Kathy and I made a major miscalculation today when we headed to the lakefront on a cold and windy day.  But we still wanted to get a hike in.  So, we headed to Luna Pier and hoped that the houses in town would shelter us from the lake winds.  Well, they did help, but…

We parked at the city hall and walked through town on the bike lane that follows the shorefront homes.  We ended up walking about 2 to 3 miles total, but that was enough for today.

Some observations.  There is potential for one of the best Monroe-based hikes by using the Harold Street bike path, the pier and connecting dikes, interior city streets, several public parks and the Woodtick Peninsula.

For instance, one could park at the Water Tower Park and hike north for nice views of Allens Cove.  A walker could head up the I-75 overpass for a nice elevated panorama.  Then, hike back down and follow the bike path on Harold drive to the pier.  Walk out to the pier for nice Lake Erie views.  Follow the dike along the shore for as long as is legal and then cut back into the city streets.  Use these little-traveled roads to head to the Luna Pier municipal boat launch.  I have walked all of this at various times in the past.

At the boach launch, the route gets hypothetical.  While we were in town today, I noticed what looked like a small metal bridge across LaPointe Drain to Consumer’s Energy property on the other side.  Consumer’s traditionally lets hikers and fishermen walk along its shore, but they have some type of diked disposal facility due south of the boat launch.  Do they let people walk along the drain?  This remains to be seen.

If they do, then all a hiker has to do is follow the drain out to the shore.  From there, it is open territory all they way down to the North Cape on the Woodtick Peninsula.  Depending on water levels and the current state of the peninsula, it could potentially make for a 13 or 14 mile out and back hike.

That would be cool!

Here’s the potential route.  Note.  There are some potential obstacles to this hike.  Verify legality before attempting:)

http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=628A87FDBE3AF2A!167&encType=1

Here’s a previous report on the Woodtick Peninsula:

http://extremesouthmichigan.blogspot.com/2007/01/favorite-place-woodtick-peninsula.html

Here’s a previous report on Allen’s Cove:

http://extremesouthmichigan.blogspot.com/2007/02/allens-cove.html

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