Michigan Hikes: Otter Creek, Bass Lake, and Cathead Bay

A lookout off of the Pierce Stocking scenic drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park

Last week I went on a trip to gather with my old roommates from college: ixoj, zillah, and phin. Apart from a brief reunion at a wedding this summer, we haven't spent time as a group since our trip to Turkey in 2012. I arrived in Chicago a little early, because I wanted to spend the day at the Institute of Art — I hope to write more about my fabulous experience in another post, either here or on my art history blog.

Zillah picked me and phin up in Chicago, and we spent the night in South Bend. Then we drove up to along Lake Michigan the next day, and we picked up ixoj at the airport in Grand Rapids. Our plan was to camp and backpack in the area of the Michigan peninsula. Our trip did have a few disappointments though - one of the largest being that we weren't able to get on a ferry so that we could backpack on South Manitou Island, but we were able to find a last-minute place to stay at the Wild Cherry RV Resort. Some standout memories include hiking up a dune at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, eating some fabulous Moomers ice cream, having a little frog hop in our car while we were driving, scores of gnats swirling around the backseat of the car (around me and phin), and seeing a skunk walk past our campsite at the Leelanau State Park campground.

One day went on one large hike and another short hike. First we combined the Otter Creek and Bass Lake loops together (as part of the Platte Plains Trail system), which made about an eight mile hike. The trails were relatively flat, which was nice. We saw lots of various different types of terrain on the hike, and scores of different types of mushrooms. We also saw two toads, which was fun. I don't remember ever seeing an actual toad in person before.

Bass Lake 

We tried to figure out why all of the trees were dead on one side of the trail, but green and leafy on the other side of the trail. 

After the hike we briefly visited the beach next to the trailhead parking

The other hike that we took that day was rather spontaneous. That evening we wanted to go swimming in Lake Michigan to cool off (and bathe!). We had already pitched our tent in the Leelanau campsite, and we got a recommendation to go to the Cathead Bay beach nearby. It was about a mile walk to the beach from the trailhead, and the trail went through a lovely forested area with tall trees. Since we arrived later in the evening, we pretty much had the beach to ourselves almost the entire time. The sun was starting to set, and it was really lovely. This quick little trip to the beach was one of the most memorable parts of our trip, I think.