McSauba #2 LbNA #34772

Take US 31 until you see the Charlevoix City Golf Course. Turn west (opposite the Sleep Inn) on Mercer Blvd. Continue on Mercer Blvd. about 1/2 mile to the first crossroad, Waller Rd. Turn left. Waller Rd. ends at an intersection with McSauba Rd. Turn right and continue until you see a small ski lodge. Turn left (still McSauba Rd) and drive about 1/4 mile. The road curves sharply to the right but don't follow it. Go straight down a gravel road. This will lead you to the sledding hill and access to the dunes. Park in the car park and take the trail marked by 4 large boulders, leading toward Lake Michigan. Immediately past the boulders is a trail on the right. Take this trail. At the first fork, go left (west). You will pass some great dunes. Take a moment (and a camera) to climb to the top. At the next fork in the trail, turn right. Continue on to the next break in the trail while you enjoy some beautiful maple, beech, ironwood and oak trees. When the trail splits again, turn left. You might see porcupines, white tail deer, fox and many squirrels if you're quiet enough. At the next fork in the trail, turn right. An overturned stump that looks like a bird stands guard on this part of the trail. The trail will split again, stay right. If you look ahead and to your left, you will see a hollow stump with a rock on its top like a cap. Continue on and the woods on the left begin to change. You will notice a wetland area with lots of fallen trees. Watch carefully now and you will see a small trail on the left. If you take this you can challenge yourself on a little wooden bridge that takes you over the mud. If you aren't up for the challenge, stay on the main trail. Across from the wooden bridge (on the main trail) you will find a fallen tree. Notice the top of the rotting tree where the limbs extend, still intact. Look up and see a tree visited by woodpeckers. At the bottom of the tree you will see several pieces of the tree around a skinny tree. That is where you will find our letterbox. Continue on the trail and you will be back at the parking lot.

***The trail is very difficult to follow in the fall with leaves covering the floor of the woods.