Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary

We did our last hurrah for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - we took a walk along the Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary today.  We had wanted to walk the trails yesterday but we got torrential rains and lighting/thunder and high winds in the afternoon, so we hunkered down and just chilled.  The Pines trail is about 3 miles from our campground, sitting in the forest above Lake Fanny Hooe.  Pretty walk, lots of mosquitos but we were prepared.

We do have a small car but these UTVs beat us in smallness

Old fashioned forest toilet better known as outhouse

Have not started the walk, per se, about 1/4 mile in to start it.

Lots of fungus

We found the trail well maintained, many areas had wooden walk paths over the trail since it was in areas of running water or swampy.  We decided to walk both trails, one is rated a little bit more difficult but we did not find it so.  Continued on to view the old giant white pines dating back over 500 years.  Pictures did not do them justice, they are really tall. Of course, after seeing the sequoia trees in California where those are the Granddaddies - these are still tall and considering that the growth period is so short to those trees in California, quite impressive.

Decision time - we started out on the left trail - the Memorial Grove Trail

Sometimes we were walking on the roots of trees

And then we get to a boardwalk, huh.

And other times, had to pay attention - see the blue mark on the tree to left?

We felt that this trail and walking it was fitting for our last day in the Yooper.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our time learning about Lake Superior, as they say, the Lake is the Boss.

We think this happened yesterday during the storm, we think.

Trails were very well marked

Started to see the giant white pines

Did not do this trail - did not want to get wet.

They are biggums

A good storm will knock this one down for sure 

We did both trails, very impressive and well maintained

Passed a number of folks also walking the trails.  Nice to see.  On our way out there was a small pond with lily pads and lots of water, have no idea the name, but reminded us of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.

Quite tall 

Minnesota?  Michigan?  They look alike.

On our way back down from the Pines we stopped at Manganese Falls, a bit overgrown.  Pretty day, sad to leave the Yooper, but time to get to Ohio.  We leave in the morning, heading to a campground just on the Yooper side of the Mackinac Bridge, the campground sits on Lake Michigan, about 300 miles for tomorrow.  Will rest there a day then head down Interstate 75 to get much closer to Ohio, then by Wednesday we should be settled at Timber Ridge Campground in Amherst, a far western suburb of Cleveland area.  Will be there for a month to do what needs to be done.