Nature – Page 5

Bishop’s Bog Preserve Trail (Sort Of)

(1 of 52)

To truly start out these 52 hikes right, I headed out to Kalamazoo to check out the 4.6 miles of Bishop’s Bog Preserve Trail, figuring that I could get through some of the mid-range length trails in the colder months where overheating isn’t really going to be an issue. This was my first hike since November and I got to test out my new base layers and had to dawn my jacket for the first time. My base layers (top and bottom) are SmartWool from REI and I use a 3-in-1 North Face coat throughout the year. With it fully put together, it keeps me warm almost down to 0 and the layers themselves are a good rain layer or light jacket if a trail calls for it. The coat is a staple of my day pack. (Maybe I’ll write about my gear list separately one of these days.)

While I was not the creator of this snow angel, it reminded me how long it’s been since I’ve made one myself. (Note: I honestly can’t even remember, it’s been so long.)

Of course, like most January’s here in Michigan, the weather can be rather.. Snow heavy. The night before I headed out to Kalamazoo, most of the evening had seen freezing rain, and, I would discover upon arrival, there had even been some snow to the west. A half mile in, I came across a park ranger heading out towards the park I had started in, so I at least knew someone had been on the trails that morning. Unfortunately, it was to post that the floating trail portion of Bishop’s Bog was closed to hikers. Just a mile into my 52 hikes, and I was already being thwarted. Thankfully, it appeared only the floating trail was closed, so I took the bridge across to Eliason Nature Preserve and kept going.

It ended up being a shorter trail (only about 4 miles) and I’ll have to go back out there at some point, but it was a nice introduction to hiking in the snow. It appeared that I could have connected back to Bishop’s Bog Preserve Trail on the other side of the floating trail, but I didn’t want to chance getting lost just for a lookout point I may not have actually been able to get to. So, I just hiked to a trailhead at the industrial park of the area and then turned around and retraced my steps.

I crossed over at the Trail Connection and followed the Nature Preserve out to Industrial, but I didn’t want to chance getting lost connecting back to the Preserve Trail, so I cut my hike short. I’ll make it back out when the trail is more likely to be open and navigable.

It truly was like a Winter Wonderland amongst the trees and I really enjoyed getting some shots of freshly fallen snow.

What part of this trailhead isn’t inviting?

Sandy Hook Trail and Tobico Marsh Trail

I finished off my hikes on Saginaw Bay with a back-to-back trek on the northern and western shores of the water. November 14, 2020 was a day of reflection for me, where my alma mater honored the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Thundering Herd plane crash that struck tragedy into our community in 1970. I couldn’t make it home for the ceremony, so I found it important to be able to get back to my communing with Mother Nature. These 1.5 and 4.8 mile treks, respectively, allowed me to do just that.

Sandy Hook Trail sits on Tawas Point and is consistently being hammered by both Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Another point for avid bird watchers, the trail was relatively quiet so late into the season. It was my first primitive trail, which was an experience in and of itself, but it was a great understanding of how points of longer trails could end up being in the future. It was also my coldest hike to date, sitting at a cool 35 with a very blustery wind coming off Lake Huron.

I lost the map out of my pocket about half way through (though, it’s not like such a short trail really needed one) and I was, at one point, confronted with being stuck between two bodies of water (one being an inland marsh) and no discernable path. Tawas Point, being the primitive trail that it is, is constantly changing due to the sandbar nature of the land. Near the end of the trail, just across one of the few manmade items on the trek, the path actually abruptly stopped and plummeted at least ten feet into a very feisty Lake Huron.

U.S. Coast Guard Fog Horn at the tip of Tawas Point.

The trail was quite nice and had great views, though, if you are a little wary about trekking in such conditions, I would suggest just walking the access road down and back and climbing up the bluffs to see the views. Tawas Point was once property of the U.S. Coast Guard, so an access road cuts through it and empties out to an old USCG Fog Horn. Still, as beautiful as the views are, don’t forget to check out the lighthouse on the mainland. It led to some great shots, even if it wasn’t open for visitors at the time.

Down and to the west, Tobico Marsh Trail sits in Bay City. I did both the full 4.8 miles of the marsh and a 1.5 loop around the Lagoon Trail near the visitors center. With the trail being inside Bay City and the trees being nearly bare so late in the year, there wasn’t a time where I felt like you got away from the noise of everyday, human life. Still, I think this trail would have been much more interesting in the peak season, when thousands of birds flock to the area and its wildlife shows off more than just an autumnal stroll through the forest.

Saginaw Bay Visitor Center houses a natural history collection about the area and the birding popular there.

If you are like me and you aren’t a huge fan of pavement impact, especially in your hiking boots, I would actually suggest cutting this hike short and just entering at the trailhead at Trail Marker 20. It probably makes the trek half the distance, but it also makes it a loop and strictly a forest hike. You can find this trailhead via the Tobico Marsh Access Rd. just off Killarney Beach Rd.

The reason 50 Hikes in Michigan suggests starting at the Bay City State Park is likely due to the Visitor’s Center there. I got a glimpse inside but didn’t get a chance to really look inside because I wanted to be off the trails by dark. Still, the center focuses on showing the natural history of the area and the birding that draws so many people. A trip to Tobico Marsh at peak birding season would actually be a great day trip, where you could enjoy the Visitor’s Center, the beach, bird watching, and a trail or two.

Port Crescent Trail

A brisk 2.3 mile hike on the southern basin of Saginaw Bay, don’t let the beginning of Port Crescent Trail discourage you from the rest of it. I was a bit disappointed when I started out in the very tailored portion of the nature walk of the trail, fearing that it would be that way for the entire hike. Port Crescent is a known birding area, much like the next few hikes I will write on, so it wasn’t as bustling in November as it could have been during other parts of the year, but the nature trail portion of the hike was meant to educate on these birds, as were other trails in the park.

Just a .3-.5 mile portion of the trail, the path has packed down gravel with concrete slabs for benches and educational placards. Sadly, the placards were extremely faded and difficult to read, if that was what you were there for. Maybe this portion of the trail will go under some rejuvenation soon.

Beyond the nature trail, you were dropped into an interesting set of paths, comprising of dunes, limestone, and marshy areas. Parts of it were challenging, which was nice for testing my new trekking poles, and parts of it were confusing, but the trail was decently well marked. I only got turned around once, but was quickly capable of finding my way again.

While you are hiking along the bay, you are not quite on the water, which cut down on some of the wind picking up over it while I was there. I hiked out on the outside portion of the loop and hiked back on the portion along the water, but you are in a basin, so must make a sidetrip to see the water. Even in November, I would suggest finding a good lookout point though.

I came across a lovely couple on my hike back towards the nature preserve that reminded me of why I like coming across people on the trails. I was a little packed up for such a short trek, but was trying out some new gear and getting used to the new weight of my pack, so we had a short, masked interaction about “training” for harder trails. Then, I pointed out a good lookout point I had found and they thanked me as we went on our way. I’m hoping that these types of interactions continue, even as the trail goers thin out for the winter.

I enjoyed this trail due to its different types of terrain and the potential that the nature trail would have if it had a little love put into it soon. I may go back out to check out some of the wildlife when it gets closer to birding season, which is definitely not something I had considered before.

Lakeview and Oak Woods Loop

A 3.6 mile hike in the Waterloo Recreation Area, this trip is just a short one outside of the Ann Arbor area, and was a perfect mid-pandemic activity with a few coworkers. Lakeview and Oak Woods trails are connected by a short piece of the Waterloo-Pickney Trail and have some great views of the water, if you can find them amongst all the trees. Our mid-July trek was made easier by the high canopy and relative cover provided by the trees.

While there are a few places for experiencing the tranquility of Mill Lake, our only real view of the lake was when we got slightly lost. The trail is relatively well marked, but there was some confusing on the Lakeview Trail that actually dropped us closer to a different access road. This detour led us to a natural boat launch that left us speechless looking out across the lake we had been trekking beside most of our afternoon.

Lakeview Trail may have had some confusing markings that got us a little turned around, but the rest of the trails (or, trail pieces) were well marked across both the Waterloo-Pickney Trail and the Oak Woods Trail. The recreation area is also far enough off the beaten path that you don’t get a lot of noise like cars once you make it to the paths, and we saw relatively few people. In the midst of our lockdown, it was a welcome adventure into the outdoors that allowed a little comradery with a relatively low risk factor. You can find more of my shots here, if you are interested in the full photo collection.

Another highlight of these trails is the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center. While we couldn’t explore it due to closure, “the center reflects [Eddy’s] career in geology and his dedication to preserving Michigan’s natural areas.”¹ The center features two exhibition rooms, which are said to be great for young children, or just anyone interested in geology and Michigan.

Jim DeFresne, “Lakeview and Oak Woods Loop” in 50 Hikes in Michigan (New York: The Countrymen Press, 2019), 55.

The Return to the Trails

I think one of the most important things we could have done this year is do more things that safely bring us joy, and, getting back to nature and the trails has done just that for me. Not only has it gotten me out and exploring, but it has also brought me back to my love of photography and has encouraged me to take the plunge into photo editing. Therefore, I thought it was important to get back to another love of mine: writing.

I got the inspiration to do the 52 Hikes in 52 Weeks challenge from a friend that did it in 2020, and figured it was a perfect goal for 2021, as life is far from going “back to normal,” so I got to the trails this year to remind myself what it was like. I likely won’t post all my hikes in order, and will probably prioritize the ones from my current goal over others, but I felt this was the best way to write about my own experiences, dedicate some time to getting words to paper, and sharing some of my photography. If you want more of my photography, you can always check out my Instagram page, where I share my full collections.

Some of my hikes have been with coworkers, some with family, and some have been on my own, but they’ve all been a way for me to reconnect with nature and remember why I love it so much. Prioritized here are my experiences hiking in Michigan, specifically from the book 50 Hikes in Michigan, which comes with an additional 10 suggestions. These adventures and more are in hopes of building up to some longer through treks, including my dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail (and maybe even the other two of the Triple Crowns).

So, join me, my camera, my thoughts, and, often, my cowboy hat on the adventures back into nature and to myself as we welcome in yet another hard year ahead of us.