Creeks and Gullies

Sort of sounds like Chutes and Ladders. Well, I thought of something brand new I could do today that would give me a decent road walk, and I could also do Scottville errands on the way. Perfect.

Here is the Cemetery Creek where it crosses 1st Street south of me. It's attractive right there. I followed it to the river once, but I know I was on a lot of private property. There is state land all along the river, but from where this picture is it's about a half mile along the creek until you get to state land. Everything north of here is private. I probably shouldn't do that again without permission.

Farther along on that walk, where 1st Street bends north and east to head into Scottville, there is another creek. It almost always has water in it, but had I ever paid attention to where it comes from or goes? NO, except to say it goes to the river. Look hard and you can see there's water in there.

I decided I should figure this out. Starting with looking at maps. This is a relief map. Scottville is just above center, and the Pere Marquette River is in dark blue. You can see multiple fingers of valleys heading to the river in and near town.

Those are all gullies. I labeled one on the map, and here is its picture. These are fairly deep and steep. They are dry most of the year although this one had a little water in it today.

But which gully is my unknown creek? Look at the map again. I labeled it unknown. After I looked at this map, I checked an imagery map. Nice that the photos were from autumn. It's easy to follow the line of the creek from its source (another day's adventure perhaps. It has to start behind the Paddlesports store. There must be a spring or something there) to the broad open area near the river. I added a blue line to trace the obvious part. But where is it after that? By looking at the roads I could see it has to come out at the public access to the river south of Scottville.

Talk about unobservant! I could not remember a creek in that area. In my defense, I don't go to that location very often. Still...

So I walked to the access. Edge of the gully- check. Followed along the bottom of the bluff and found where the creek comes down into a wetland area.

But I still couldn't picture where it actually flows into the river. Aha! Here is the beginning of the Bruce Krieger Nature Trail which goes across Scottville Road and into Riverside Park (I think. I used to walk there a lot, but the trails haven't been maintained). And guess what creek is under the bridge. You get one guess.

And just a very few feet below the bridge, the creek flows into...

... the Pere Marquette River.

A nice calm adventure. And- bonus- the sun was shining.

I edited and did errands.

Miles walked in 2026: 19.3

Mostly roadwalk with some exploring around the public access: 5.1 miles

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