Manistee River Trail, Cabin Adventure
2013 08 15-17 Mike and I took a wonderful three day trip to the cabin in mid August 2013. Manistee County Michigan. The weather had been unusually cool for August, and now it was toward the end of the cool spell. We haven't been to the cabin in August before because it is generally too hot in August for me to hike. But the weather was perfect.
We have hiked the Manistee River trail, in sections, many times varying our starting point. This time we started at Red Bridge on Coates Highway, walked to Cedar Creek and back, ~7 mile hike. This part of the trail takes you up to some very high points for scenic vistas and then right to the river level.
This is the Manistee River at Red Bridge.
We also stopped by the State Forest Campground at Leverentz Lake and Little Leverentz Lake, another beautiful place.
Little Leverentz Lake
Leverentz Lake
We visited Gale's Pond County Park.
One of the most exciting wildflowers we saw on this three day trip was Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) Orchid family! This small perennial orchid produces a low rosette of evergreen basal leaves. The common name is inspired by the slight resemblance of the leaves patterns to the skin of a rattlesnake.
That was it for this trip.
That's beautiful country! Since I saw my first downy rattkesnake plantain I've been seeing them everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt is our favorite place to hike, here in Michigan. This was the first time I have seen any rattlesnake Plantain blooming! I've only seen the leaves in the past. Except for the leaves they remind me a bit of ladies' tresses.
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Very nice! My husband and I enjoy hiking the Manistee River Trail as well. The Downy Rattlesnake Plantain is really, really beautiful. I've never seen it before -- I will keep an eye out!
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