Horseshoe Bay Wilderness Trail/Hiawatha National Forest
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| Bring insect repellent on a trail walk through the Horseshoe Bay Wilderness Area to a secluded Lake Huron beach or you won’t want to venture past the entrance area (here). The campground, trail, and beach are minutes from the casino and Evergreen Shores area on St. Ignace’s north side. |
This easy, one-mile hiking trail leads to a sandy, secluded Lake Huron beach. (Hiking a mile gets you away from annoying boom boxes, jet skis, etc.) The beach is backed by coastal wetlands where many shorebirds, ducks, and great blue herons can be seen. Bald eagles sometimes perch in the tall pines nearest the shore, scanning for prey. To swim, you might have to wade out quite a ways in very shallow water.
The trail goes through the 3,800-acre Horseshoe Bay Wilderness. I-75 traffic is within earshot most of the way to the beach. For awhile the whistles of trucks almost obliterate birdsong. The first section passes through mixed conifers and many hemlock. Occasional white pine are very, very large. Then bits of boardwalk takes you across a fragrant white cedar swamp where pitcher plants and morels have been found. Waterproof footgear is recommended if it's been raining. Bring insect repellent for this moist area. Hunting is permitted in much of the area; call for details (to participate or avoid). See Foley Creek Campground for info on the drive-up campground by the trailhead.
Trailhead is at the north end of the Foley Creek Campground, on H673/Mackinac Trail, 2 miles north of I-75 exit 348. Or, from the north and the I-75/M-123 exit (the road to Cedarville), turn south onto Mackinac Trail and go about 1 1/2 miles to campground entrance (on left). (906) 643-7900. Handicap access: a person on crutches could walk on part of the path if not too wet.
Return to St. Ignace
POINTS OF INTEREST
Bridgeview Park. Great views up at the Mackinac Bridge from a pleasant park with picnic shelters. Interesting historical video monitors and pictures with text about the bridge and previous transporation across the Straits are in an enclosed pavilion with restrooms. ... more
Museum of Ojibwa Culture. See how Ojibwa social values and their subsistence culture adapted to the climate. View change at the Straits in the 1660s from the native perspective of indigeous Ojibwa and Odawa and Huron newcomers, when the French fur trade was moving in. A fine small museum. ... more
Marquette Mission Park. The peaceful park has well-done interpretive panels about the Straits history of Ojibwa, Odawa, and Huron people and Father Marquette's Catholic mission, possibly at this very location. An authentic Huron longhouse and Ojibwa tipi are open without charge. ... more
Native Expressions Ojibwa Museum Store. This peaceful shop carries traditional crafts (quill work, baskets, more) plus certified contemporary Native American art. Here too is the U.P.'s largest selection of books and music about Eastern Woodland Indians and French-Canadian Great Lakes history ... more
Downtown St. Ignace. Downtown highlights: an interesting book and magazine store, a shop with antique lighting and furniture, and a choice arcade of shops ... more
Huron Boardwalk. A mile-long harborfront path with benches shows off a busy harbor and has Mackinac Island views. Interpretive signs and a Mackinaw boat convey the area's rich history ... more
American Legion Veterans Memorial Park. A waterfront park with picnic area, telescope, popular play structure, and beach often used by scuba divers visiting shipwrecks. At the nearby Star Dock, Mackinaw Parasailing ... more
Sunset Cruise or Vespers Cruise under the Mackinac Bridge. 1-hour narrated ferryboat cruise or vespers cruise take visitors under the Mackinac Bridge and out into Lake Michigan for seeing the sunset. ... more
Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay. Docked at St. Ignace, this modern icebreaking harbor tug clears the Straits for freighter traffic each year and is occasionally open for scheduled tours ... more
Dock #3 Park. Former staging area for the car ferry neeed before the Mackinac Bridge, this uncroded park is a nice place for picnics and a view of the Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay. ... more
St. Ignace trolley tour. 2 1/2-hour tour of area on 30-person bus goes across the bridge for Mackinaw City sights as well as St. Ignace's ... more
US-2 Mackinaw Bridge to Naubinway. A terrific introduction to the U.P. after crossing the Bridge, long vistas revealing one shoreline point after another emerge ... more
MANLEY'S FISH MARKET. Outstanding fresh and smoked whitefish, homemade jerky, and beef sticks. They can be eaten at picnic tables on a pleasant, shady lawn ... more
John Herbon Pottery Studio. John Herbon and three fellow potters work and show here. John's classic shapes are simply embellished with lizards, fish, ... more
Jabber Joe's. Offbeat variety/antique shop with frozen custard, too. Strong on candy, repro toys. ... more
Castle Rock. Stairs lead to the top of a natural limestone tower with a grand view of St. Martin Island, St. Ignace, and Mackinac ferries. A great family roadside attraction ... more
Horseshoe Bay Wilderness Trail/Hiawatha National Forest. A one-mile hiking trail through a mixed forest and wetland leads to a secluded Lake Huron beach, part of the 3,800-acre Horseshoe Bay Wilderness within the Hiawatha National Forest. ... more
Carp River Canoe Trail. An easy, scenic trout stream for family paddling with informal campsites by the river ... more
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