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More details
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NOTE: The use of this (and any) area within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National
Lakeshore (SBDNL) requires a national park pass. See
here for more details about SBDNL passes.
This trail is on a piece of parkland in the Bow Lakes area that is inland several
miles and separate from the rest of the national lakeshore. This area was added to
the lakeshore in 1982 because of the unique glacial topography, including dry kettles,
kettle bogs, lakes, wetlands, and a bog. (Kettle formations
are deep, often steep-sided depressions left by the glaciers when they retreated.)
This trail has natural features not found elsewhere in the park and is the only place
in the mainland SBDNL where kettles can be found.
As of June, 2019 – The trail system appears more or less finished but the
trails are unmarked, at the monent — but the main trail is easy to follow. Expect
another overlook by the large kettle bog sometime in the future.
September, 2018 — from the Baatz Road trailhea voluntters have built a 4-foot-wide,
0.2-mile-long universally accessible trail of compacted, fine, crushed stone through
a meadow and into the woods to a small overlook above a kettle (although it's hard
to see in the summer).
Trail notes from May, 2016 and updated in 2019 – I explored this area before
the trails were fully developed and again in 2019. These notes will help. Most of
the trails follow old two-tracks. I hiked this starting at both access points over
two different days.
The southern trail – starting at the Baatz Road Trailhead...
From the parking area, head northeast across a mostly open meadow following the
new universally accessible trail (of crushed, compacted stone) to near the edge of
the woods (less than 0.2 miles). At an intersection there is a sign that says, "<-
Trail / Lookout ->". The UA trail continues into the woods about 150 feet
to an overlook at the top of a kettle (that's hard to see in the summer). The main
trail follows a mowed path with blue "feather" markers in the ground going
north. Just before entering the woods that path joins with a single-track path coming
from the southwest. The woods begin at 0.3 miles from the parking lot. Once in the
woods, the main trail follows a two-track and is a relatively easy downhill all the
way (0.8 miles from the parking lot) to the junction with the southern end
of the northern trail loop. There's a sign there: <- Trail -> / 1 mi-Loop.
Note: Those following the main trail, can go in either drection
around the loop.
But for those who plan to take the alternate route north of the loop
(as seen on Trail map #2), do the loop in a clockwise direction – head northwest
from the junction. This because the very steep slope on the northern part
of the alternate loop trail is slippery and climbing up it is quite strenuous.
And getting to the steep slope from the northeastern corner of the loop (Point A)
is tricky and very difficult to describe, because there is currently no trail there.
But by going in a clockwise direction, you get to go down the steep slope, and there's
a deer path most of the way from the bottom of that to the northeastern corner of
the loop (Point A).
More details about the trails of either choice are covered below in "The
northern trail loop" section.
Along the way...
- At about 0.4 miles along (160 feet before the spur mentioned below) is an old
two-track on the left (north) that looks more like a deer path. It's not part of
the official trail. It's around 0.35 miles long, and skirts the hills along and above
the east side of a double kettle. (See Trail map #2.)
- At 0.4 miles along and a bend in the trail is a short spur to the right (south)
that goes a few hundred feet into the bottom of a kettle. It's worth a few minutes
to experience being at the bottom of a dry kettle. (See Trail map #2.)
- At 0.5 miles along is the intersection with a spur of the main trail that goes
over to the Kettle Bog. There is a sign there that says "Bog ->" and
a wide valley going down to the right (southeast). Bend to the right walking downhill
through some new-growth trees but following the former two-track. At about 250 feet
there's an old, narrow two-track on the left (northeast). A two-feet-diameter rock
somewhat marks this intersection. From here you have two choices...
- Take the 0.1-mile-long old two-track, which is not part of the main trail. You'll
go over a small hill, then steadily downhill to the western part of the bog. Be sure
to stop before entering the bog‚ as this path leads right into it! You can walk a
little ways past this point near the edge of the bog along a small ridge. But to
see the main part of the bog, you'll have to scramble uphill a bit heading southeast.
In a few hundred feet you'll be treated with a nice view of the bog. (Climb up a
little further, and you can join the main trail, if you like.)
- Follow the main trail (an old two-track) which goes through a small depression,
curves to the right, climbs a moderately steep hill, then curves left. Now you're
on a ridge where the trail is flat (more or less). Walk about 0.1 miles and you'll
come to a "T" with a two-track going off on a ridge to the right (southwest).
(See Trail map #2.) At this point, you are at a rather unique location with a kettle
to the west, a kettle to the south, and the Kettle Bog to the northeast. Neat! (A
bog overlook may be added here somewhere, but it's a bit too far from the bog to
see it very well in the summer with all the foliage.) Keep going on the main trail
downhill until the two-track dies out in a small clearing, but there's a simple path
heading north about 100 feet down a moderate steep slope right to the edge of the
southern edge of the bog. An overlook is planned here. This spur is around 0.3 miles
long.
About the Kettle Bog — It's 4 acres, somewhat tadpole-shaped, with the
central area being a marshy island. There's even a 20-feet-diameter hole of water
southeast of the center in the "island". It's a fun place to hang out and
listen to the wildlife. And being like a large bowl, there are nice echoes, such
as when a startled sandhill crane cries out!
The northern trail loop – starting at the Lanham Road access...
Alternate route – for those who plan to take the alternate route north
of the loop (as seen on Trail map #2), do the loop in a clockwise direction.
Head east from the Lanham Road access. This because the very steep slope on the
northern part of the loop trail is slippery and climbing up it is quite strenuous.
And getting to the steep slope from the northeastern corner of the loop (point A)
is tricky and very difficult to describe, because there is currently no trail there.
But by going in a clockwise direction, you get to go down the steep slope, and there's
a deer path most of the way from the bottom of that to the northeastern corner of
the loop (point A).
Walking east, you'll soon find yourself on a ridge and are treated to a dry kettle
on the right (south), and a deep, steep slope into a large valley on the left (north)
in which Pothole Lake (a kettle lake) resides about 1000 feet to the northeast. The
trail turns south then bends to the east where there's a very quick (steep) descent,
at least 50 feet. With the loose rocks and leaves, it's a bit slippery – step carefully.
The two-track dies out soon past the bottom of that steep hill. From here, follow
a single-track "deer path" to the northeast. There are some short, moderate
hills along the way. Just past a brown NPS boundary marker, it dies out about 100
feet (at a tall broken stump) (west of) before reaching the two-track. But just head
east, and you'll soon encounter the old two-track running north-south in a shallow
valley – Point A on Trail map #2. Mark well your position at this point and how to
get back to the deer path in case you intend to to go back this way – which you will
not need to do if you do the full loop.
So now you're on the old two-track running north-south that's the east side of the
loop. Turn right (south). The trail is easy, with a few mild hills. At around 0.1
miles along is a dry kettle on the left (east). At 0.15 miles along is the intersection
with the main trail.
Main trail – Those following the main trail, from Lanham Road go
south 300 feet following at old two-track to tne intersection with the main loop.
There's a sign "<- Trail ->". From there you can go in either drection
around the loop.
Let's go clockwise. Going SSE from the intersection it's downshill on a single-track
trail and moderately steep for about the first half. It's around 0.25 miles to the
intercsection with an old two-track. From there, turn south and soon on the right
(west) are two kettle lakes (at least during wetter years) At 0.35 miles along you
come to the junction at the southern end of the loop. There is no sign here,
at present.
At the junction is the intersection with the northern end of the southern
trail coming from Baatz Road. To continue on the loop, turn right (northwest). It's
a steady easy to moderately steep uphill climb for 0.4 miles, then downhill the last
0.1 miles. You end at the Lanham Road access. At 300 feet before the end you pass
by the intersection for the east-going section of the loop.
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Something extra to explore, outside the scope of any of the main trails, yet still
in the lakeshore property...
1. Pothole Lake access #1, maybe someday
On the alternate route north of the loop (as seen on Trail map #2),
just east of the base of the steep hill, there's a small valley to the north. On
the east side of this is a deer path going north. Just 0.2 miles straight north from
here is Pothole Lake, and if used enough folks may find a way to easily get down
to the lake.
2. The trail to Bow Lake, and Pothole Lake access #2 – use
this map...
Go to the loop's extreme northeastern corner (Point A). It''s easiest to go
south and take the new section of main trail on the north side of the loop then go
north to Point A. From here, ttake the old two-track going north. It follows the
contour of the hills above and along the east and north sides of Pothole Lake, and
beyond.
It's perhaps 0.15 miles to the east side of the lake (Point B) from the Point
A. From here, you can see the kettle that Pothole Lake is in, but not the lake itself
because of all the foliage. One map I found indicates an old two-track going down
to the lake from this area, but little evidence of this could be found. But, there
is a point on the east side of the lake where there is a small, sharp, narrow valley
going uphill to the east, and a wide open slope on the west going down to the lake.
It's here where the two-track to the lake might have been. If you follow a shallow
valley going west, in about 400 feet you can reach the lake. (A good place to start
is at the north end of the "wide open slope".)
It's 0.3 miles from Point A to the north side of a saddle point on the north side
of the lake, the trail bends to the north. Then in about 300 hundred feet later is
the remnant of a two-track heading northeast downhill in a shallow valley. (Point
C). The path is hard to see but the valley is obvious.
Spur – If you go north from Point C, soon the two-track dies out and the trail becomes
a deer path. You can take it north from Point C around 0.15 miles, and along the
way it passes by a small kettle lake on the left (west). Soon after that the path
is hard to find. The small kettle lake is worth a look if you have a few minutes.
Otherwise, ignore this spur trail.
Back at Point C, this time take the path going northeast in the shallow valley downhill.
It's perhaps 0.1 miles down to the south end of swampy area once part of a lake here.
(Point D). (Along the way is another path going uphill to the south which
we'll ignore.)
Spur – At Point D, one can walk maybe 0.1 miles on an old two-track going to the
northwest then north before the tracks die out (but the clearing for the old road
can still be made out). We'll ignore this, too.
Instead, from Point D, go east. It curves around the bottom of the old lake, then
soon heads NNE following a fairly-clear two-track with some easy hills along the
way, and a short, moderate one at the end before coming out at the southwestern corner
of a small field (Point E). It's 0.4 miles from Point D to Point E. (Also
near Point E is a path going south which we'll ignore.)
From here, walk 150 feet northeast in the field to where an old track goes into the
woods. From there, walk northeast around 200 feet through the woods. Just before
coming out of the woods (Point F) near the southwest corner of another open
field, you'll see a narrow, twin-track trail (looks as if it was made by an ATV)
going north. Take that 70 feet to where it connects with a clear two-track going
east-west. Take that two-track going west then northwest 600 feet to an open area
by Bow Lake (Point G). From here it's just 250 feet down to the lake. (Late
May 2016, the water level is perhaps two feet above a "normal" level, consisent
with many inland lakes in the area.)
Note: 500 feet northeast of the lake there's still a private residence whose owners
also use the lake. At the lake are a few crude benches, a picnic table, a square
platform in the lake, and more. Please be respectful of this shared-use area and
their belongings.
From the Lanham Road access to Bow Lake...
• 0.6 miles to Point A via northern section of the main trail (it's 0.4 miles
to Point A using the more difficult alternate route)
• 0.4 miles from Point A to Point C
• 0.1 miles from Point C to Point D
• 0.4 miles from Point D to Point E
• 0.3 miles from Point E to Bow Lake
1.8 miles one way, 3.6 miles round trip
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symbol denotes where you can find the trailhead (and parking in many cases) on Google
Maps where you can view the location as a road map, a satellite image, or in terrain
view.
