Alligator Hill Trail - Stocking Drive Trailhead

A wide sandy trail leads through dense forest

NPS credit

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Parking - Auto, Trailhead

An often overlooked gem, Alligator Hill is nine miles of hiking trails looping through a hilly, leafy, alligator-shaped ridge with beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake. The three interconnected loops allow you to choose the hiking experience you want ranging from a shorter, easier hike leading to great views to a solid workout up and down the rolling hills and through the forest. They are also the only trails in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore where horseback riding is allowed.

The 1.5-mile hike from the Stocking Road trailhead to the Islands Lookout on top of Alligator Hill is a relatively gentle uphill walk through maple-beech forest on an old road bed. The view from the lookout is spectacular. On a clear day, you can see North and South Manitou Island and Sleeping Bear Point. Quite often South Fox Island will also be visible and perhaps even a freighter making its way through the Manitou Passage. There is a bench at the lookout for you to sit, relax, and enjoy. Continue on to the Big Glen Lookout for a view overlooking miles of vibrant trees to Big Glen Lake.

Alligator Hill was named for the long ridge and bluff at its southeast corner that resembles the silhouette of an alligator's snout, best seen from the top of the Dune Climb. Alligator Hill is the result of glacial activity when two lobes of ice that gouged out Big Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake dumped their load of sand and rock between them. An ancient Lake Michigan, that was much higher than today's Great Lake, went on to erode bluffs and cut terraces and notches on the flank of the hill, including the alligator's snout.

The best cross-country skiing in the Lakeshore, Alligator Hill's trail system offers skiers three loops rated easy, intermediate, and advanced and feature plenty of long downhill runs and equally long climbs.

Pets are not allowed on the trail in winter. Alligator Hill is a designated cross-country ski trail during the periods of December 1 through March 31.

A vault toilet is available at trailhead.

Golf on Alligator Hill?
The Alligator Hill trail system sits on what was once Day Forest Estates. Area pioneer D. H. Day owned all of this land and planned to subdivide much of the area into a real estate development, complete with its own golf club. But Day's death and the Great Depression foiled those plans and the development never happened. The golf club closed in 1942, but you can still see the outlines of fairways today from aerial and satellite photos. The development's roads, driveways, and fairways now form the backbone of the Alligator Hill trail system.

Why is it called Alligator Hill?
The hill picks up its name from a long ridge and bluff at its southeast corner that resembles the silhouette of an alligator's snout, best seen from the top of the Dune Climb. Alligator Hill is the result of glacial activity when two lobes of ice that gouged out Big Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake dumped their load of sand and rock between them. An ancient Lake Michigan, that was much higher than today's Great Lake, went on to erode bluffs and cut terraces and notches on the flank of the hill, including the alligator's snout.
The trails that wind up and down Alligator Hill are wide, well-marked paths that are used by Nordic skiers, day hikers and equestrians. Mountain bikes are not allowed on the trails.

Why is it called Alligator Hill?

The hill picks up its name from a long ridge and bluff at its southeast corner that resembles the silhouette of an alligator's snout, best seen from the top of the Dune Climb. Alligator Hill is the result of glacial activity when two lobes of ice that gouged out Big Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake dumped their load of sand and rock between them. An ancient Lake Michigan, that was much higher than today's Great Lake, went on to erode bluffs and cut terraces and notches on the flank of the hill, including the alligator's snout.

Golf on Alligator Hill?

The Alligator Hill trail system sits on what was once Day Forest Estates. Area pioneer D. H. Day owned all of this land and planned to subdivide much of the area into a real estate development, complete with its own golf club. But Day's death and the Great Depression foiled those plans and the development never happened. The golf club closed in 1942, but you can still see the outlines of fairways today from aerial and satellite photos. The development's roads, driveways, and fairways now form the backbone of the Alligator Hill trail system.

Take the Trail Trekker Challenge

Do you think you can hike all of the trails in one year? Want to explore the landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, exercise, and have fun all at the same time? Join the Trail Trekker Challenge! Earn a prize and bragging rights by successfully completing each of the 13 mainland trails in the National Lakeshore. Hiking is a great way to get daily physical exercise and promote health while also discovering the beauty of the area. What better way to get your muscles warm, your heart pumping, and your senses savoring the views!
Pick up a copy of the Trail Trekker Challenge brochure/logbook at the visitor center in Empire.

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Hike Safely

Before you take off down the trail, take time to prepare for a successful hike. Make sure the trail is appropriate for your ability, and travel with a companion and notify someone of your route and expected return time.
Take plenty of drinking water, bring sunscreen, wear a hat, and be prepared for mosquitoes.

Be careful of your footing-trails have uneven ground, exposed roots, etc.
Sand slide danger is always present on steep dunes. Stay off steep bluffs to avoid falls and dislodging rocks that can injure people below. Because of heavy treefall, avoid forested trails on windy days.
Remember, deer rifle season is November 15-30. Other hunting seasons occur throughout the year. Wear bright-colored clothing to be seen and safe in the woods.

And please stay on designated trails and help prevent erosion and damage to vegetation. Off-trail hikers can quickly produce paths that take years to revegetate. Threatened and endangered species occur in the park, avoid disturbing plants and animals.

Poison Ivy: leaves of three, leave it be!
Poison ivy grows plentifully in many areas of the Lakeshore as a vine or low shrub. The leaves are red in early spring, shiny green in summer, and an attractive red or orange in the fall. Each leaf consists of three leaflets. Most people are sensitive in varying degrees to the sap of this plant, which makes the skin itch, blister, and swell.
Avoid contact with all parts of the plant. Avoid plants with three leaflets.
If exposed, wash the affected skin with soap and water as soon as possible.

Don't get ticked!: protect yourself from tick bites
Avoid ticks by walking in the center of trails and avoiding contact with vegetation.
Use a repellent (on skin or clothing) and wear close-toed shoes, long sleeves, long pants, and socks.
Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to easily spot ticks.
Check your clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, fallen logs, or stone walls.

After being outdoors
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors, and remove any ticks you find.
Check your clothing for ticks. Place clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least an hour.
Shower soon after being outdoors; it may reduce your risk of being bitten.

Check these parts of your body and your child's body for ticks:
Under the arm, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around hair, between the legs, around the waist.

If you are bitten by a tick
Remove an attached tick as soon as you notice it. Using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and then slowly, but firmly, pull it straight out. Immediately wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic to the bite wound.
Watch for signs of illness.