Port Sheldon Natural Area is another Ottawa County property that we have thoroughly explored on the east side of 160th Avenue. This trip we are heading west.
Port Sheldon Natural Area has 440 acres of gently rolling hills, woods, wildlife ponds, and Ten Hagen Creek. You will find it in Port Sheldon Township, Ottawa County, Michigan along 160th Avenue between Port Sheldon Street and Van Buren Street. There are two access points with parking and maps.
So we followed the north side of the loop trail. The loop goes around the outside of this large open area.
The trail doesn't go to Ten Hagen Creek, so we cut off to look at the creek.
There are some hilly areas here. Also lots of trails made by quads or previous owners. We wandered until we came to boundary markers, then went back to the creek. We just happen to come to the same fallen tree that we had crossed earlier. The creek isn't huge but too deep for our boots.
I know the pictures are a bit dull, and even telling where we went doesn't sound very exciting but it was fun. We went somewhere that we had never been before, we got to cross a creek and "find" some beautiful woods on the other side.
large duck native to Mexico, Central and South America.
I think this group might be domesticated birds, but I don't
know that for sure.
That's all for this trip. Well, we stopped briefly at the Port Sheldon Township hall and park. And we went to Habor Island in Grand Haven to see the Aurora, once the largest wooden steamer on the Great Lakes, the shipwreck is revealed by low water levels. Grand Haven Tribune link http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/261651
Wonderful walk, winter walks are special i am finding out, seem peaceful. Its good to get that fresh air in us
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Dave, winter walks are more peaceful. I almost like winter more than summer, it is nice to have the changing seasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
:-)
It looks like you had another very pleasant day in the woods. I knew that the lake was low, but I had no idea that it was that low!
ReplyDeleteI like winter hiking because you can see so much of the land that can't be seen at other times-the bones of the forest. No ice on your creeks?
ReplyDeleteYep a day in the woods is better than dessert, of course we did have a malt just before we went for this walk.
ReplyDeleteYes the river is very low and there have been several boat wrecks showing up. This happened a few years ago in Muskegon Lake if I remember correctly.
:)
Bones of the forest, another quote of yours? I like that, bones of the forest, you're right we do see much more in winter without the leaves.
ReplyDeleteThis outing was mid January, there was some snow but not much ice. It was 22 degrees. The temps have been bouncing around, we even had a 60 degree day last week. All the snow was gone and we had thunderstorms! Now we have a good foot of snow and it has been around 10 degrees! But it is beautiful.
Thanks Allen for taking the time to comment.
:)
You're not the first to ask me where "Bones of the forest" comes from and the answer is, I don't really know. Either I read it, heard it, or came up with it myself. It's a good descriptor of winter woods. I'll have to Google it and see what I come up with-the author (if there is one) should get credit.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. The exposed skeleton of the boat on Harbor Isle, how cool. I know the feeling of crossing a bridge and finding a new place. Nice you have places like that so close to home.
ReplyDelete