Friends of the Les Cheneaux Area Trail planning committee meetings are now officially the third Wednesday of each month at 6pm. We rotate our meetings across the communities of Cedarville, Hessel, DeTour, Raber, Goetzville, and Pickford, meeting up at local businesses. We will meet each month to plan out future field trips, plan projects, and discussions of our favorite recent trail experiences. All are welcome to attend the meetings. Bring your ideas, enthusiasm, and love of local area hiking/biking/wildlife/snowshoeing/skiing trails. As a reminder we seek to help all in the area navigate, exercise and learn about out local trails and ecosystems. It's all about getting outdoors, being healthy, learning, and education. Join us in furthering these efforts.
October 6th, 2pm - Fall Colors Social Hike - Bay City Lake State Recreation Area
Come hike with us on this secluded, Hessel, Michigan hardwood forest gem! Bay City Lake is a small inland lake surrounded by an amazing 8 mile plus network of dirt bike and ATV trails. Best of all, these are multi-use trails on which you can hike as well. We will hike and take in the splendor of the fall UP colors on this trail. Afterwards we will head to a local establishment to enjoy some fellowship and refreshments. Meet up at Bay City Lake by heading 2.25 miles north on 3-Mile Road (turn north off M-134 at the blinking light in Hessel), drive past the Albert J. Lindberg Airport and Bay City Lake Road will be almost immediately after the airport and on your left. Then turn west onto Bay City Lake Road. Park at the east end of Bay City Lake. Use this DNR map for reference: http://www.midnr.com/publications/pdfs/forestslandwater/ORV/Maps-Trail/bay_city_lake_trail.pdf
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/289723751853381/
Sept 30th, 6pm - Sunset Social Hike - DeTour State Forest Campground
Sunset social hike. Meet at the parking area in the DeTour State Forest Campground, which is about 17 miles east of Cedarville on M-134, or 6 miles west of DeTour. The parking area for non campers is down the .5 mile driveway near the dumpsters.
NOTE A RECREATION PASSPORT IS REQUIRED TO BRING A VEHICLE HERE. DNR Recreation passports are $11 for residents of MI and last a whole year and get you into all State parks and rev lands (an amazing bargain!). More info here: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
We will hike this approximately 2.5 mile round trip through a variety of amazing forest types. Come experience classic spruce-fir-cedar forest, unique mesic maple-beach forest, followed by the truly spectacular dune and rocky shorelines of Lake Huron. We’ll hike the beach as the sunsets. This location is very underutilized and many don’t even know about the trail loop here as it is not well advertised. You won’t regret hiking this really wonderful place. Afterwards we will head to a local establishment for some conversation and refreshments.
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/290655871531147/
Sat, Sept 15th, Mushroom ID Walk with Pat Willson @ The John Arthur Woollam Preserve
August 1st, 5:30pm - 6:30pm - First Meeting: Redux
Location: Hessel School House and Avery Learning Center, 3206 W Cedar Road, Hessel, MI, 49745
What: An Introduction to the group and our projects as well as an overview of the LCI area trails, plus a chance to give your input on what you think is important for our area trails
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/258497998293280/
August 3rd, 10:30am- 12:00pm - Kids Nature Hike
Location: Hessel School House and Avery Learning Center, 3206 W Cedar Road, Hessel, MI, 49745
What: A fun bug hunt and exploration of a nearby nature preserve. Carpool to a nearby nature preserve and join us for an aquatic and land bug hunt, plus a fun hike with lots of adventures!
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/648196288874351/
August 12th, 10am - 12pm - Social Hike at Gerstacker Preserve
Location: Carl A. Gerstacker Preserve,11125 M-134, Cedarville, MI 49719. If you need to put in the GPS coordinates it is : 45.981395, -84.132356. This location is a roadside pull-off on M134 exactly 11.6 miles east of the M129 and M134 intersection (blinking light in Cedarville).
What: We will hike an approximate 2.5 mile loop through old growth dune habitat to little trout lake. This is pristine Northern Lake Huron Wilderness with a lot of wonderful flora and fauna. We will adjourn afterwards for refreshments at a local establishment of our choosing (refreshments purchased on your own).
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/259936364602417/
August 30th, Mushroom Identification Class, 6pm - 8pm
Location: Hessel School House and Avery Learning Center, 3206 W Cedar Road, Hessel, MI, 49745
What: Ever wanted to learn more about the tasty fungi that live all throughout the wonderful EUP area? This is your chance! Pat Wilson has offered to teach an introductory mushroom ID class to help those interested in learning the common mushroom species in our area. Prepare to learn what wonders can be found in our area, including info on those that are edible and poisonous. Please note this is not an official Michigan Wild-foraged Mushroom Identification certification course. However, you can come and learn the basics of mushroom ID skills and learn the secrets of the fungi world. This is a great way to prepare yourself for an official mushroom certification course which are often offered throughout the year in the LCI area. It will also be followed up in September by a mushroom ID hike in the area.
Work Bee at the Derby Perserve was a Big Success!
Derby Trail Work Day
The Derby Preserve Trail, located next to the Les Cheneaux Golf Course and part of the North Huron Birding Trail, is in need of some sprucing up. Please join us on Sunday, June 10th for a trail work day. We'll be building some simple structures to cross over muddy areas.