Hemlock Cathedral Forest
Stonington, Michigan
Michigan is blessed with a few stands of old growth forest. The Estivant Pines and Hartwick Pines are famous examples. Stands of old growth deciduous trees are less well known. One stand that is easy to visit is along the Maywood History Trail near Rapid River. The trail is inside the Little Bay de Noc Recreation Area on Stonington Point just south of U.S. 2. It is so majestic that it has become known as the Hemlock Cathedral. Stonington Point is a fun Michigan back roads daytrip.
This stand of hemlock trees survived the lumber boom. Some of them are now more than 300 years old. The trail is only about a half mile long, but the quiet and sense of wonder will stay with you long after you leave. The name Maywood Trail dates from the 1800's when this stand was first dubbed The Hemlock Cathedral.
If you time your visit for late August and early September, you may encounter the annual Monarch Butterfly Migration on this same peninsula.
The monthly newsletter is published on the 1st of each month and is delivered by email, www.travelinmichigan.com .
The monthly newsletter is published on the 1st of each month and is delivered by email, www.travelinmichigan.com .
