Kayaking Lime Lake

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I've been exploring more of the many inland lakes that connect to Lake Michigan. This week, I paddled Lime Lake in Maple City just west of Traverse City.

This lake is about a mile across and has a shallow shelf along the edge that extends inward from the edge for a long way. This made for a calm paddle.

Here are some photos:

Freshwater shellfish live in these shallow areas.

Looking north across the lake.

Some old cedars blown down by mighty winds.

Evidence of an old sawmill gathered at the southern end.

Kayaking Cedar Lake

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

The entire state of Michigan (both upper and lower peninsulas) are in the Great Lakes Basin. This means that every bit of flowing water you see in Michigan is heading to one of four Great lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron or Erie). 
Check out this map of the Great Lakes watershed:

This is unique. All of the other Great Lakes states and provinces bordering the lakes have only a portion of their lands draining into the lakes. 

Illinois and Indiana have very narrow bands of their state that drain into Lake Michigan, just those portions right along the western and southern edges of the lake. The majority of both of these states drain into the Mississippi watershed. 

I often kayak some of the interior waters of Michigan. One of my favorite small lakes is Cedar Lake. There are always loons there. Little creeks flow into the lake and then flow out to connected lakes. These waters eventually find their way to Lake Michigan.

Enjoy Cedar Lake (west of Traverse City) 

with me:

Remember, these waters are on a journey.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Adopt-A-Trail

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I live near the gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I often hike the beaches and trails in the park.

So, I decided to volunteer as an Adopt-A-Trail hiker with the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

This all-volunteer group coordinates with the national lakeshore to keep this park safe and wonderful for all visitors.

Last year, over 13,000 volunteer hours were logged in the park.

There are many ways to volunteer with this group including:

• Adopt-An-Access Point (Accessibility)
• Adopt-A-Beach
• Adopt-A-River
• Adopt-A-Trail (For Rustic Trails Only)
• BARK Rangers
• Invasive Plant Brigade
• PSAR Log
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Trail Ambassadors
• Track Chair Report

Since I'm a devoted hiker, I chose to 

Adopt-A-Trail. My Farms Trail is part of the Bay View Trail. This looping trail also has a cut-through trail (Ridge Trail) with a gorgeous overlook out on Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands. The trail winds through forest and farm lands. 

Check out these photos:

The sandy trail goes through mixed forest

Peaking through the trees out onto the lake

Massive white pine along the ridge

The trail skirts historic farmland

Massive tree along the trail

View from the lookout on the Ridge Trail

Volunteers wear orange vests while in the park

There's even a bench at the overlook

Strawberries in bloom along the trail

Adopt-A-Trail volunteers are asked to hike their trail once a month from May-September and report on trail conditions.