TRAIL GUIDE HURON & TUSCOLA COUNTIES MICHIGAN, USA EMERGENCY CONTACTS U.S. COAST GUARD: VHF Radio—CHANNEL 16 or Phone (989) 479-3286 or (989) 479-3285 COUNTY EMERGENCY : 911 WEATHER INFORMATION: VHF RADIO –WX Scan through stations to hear weather report. Reports heard are for the area you are in. VHF CHANNEL 16 IS MONITORED BY THE COAST GUARD 24/7. If you have an emergency on the water, the Coast Guard should be contacted before calling 911. The Lake Huron coast throughout the Thumb offers a variety of conditions for paddlers. The eastern shoreline has rocky areas and as you traverse north you will notice the changes. Paddlers should be prepared for these varied conditions. Once you round the point at Port Austin the shores become more sandy. There are some of the best beach areas of Michigan along this side of the trail as you move into Saginaw Bay. WELCOME TO THE TIP OF THE THUMB HERITAGE WATER TRAIL Signage has been placed along the trail marking identified access and egress points, which correspond to the GPS coordinates on your map and in your tour guide. The Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail Organization wants you to experience the beauty, variety, and chal- lenges of paddling and exploring the 103 mile trail along the Huron and Tuscola Counties shoreline of Michigan’s Lake Huron. Visit the towns and villages along the trail. You will find an extensive variety of events, shops, and dining experiences to keep you coming back to this piece of the North close to home. Remember your safety rules: kayaking and paddling are risky sports. Do not exceed your experience level or the capabilities of your craft. ABOVE ALL—HAVE FUN! This booklet identifies only some of the available access locations and facilities. There are, however, other sites throughout the Thumb which can be used. Restroom facilities will vary from primitive to well- equiped. Please be considerate of property owners -- don’t trespass on private property and remember that any shore location can be used in an emergency. TRAIL SIGN EXAMPLE H = Huron County or H 29.6 T = Tuscola County 29.6 = Indicates you are at the site on Shore in Huron County, 29.6 miles from the beginning of the trail at White Rock Grindstone City—is the Access/Egress Point marked Grindstone City by this Official sign. H 00.0 43o 43.045 N White Rock City 082o 36.566 W H00.0 WHITE ROCK MDOT PULLOUT BEGINNING OF TRAIL SETTING: White Rock pull out features a portage down a long flight of stairs set in the boulders of the shoreline. White Rock Park marks the beginning of the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail. The park sits at the top of a bluff. There is parking available nearby at a MDOT pull over. Motorists can view White Rock from above and read about its history on a historical marker. Amenities: Restrooms, paved parking, stairway leading down to a rocky beach that could be used for put-in and take-out of paddling equipment. HISTORY The limestone boulder, White Rock, was a sacred place for Native Americans and was a familiar landmark for Native Americans and French traders as they paddled their canoes along the Huron Coast. In 1807 and in 1819, the rock was used as a landmark for treaties between the United States and the Anishinabeg. The Treaty of Detroit was between the United States and the Anishinabeg also known as the People of the Three Fires (the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Potawatomi) nations of Native Americans. The treaty was signed by William Hull, president of Michigan Territory at Detroit, Michigan in 1807. The treaty ceded the native nations’ claims to what is now Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. According to a local legend, a group of white settlers decided to hold a square dance on the rock in 1860. Their Indian neighbors warned against it, saying the rock was sacred. Two boatloads of dancers ignored the warning, rowed to the rock and began to party. A horrified witness watched from shore as a stroke of lightning killed the dancers. H 3.9 Wagener County Park 43o 46.263 N 082o 36.852 W H3.9 WAGENER COUNTY PARK Wagener County Park H 3.9 2671 South Lakeshore Drive 989-479-9131 Open May 1 – October 15 www.huroncountyparks.com With 132 acres, Wagener Park, located just under 4 miles north of White Rock and 5 1/2 miles south of Harbor Beach is an excellent starting point to launch your kayak or canoe to begin your trip along the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Wa- ter Trail. Amenities: Restrooms, pavilion (rental), boat ramp (fee only applies to non- campers), beach launch (free), beach access (no charge), camper cabins, lakeview sites, hiking trails, sandy playground area, park manager on site. Included in the Lake Huron Circle Tour is M-25 which parallels the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail from Quanicassee to White Rock. Construction of a bicycle path along both sides of M25 is under construction from Harbor Beach to Port Austin; this path will also parallel the Heritage Water Trail. H 9.0 Trescott Street Pier 43o 50.498 N 082o 38.835 W Harbor Beach H9.0 TRESCOTT STREET PIER SETTING: As you approach break wall at Harbor Beach, navigate with caution as wind direction determines swells. Inside the harbor provides beginning paddlers with quiet water. Harbor Beach Trescott Street Pier H 9.0 Harbor Beach City shoreline Contact: Harbor Beach Parks and Recreation 989-479-9554 www.harborbeachmi.org Trescott Street Pier and Bathing Beach, located in the City of Harbor Beach, is just 5 miles north of Wagener Park. Amenities: Restrooms, paved parking, sandy beach, pavilion, protected harbor, playground, restaurants, shopping, hospital. Camping available at North Park Campgrounds. HISTORY First settled in 1837, Harbor Beach was destroyed in the fire of 1871, rebuilt, and narrowly escaped destruction in the 1881 fire. In the later 1800’s ships could not cross the treacherous Saginaw Bay during bad weather. Sand Beach, later renamed Harbor Beach, was selected as the site to build a Harbor of Refuge. It took 11 years to build the breakwater, which encloses 650 acres. The Frank Murphy Museum in downtown Harbor Beach is the childhood home of Frank Murphy who served as a Judge, Mayor of Detroit, Governor General of the Philippines, Governor of Michigan, US Attorney General, and a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The museum also houses the largest collection of Philippine cultural artifacts in the United States. Open to the Public. The Grice House Museum is located at the north city limits of Harbor Beach. The museum depicts life in the late 1880’s and early 1900’s. Listed in the Na- tional Register of Historical Places, The museum consists of 3 buildings. Tours are available. Open to the Public. Harbor Beach Lighthouse was built in 1885 at the main entrance of the harbor. It stands 54 feet above the water and the light can be seen for 16 miles. H 11.84 43o 52.670 N Train Station Motel 082o 40.434 W H11.84 TRAIN STATION MOTEL Train Station Motel H 11.84 2044 N. Lakeshore Rd, Harbor Beach 989-479-3215 [email protected] Located 2 1/2 miles north of Harbor Beach on M-25 the Train Station Motel features the original Harbor Beach Train Depot which is currently being used as a Gift Shop. Amenities: Restrooms, free launch on lake frontage, 9 rooms, restaurant, free monitored outside kayak storage and free shuttle service available for guests. H 13.58 Forest Bay Cottages 43o 54.101 N 082o 41.072 W H16.7 PORT HOPE BOAT CLUB H13.58 FOREST BAY COTTAGES Forest Bay Cottages H 13.58 2888 N. Lakeshore Rd, Port Hope 989-428-4335 Located 3 3/4 miles north of Harbor Beach on M-25. Along the shorline there is a dredged and marked canal as well as two old sunken ships in shallow water and good bass fishing. Amenities: Restrooms, fee for launch, cottages for rent. H 16.7 Port Hope Boat Club 43o 56.633 N 082o 42.331 W Port Hope Boat Club H 16.7 8242 State Rd, Port Hope 989-428-5006 or 989-428-4556 Open May 1 Located just over 6 miles north of Harbor Beach at the south edge of Stafford Park in Port Hope on a dredged canal. Amenities: Restrooms, fee for launch, fishing, monitored kayak storage. H 16.8 Stafford Park 43o 56.673 N 082o 42.528 W Port Hope H16.8 STAFFORD PARK PORT HOPE SETTING: The launch ramp is located to the east of the Stafford Park Pavilion. Stafford County Park H 16.8 4451 West Huron St., Port Hope 989-428-4213 www.huroncountyparks.com www.porthopemich.com Open May 1 – October 1 Stafford Park, a Huron County Park, is located on the shoreline in the village of Port Hope at 4451 West Huron Street. Port Hope is an antique hunter’s para- dise with antique shops, restaurants, bed and breakfast establishments, and an ice cream parlor lining M-25 as it passes through town. Amenities: Restrooms on west side of road, pavillion, free boat ramp (impacted by low water levels), showers, 73 camp sites with lakeview (from rough camping to full utilities), baseball field, tennis courts, horseshore pit, play equipment and access to the bicycle path along M-25. STAFFORD PARK PAVILION HISTORY Founded by William Stafford and later incorporated in 1887, Port Hope was a lumber town until it was destroyed by the Fire of 1871, and rebuilt as a milling town.