Sign Up  /  Login

Lumbertown Series #3 LbNA #9877

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 5, 2004
Location:
City:North Muskegon
County:Muskegon
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:Keltic Kara
Found by: Great Jack's Trackers
Last found:Jun 23, 2012
Status:FFFFOFFFFa
Last edited:Aug 5, 2004
Lumbertown Series #3 (of 4)

Muskegon State Park, North Muskegon

Much of the lumber milled on Muskegon Lake was sent to build the growing towns out west. It's said that Muskegon-milled lumber rebuilt Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. Your search will take you along the north side of the Muskegon Lake channel near the sheltered cove of Snug Harbor, where some of Muskegon Lake's 47 lumber mills were once situated.

Begin at the south end of Muskegon State Park at the parking lot along the channel (past the beach house and before the Channel Campground).

Stroll east along the pier, toward Muskegon Lake. At the end of the pier you'll notice a beach on your right. You can hop down the rocks to reach the beach; or if the jump down looks a too risky, you can backtrack a bit to the gravel trail you passed a short way back (the gravel trail that leads to the campground). There's a sandy trail on the right that immediately branches off of the gravel trail, which will also take you to this small beach on Muskegon Lake.

This beach would have been the perfect spot for a lumber mill, conveniently located near the outlet to Lake Michigan. Walk to the north end of the beach. You'll reach the terminus of a paved campground road. Continue north over the pavement. You'll notice a trail marker which designates the "Devil's Kitchen" trail. Follow it.
The trail continues along the Muskegon Lake shoreline. You'll pass an open, sandy dune area on your left. Scattered along the trail are old, weathered logs, perfect for sitting and enjoying the scenery. Perhaps some are remnants of the lumber days, washed up after years of sitting on the lake bottom.

Not far past a 4 x 4 post (indicating that the park is closed to hunting and trapping) is a particularly interesting old log. It's buried with one end in the sand, the other end pointing up and away from the lake. Standing at this log and looking out toward the water, you'll get a clear view of downtown Muskegon. What a different view today than that of 100 years ago at the end of Muskegon's lumber era. Still, traces of that long-gone past remain.

A few paces from that interesting old log is another, long enough for a few people to sit on and half buried in the sand. Old and weathered, it seems perfect for contemplating the past. On an offhanded chance, check the end of the log to see if it bears a remnant mark of the lumber days. Although the end of the log has rotted away, you'll be rewarded with a find.

***************************************************************

A Michigan State Park sticker ($24) or a daily pass ($6) is required for enrty to Muskegon State Park