Visualize the Great Lakes of Michigan – sandy beaches, the giant dunes on Lake Michigan, light houses, fresh water, or the spectacular Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior. The popular and bustling gold coast towns that dot the coastline of Lake Michigan – Ludington, Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs.
Rarely does one imagine the “rust belt”, the more industrial areas along the Lake Huron coast, stretching from the east side of the Straights of Mackinaw to the Bluewater Bridge of Port Huron at the southernmost tip of Lake Huron. 206 miles of Michigan shoreline and the longest total shoreline of all the great lakes if you count the shorelines of its 30 islands. Lake Huron is the second largest great lake and the 5th largest freshwater lake in the world. Named from the Native American tribe, the Hurons, the coastline was also home to the Chippewa and Odawa, who were avid fur traders with the French, voyagers and missionaries of the region.
Heading east along the lake shore I camp at Hoeft State Park (a mere 36 miles from Cheboygan), nestled in the trees along several miles of pristine sandy, pebbled and nearly deserted beaches. Lush green walking trails through the woods induce a state of forest bathing. A perfect spot to commune with nature.
An easy paved 4-mile bike trail leads to 40-mile Lighthouse.
Spent the next day on the bike exploring Thompson Harbor State Park (no camping) and Presque Isle, 20 miles south of Hoeft State Park. Three lighthouses, the Front Range, Old Presque Isle and the New Presque Isle lighthouse dot the coastline along with more pristine beaches, wetlands, quiet walking paths and trees galore – all surrounded by vibrant blue water, Lake Huron. With 147 steps to the tower, the new Presque Isle lighthouse is the 5th tallest on the great lakes and offers spectacular views.
My next ride was the paved, lakeside bike path from the State Park to Rogers City, flanked by six magnificent swans in flight alongside me, and a mighty tail wind that allowed me almost to keep up with them.
Rogers City, a clean, tidy little town, is home to the world’s largest open pit limestone quarry, the Port of Calcite, located within the city limits. The port is one of the largest shipping ports in the U. S. and located near the worlds’s largest cement plant in Alpena, Michigan.
On November 18, 1958, the freighter, SS Carl D. Bradley (home port Rogers City), sank with 33 crew in Lake Michigan. There were two survivors, 26 of the deceased were from Rogers City, the remainder from surrounding communities. The Great Lakes Maritime Museum and memorial park is located in Rogers City. At the bottom of Lake Huron rest hundreds of well-preserved shipwrecks, many not far from shore and popular with divers, snorkelers and kayakers.
Imagine, Rogers City is 36 miles from where I graduated from high school, and I have never explored east of my hometown…. It’s a small world…with some stunning beaches and scenery. Love those deserted beaches.
