a new letterbox planted in Michigan
1 messages in this thread |
Started on 2001-05-27
a new letterbox planted in Michigan
From: (marisa1of9@aol.com) |
Date: 2001-05-27 22:41:19 UTC-04:00
From: Rainbow's End
Letterbox name: Beach View by the Dunes Letterbox
Placed on: May 20, 2001
Located at: Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, Michigan, Berrien County
Enter Warren Dunes State Park and take your first right past the guard house
toward the campgrounds. (At the guard house, ask for a Foot Trails map - it
can be helpful) In about 1/4 mile, look for the parking lot for the Nature
Trail on your left. At the end of the parking lot is the trail head for the
Nature Trail. (If you didn't get a map at the guard house, look for one
here.)
About 1/2 mile into your walk, there will be two unmarked forks, take the
left fork on both. Then look for a park sign for the Red Squirrel Trail on
your left. Take this trail and continue through the woods on the Red
Squirrel Trail. In about 1/2 mile you will come out of the woods and begin
your walk on the magnificent dunes. Soon the Red Squirrel Trail will
dead-end into the Blue Jay Tail. Turn left and continue toward the lake.
Before long you will get a wonderful view of the lake. Look for the Beach
Trail on your left. Turn left and follow the Beach trail southwest, parallel
with the shore on your right. The first section of the trail stays high on
the ridge of the dunes. It is not well worn here, so watch carefully so you
don't stray. In about 1/4 mile the trail will approach the woods, and turn
downhill. Continue to following the trail downhill along the edge of the
woods. Soon the trail will have descended close to the same level as the
shore. Now look on your left for a metal fence post that is capped with a
small pyramid shaped wooden block with a blue DNR label denoting a hiking
trail. Stop here and put your back to the water, looking uphill into the
woods. Just 15 feet in front of you will see an old pine tree who has had a
tough life, but managed to stay alive. This old trunk lays horizontal, with
a newer trunk growing from it, upright toward the sun on the right side. On
the left side of the horizontal trunk you will find the letterbox, hidden
under the roots and shield by a knurled piece of driftwood. (Please be sure
to replace the driftwood to shield the letterbox)
After completing the letterbox, we recommend continuing southwest along the
lake and intersect with the Mt. Randal Trail. Take this scenic trail inland,
back toward the campground and the Nature Trail. When you get to the Nature
Trail, turn right and you will be very close to the parking lot.
We hope you enjoy this special walk!