Category: Michigan State

Tawas Point State Park
This small park is a “.. jagged hook of sandy beaches, wetlands and small dunes…” This unique sand dune ecosystem is a major landfall for birds migrating across Saginaw Bay.  It is a wonderful spot for birding. Thanks go to Kate for letting me know about it.
Tawas Bay Pedestrian and Bike Path 13.9 miles paved travels along the edge of Tawas Bay from the Park to Dyer and North Huron Road.  Here is the TrailLink.com description.
Sandy Hook Trail 1.5 miles, sandy interpretive path with a few stretches of boardwalk.  Map and detailed guide. 

Tahquamenon Falls State Park
This almost 50,000 acre state park is near the northern tip of the western region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Thank you to Kate who brought this park and its beautiful waterfalls to my attention.  The Upper Falls drops nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across.  The Lower Falls is a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island.   Here is the Park’s website.
Phone 906-492-3415  Here are maps of both the camping areas and the trails.   Detailed map of the Upper Falls Day Use Area.  Detailed map of the Lower Falls Day Use Area.    Facebook page.
Trail to the Upper Falls  0.3 miles  Loaner wheelchairs are available at the “Fact Shack” by the parking lot.
?  Nature Trail 0.3 miles. I am not sure how easy this is.  Better check with the park first.
 Trail and road to Lower Falls about 0.2 miles paved plus 0.4 miles gravel road along the river with views of the falls.

Yankee Springs Recreation Area
“Yankee Spring’s rugged terrain, bogs, marshes, lakes and streams, lend itself to many forms of recreation outdoor recreation, including 30 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of mountain bike trails, 10 miles of horseback trails, two public beaches, picnic shelters and two universally accessible fishing piers (one at Gun Lake and one at Deep Lake)”   Phone 269-795-9081  Here is their website.
 Yankee Springs – Gun Lake Trail. 0.50 mile long Map  Reviewed on TripAdvisor
There is also the one mile loop Sassafras Nature trail which is described as easy, flat and wooded.

Waterloo Recreation Area describes a “network of seven different trails that traverse a total of 14 miles”  in the Waterloo-Discovery Center area.
 The Dept. of Natural Resources website says “Of these trails, the “Rockway” loop is the only trail that meets ADAAG standards for universal accessibility.”   I can not find Rockway on their maps!   Try calling headquarters at 734-475-8307  to learn where it is and if you do, please let me know.  Here is the Recreation Area’s website.

Sterling State Park
“Sterling State Park’s 1,300 acres offers great recreational opportunities including over one mile of beach, boating, shore fishing on Lake Erie and the fishing lagoons, lakefront camping, wildlife viewing and six miles of trails.”
Here is the Park website.    Phone 734-289-2715
 Sterling Marsh trail, a 6 mile accessible interpretive trail which borders Lake Erie.

Port Crescent State Park
“Port Crescent State Park is located at the tip of Michigan’s “thumb” along three miles of sandy shoreline on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay near Port Austin. It is home to a dark sky preserve, a modern campground with waterfront views and a camper cabin. It also offers visitors ample opportunities for fishing, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, birding and hunting. In addition, a wooden boardwalk parallels the shoreline offering scenic vistas of Saginaw Bay.”  Park description and photographs of the trail in a nice blog, “The Midwest Guest” and reviewed in Trip Advisor.
Here is the Park website.  Phone (989) 738-8663
The Dunes Nature Trail  is a 3/4 mile interpretive trail with stops describing dune landscape, history and wildlife. “The trailhead also features an audio message repeater with messages, benefitting the visually impaired.”

Maybury State Park
“Maybury State Park contains almost 1,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadow, mature forest, a variety of wildlife and abundant wildflowers…”  Description on EyeOnMichigan.   Map   Park website.  Phone 248-349-8390
? There are 4 miles of paved bicycle trails and six miles of “unpaved hiking trails meander through wooded areas and around a large pond”.  There is wheelchair icon on the internet descriptions of these trails, although the hiking trails are described as “easy to moderate”.  Better call in advance to learn more.

Hartwick Pines State Park
At 9,672 acres, “…Hartwick Pines is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. The park’s rolling hills, which are built of ancient glacial deposit, overlook the valley of the East Branch of the AuSable River, four small lakes and unique timber lands. The principal feature of this park is the 49-acre forest of old growth pines which gives the park its name.”   Here is Grayings website describing the park.  The Park website.  Phone 989-348-7068
 Old Growth Trail is 1.25 mile loop which takes you into the park’s “49-acre tract of virgin timber, the largest continuous stand of old growth white pines in the Lower Peninsula.”
 Au Sable River Trail is a 3.9-mile interpretive foot trail that passes through old growth trees along the banks of the Au Sable River.
? The Mertz Grade Trail is a 2-mile trail that begins at the picnic area. The trail then follows an abandoned railroad area and through a second-growth forest.  The description does not say this is easy, but old railways usually are.  Best to call ahead to be sure.