Feb 26 2008
Luna Pier - City Hike North
I have to admit that I am drawn to Luna Pier. It has some of the best long-distance views in Monroe County. The city is as walkable as they come in the county. Traffic frequency in most of the city is low and the very low speed limits are strictly enforced. And, I have to compliment Luna Pier, the city doesn’t place “Keep Out” signs everywhere like other shoreline communities along Lake Erie.
So, the first thing that visitors to Luna Pier should do is to find a business and spend some money. A town that welcomes people should be rewarded.
The second thing that a visitor should do is start walking. This past Sunday, I parked at the community center at Water Tower Park. From there, I walked along the walk/bike lane on Harold Drive north to Allen Cove Rd. Allen Cove moves in two directions. Both are dead ends. But both have great views of the lake, so it is worth while walking to the end of each segment.
Once back to the intersection with Harold Drive, a hiker should follow the dike towards I-75 along the north side marsh to Gardner’s Rd. This marsh is owned by the State of Michigan. It is a part of the Erie State Game Area.
At Gardner’s a walker should walk north past the only house on this street and stay with the road as it makes a sharp turn west and then north again. The road will dead-end in a DNR parking lot.
Past the parking barrier, a trail heads north past several small ponds until it dead-ends at some marsh along Muddy Creek. This is actually an interesting location. There are some VERY rough paths that seem to go in many different directions.
With time, I will hike these. I am curious to know if there is any kind of connection along Muddy Creek to the other side of I-75. I’d bet not. I’d also be curious to know if there is a nice loop back along the Allen Cove marsh.
Whatever the case, this is a very interesting place. As I headed back, I ran into a DNR conservation officer doing a patrol in the small parking area. He was quite curious about where I had come from. Gotta love those curious DNR officers.
BTW, this particular walk can be plugged into a previous Luna Pier hike that I’ve blogged about in the past. You can view that report here:
Here’s my map on Microsoft Virtual Earth:
This is the official Erie State Game Area map:
Note: The Allen Cove Road overpass spanning I-75 can be used to create an “aerial” style view. The shoulder on the bridge is wide enough to walk along. So, that is an option for view-lovers.
And you still didn’t stop in to see us …
BTW, the only house on Gardner’s … is Gardner’s, of the Charles “Shorty” and Patricia variety. Dear friends of ours, Mary’s known them most of her life. Pat makes some of the best homemade bread I’ve ever tasted in my life!
Hehe…
I had a stopwatch on to see when you’d reply:) 49 minutes is not bad.
I would totally stop in if I knew where you actually lived. But THE PRESENCE of the Luna Pier Cook hangs heavy in the air. For some reason, all I could think of was corn dogs.
Anyway, I love your town. It’s one of the best in the county.
Oh, and sorry, Mary, for starting a post about Luna Pier with a picture of a run-down shack. But it was just sooooo COOL!
Ok, let’s say you were, oh I don’t know, aware of when you were coming to town. You could, maybe, possibly, email me and ask for directions?
Wow, I didn’t know those corn dogs I made last June were still smelling up the neighborhood! Where’s that 55-gallon drum of Febreeze …
Finally, shacks may be cool, but outhouses are even better. Especially if they’re not of the fiberglas variety, eh?
That IS true, LPC, but I’ll give you a little window into the expatriate-monroe-blog-post-idea-generating-machine.
Here’s how it goes…
1) Mike wakes up.
2) Mike looks at a map.
3) Mike says, “What the hell” and gets in the car.
So, how’s that for corn dogs, pal?
BTW, I promise to email next time, MOM.