks: Chippewa Run Natural Area (1.4 mi). 27% of Empire’s land is conserved, about 181 acres.
Conserved land
27%
181 acres · of 1.0 sq mi of land
Trails
1.6 mi
1.6 per sq mi of land
Park land
203 ac
594 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
1
2 beaches · 1 boat launch
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Chippewa Run Natural Area, with 1.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Managed by National Park Service
93 acres0.1 mi of trail
Old M-22
Dogs usually limited
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Lake Michigan Beach Park
Managed by Village of Empire
9 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 6 parks & preserves
Chippewa Run Natural Area67 acres · 1.4 mi of trail · Leelanau Conservancy
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore93 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · National Park Service
Shalda Park12 acres · Village of Empire
DirectionsLake Michigan Beach Park9 acres · Village of Empire
DirectionsJames R. Johnson Park8 acres · Empire Lions Club
DirectionsManitou Passage Underwater Preserve2 acres · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWho protects it
181 conserved acres
27% of Empire’s land. Water is left out: Empire has 1.0 square miles of land and 0.1 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Empire’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
National Park Service91 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits78 ac
Town or city12 ac
National Lakeshore or Seashore · 91 acPrivate Conservation · 78 acLocal Park · 12 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore National Lakeshore or Seashore | National Park Service | 91 | Open |
| Chippewa Run Natural Area Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 78 | Open |
| Empire Beach Park Local Park | Town or city | 9 | Open |
| Lions Club Park Local Park | Town or city | 3 | Open |
Things to do
7 places to go in Empire
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Empire
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Empire
4 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Empire
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
6 named trails and 1 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 1.3 mi
Orchard Loop0.7 mi
Beaver Pond Loop0.3 mi
Old Field Trail0.2 mi
Creek Crossing Trail0.1 mi
Old M-220.1 mi
Crossover Trail0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
4Tennis
2Pickleball
2Baseball
2Softball
1Basketball
1Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Empire: May to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.0 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 28 | 29 | 39 | 50 | 63 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 56 | 43 | 33 |
| Rain (in) | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
February is the driest month (1.5 in) and July the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 4.1 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Empire →
Questions about parks and trails in Empire
Where can I hike in Empire?
The longest trail networks: Chippewa Run Natural Area, 1.4 miles; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 0.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Empire’s trails?
Chippewa Run Natural Area and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Empire?
21,875 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Empire or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 203 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Empire neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →