The Hemlock Cathedral
Between of Manistique and Escanaba is a rare treasure in an area full of natural beauty. Leave U.S. 2 and take County road 513 south onto the Stonington Peninsula going toward where the Monarch Butterfly migration pauses. Travel about 7 miles to the Little Bay de Noc Recreation Area. Take the Maywood History Trail and you will reach an area called the Hemlock Cathedral.
This
stand of Hemlock trees survived the lumber boom of the turn
of the century and you can enjoy these 300 year old trees
today. The trail in is only a half mile or so and the quiet
and sense of wonder will stay with you for some time to
come.
The name Maywood Trail dates from the 1800's when this stand
was first dubbed The Hemlock Cathedral.
The hemlock trees are enormous and tower up into the sky
high overhead. Large stands of hemlock trees
create their own climate. The evergreen canopy blocks the
sun and wind making a hemlock forest warmer in winter and
cooler in summer. This canopy also makes for wonderful
hiking because the lack of sunlight inhibits dense
undergrowth and brush.
The trail is an easy hike through the cool and silent
forest. It swings around and comes back along Bay de Noc..
Hiking along the shore you can catch a refreshing breeze
coming off Bay de Noc. The water today is about 15 feet
shallower than it was before the area was discovered by
Europeans.
I explored off the trail as well and it was worth it.
Fantastic ground cover, mosses and fungi grew in great
profusion. Ancient campsites and work areas have been
discovered inland from where the shore once was.
For
lodging check
www.backroadslodging.com or our
Lodging section.- Visit downtown
Escanaba
DDA.-
Visit Gladstone Michigan