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Lost Lake LbNA #9435

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 18, 2004
Location:
City:North Muskegon
County:Muskegon
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:Keltic Kara
Found by: VW Family!
Last found:Jul 22, 2009
Status:FFFFFFOFFF
Last edited:Jul 18, 2004
SUMMER 2009 - Logbook and stamp reported missing. I may have a chance to replace these this winter (I live out of state now). Apologies....it's still a really nice hike around Lost Lake if you have the opportunity.

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"Lost Lake - sounds intriguing."

Kelsey was looking at a trail map of Muskegon State Park. A ranger at one of the entrance booths was nice enough to give her one on her last visit She was looking for a hike, and a visit to Lost Lake looked like a great prospect.

"Interested in going for a hike," Kelsey asked her friend Jessie?

"Definitely."

From the map they noticed that a few route led to Lost Lake. They could park at Snug Harbor and take the "Y-X" trail to Lost Lake. But Kelsey and Jessie were looking for a little longer hike, so they parked at the Winter Sports Complex where they could take the ski trails out to Lost Lake.

They hiked out to the luge track and found the trail that starts between the upper and lower luge tracks and heads east towards post marker 3.

"It looks so nice out here." thought Kelsey. "These trails have a different feel in the summer with all the leaves on the trees than in the winter when all the trails are groomed."

When they reached the intersection at post marker 3, Kelsey and Jessie turned south. They passed through white pine, oak and hemlock forest (as well as post marker 9). They continued straight past post marker 10. Up a hill and down another...this was one of Kelsey's favorite places to ski in the winter. On the right they noticed a familiar valley, criss-crossed with downed trees. They'd reach the Block House if they hiked through that valley and up the next hill.

By this time the trail had turned east (for the most part), and they knew that Lost Lake wasn't too far. Finally they reached the spot where the trail split. In front of them a graffiti-covered beech tree announced the love of Kurt and Ivy, and something about "99 AJ". About twenty feet ahead of them they noticed the post with an "X" and an arrow pointing to the right. It had only taken them about 25 minutes to get out to this spot. Enjoying their hike in the woods, Kelsey and Jessie decided to hike around Lost Lake. They took the "X" trail that branched off to the right.

What a lovely trail. Lost Lake certainly is an apt name, although pond was a more accurate description. Covered with lily pads and surrounded with wild blueberry bushes, this was a lovely gem of Muskegon State Park.

After hiking about ¾ of the way around Lost Lake, Kelsey and Jessie reached a sandy opening on the east side of the pond. Surrounded with young white pine and oak, this was the first opening they had encountered their whole hike.

"Let's take a break," said Jessie as she settled herself in the shade.

Kelsey, the intrepid explorer, noticed a trail that branched off to the east. While Jessie rested Kelsey decided to explore a little bit of it. She hadn't taken more than 20 steps when, through the blueberry bushed and white pines to her right, Kelsey noticed a large branch down about 25 feet off the trail on her right. The main trunk of the branch stood almost six feet off the ground. Kelsey, who had wandered around the blueberry bushes to get a closer look, could walk under it.

"Wait," she thought. "What's that?" In the crotch of the oak tree from which that large branch had fallen Kelsey spotted something. She smiled at her find. Lost Lake wasn't the only "lost" thing she found on her hike today.


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Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
Terrain: Easy to Moderate - some hills, and root-covered trails

Entry to Muskgeon State Park requires an annual pass ($24) or a daily pass ($6). Park hours are from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. If you search for this box in the winter, please keep in mind that hiking isn't allowed on the snow-covered trails at the Winter Sports Complex. They're groomed for cross-country skiing.


For a map of Muskegon State Park visit:
http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/muskegon_map.pdf