Nordhouse Dunes Hike

A group of us went out to Nordhouse Dunes for a hike today. There were actually 9 of us. Two people didn't want to hike as far as some of us did, so they went out and back.

We did one of the longer loops which includes a fair amount of loose sand, coming near Lake Michigan.

I guess I like this tree. I've taken its picture before.

Hoary Puccoon is in bloom all over the dunes.

We came back to the parking by way of Nordhouse Lake, still with lots of water in it right now. It often dries up in August and September.

It was a lovely 67° when we started, but was 81 with 70% humidity by the time we finished. That was brutal. I haven't done much else today. But if I'm going to hike this fall, I have to get in shape.

Miles walked in 2026: 195.1

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness- old road to Lake Michigan, north to Lake Michigan Rec Area, Arrowhead Trail, Nipissing Trail: 6.9 miles.

See Nordhouse and Bells

Nordhouse and Bells

 Cathy and I took a hike today at Nordhouse Dunes. I should be spending more time working, but the colors are peak, and the weather is phenomenal. I really can't stay inside. This is the road into the Dunes.

The trails have names now, so we took the Nipissing, Middle, and Algoma Trails for a loop of about 4.4 miles.

This passes Nordhouse Lake which is often completely dry at this time of year. Three years ago in October, it still had water. Not this year!

Loved this line of ferns

And a gnarly oak tree. Looks spooky enough for October, right?

The witch hazel is in full bloom, and the sun made it look great.

There was even one branch with a fruit from last year still attached.

Managed to do some work, hike, do bell practice, get groceries, and go to the hardware store. Starting to get in gear to get back to writing the next mystery.

Here is the second bell choir piece from Sunday, "This is My Father's World." I think it's one of the prettiest pieces we've ever done.



I've made it to tired. Didn't sleep well last night.

Miles hiked in 2024: 503.1

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Nippising, Middle, and Algoma Trails. 4.4 miles

See Nordhouse Dunes Hike

Nordhouse Dunes Hike

  Cathy and I made time to do a little hike this morning. We went to Nordhouse Dunes. I hadn't been there for 2 years! It's really a nice place, but often full of people in the summer, so I tend to avoid it.

Lots of hills and sand. This was interesting. Someone had made a number of designs in the sand with rocks and enclosed the whole thing inside a circle of sticks stuck in the ground. I wouldn't care much except this is a federally designated Wilderness, and I suspect you aren't supposed to do stuff like that there.

It is always interesting to check out Nordhouse Lake. This is a shallow kettle hole and it has no incoming water except for rain and a very small (insignificant really) creek. It dries up almost every year, and I heard that it was dry in August. But it had some water in it today, although the level was pretty low. The sky was gray, so the water is too. It's a sparkling blue on clear days.

We saw quite a few of these mushrooms. I'm not even going to try to ID it. White mushroom.

The best view of Lake Michigan from the loop we took is near the parking at the north end. It was clear enough that the horizon was definite, but nothing spectacular.

We interacted twice with a group of Jr. Hi kids from a private school in Grand Rapids who had been backpacking for 2 nights. Brave teachers, those! But they seemed like a really nice bunch and said they had a good time. They were just finishing, and were getting ready to pack stuff in the van. I'm always happy to see young folks on the trails.

We hiked about 5.5 miles.

In other news: I worked on the trailer in the afternoon. Still 48 items on the Big List, and I'm down to 59 days.

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Mason County, Michigan, Nipissing, Algoma, and Lake Michigan Trails. 5.5 miles

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Nordhouse Dunes Again

 
So, today was the actual day of the group hike. Even though I did all the same pieces of trails as last week, there is always something new to see, and the light was different today- overcast. That meant no blue water, but it was also cooler. I'll take that.

We went to the top of the lake overlook at Lake Michigan Recreation Area.



Here's the group we ended up with, six people (I'm not in the picture) and Sadie the dog.



This little cutie checked us out, but decided not to hike with us.



Three hikers bailed after 3 miles for various reasons, 3 of us went on for another mile, and then 1 more left. One of the guys and I did one more loop, down into Nordhouse to the lake and then back to our cars.

There were swimmers in Nordhouse Lake.



The Lake Michigan Trail is perched at the edge of the dune, and lends itself to interesting pictures.



I noticed that an awful lot of the Witch Hazel trees had rolled leaves. You can see the strands of "silk" the caterpillars spin to hold the rolls tight.



I unrolled several, but the caterpillars are gone. All that was left was frass (caterpillar poop).



I wondered if there was one particular insect that does this with Witch Hazel, and there is. It's called the Witch Hazel Leaf Roller (duh), or palmerworm. This is the larvae of Dichomeris ligulella, a small brown moth with narrow wings. I probably could have found some if I'd known what to look for in the surrounding area. You can see them on Bugguide.net.

There was some light rain when we were almost done. It felt good- not enough to really get us wet.

Lake Michigan Recreation Area trails, about 4 miles, Nordhouse Dunes trails, Nippising, Nordhouse Lake, Algoma Ridge, Lake Michigan loop, another 4 miles

The whole day reminded me of a Girl Scout song, "God has created a new day, silver and green and gold, live that the sunset may find us, worthy His gifts to hold." Perfect.

	See Pre Hike #3
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More Nordhouse Dunes

 
I am carless for as many days as are required for the fix. But a friend came and picked me up and we went hiking at Nordhouse Dunes today.

First we went straight from the parking to Lake Michigan. Can't beat that on a nice day.



The friend is Dave Snoek. I've known him for quite a while now through North Country Trail contacts, but we haven't hiked together very often. Certainly never when we've been able to chat so much. He agreed to let me choose the trails, so I could update my trail guide web site.



After we went to the lake, we headed north along the Lake Michigan Trail, on the top of the dune.


Far out on the big lake was a freighter. It looks like a ghost ship, white against blue and blue.



Heading back south again, we saw this Orange Birch Bolete.



And Nordhouse Lake is just spectacular this year with lots of water, even late in the season.



We encountered a family enjoying the ageless pass time of catching frogs. I think this is a large Green Frog, but I can't quite see enough of its side to be sure it's not a smallish Bullfrog.



There were also Leopard Frogs.



Altogether about six miles. Quite leisurely. A really nice day. Thanks, Dave!

Nordhouse Wilderness: Nordhouse Dunes Trail, Dunes Edge Trail, Lake Michigan Trail, Middle Trail, Old Peters Grade, Nordhouse Lake Trail. Total about 6 miles.

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Pre-Hike #3

 
I'm leading a hike Aug 16, and once again needed to make sure there haven't been changes made before I go leading people into the woods. Someone might be watching!



I started at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area and hiked up to the viewing platform, then back down to the beach.



Then I followed the Porter Creek Trail and the outer bicycle loop. This all adds up to only about 3 miles. So I then I did the Arrowhead Trail, which puts you up on top of the dunes south of Porter Creek. I think these trees are doing a pas de deux.



That added one more mile. I was going to follow the Peters Grade (old rail road bed) south to Nordhouse Lake, but it looked like that unofficial trail was pretty wet, so I scooted up the dune again, and discovered they've given the trails actual names and put up signage. Hooray!

So, I followed the Nippising Trail to Nordhouse Lake, which is very full of water. Sometimes, at this time of year it's completely dried up.



Always love the patterns of the waves.



Then I cut northwest on the Nordhouse Lake Trail till it hit the Algoma Ridge Trail and turned north. From this ridge there are longer views of Lake Michigan. You can just see it shining silvery out there.



Then joined the Lake Michigan Trail and back to my car. Added about 4 more miles. Great weather, great hike! If you want to do all this with me on August 16, be sure to let me know.

In other news: I wrote in the morning.

Lake Michigan Recreation Area and Nordhouse Dunes, total miles about 8.

	See What Plan-it Are You On? See Nordhouse Lake dried up
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Something in the Rain

 
OK, we weren't singing, but Loren showed up and we hiked four miles at Nordhouse in the rain.



When we started it was raining hard and steadily.



By the time we finished, it was POURING. Like how they show it pouring in the movies where the water is coming down so hard you know it's fake pouring.



We sat in her car and ate our lunches. Another successful hike! (At least it will be memorable.)

	See Another Beautiful Nordhouse Afternoon
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