Beauty by the Bluff

Bluffs line the Lake Michigan shoreline. 5/26/24 dwm

There is a half-mile stretch of bluff, 90 to 100 feet above Lake Michigan, in Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve.

The gorge is at the 'back' of the park compared to where visitors park their cars but it's worth the hike. When you reach it the only access is a set of stairs down the equivalent of six stories.

I had camera in hand for the walk, stopping to capture wildflowers, the lake, and the bluff.

The land is virtually untouched except, for park improvements (parking, trails, bridges, fencing, shelter, and restroom).

The park above the lake has many wetlands. dwm

The week we visited, the area had quite a bit of rain but I was surprised by all the water in all areas of the park.

Water seeks the lowest level. I didn't expect to see so much of it on top of the table created by the natural bluff above Lake Michigan.

I could hear a lot of birds but was only close enough to see a few. During spring and fall migration, you might find 20 types of warblers in addition to other traveling birds.

Phlox. 5/26/2024 dwm photo

After leaving the boardwalk, the way to the Lions Den was along a well-maintained crushed limestone path. The path is accessible but as mentioned above the only way to reach lake-level is by stairs. Other mulched trails break off and re-join the trail to see certain areas.

On my return from the gorge, I walked along the Bluff trail which offered glimpses of the lake between trees and bushes and a panoramic view where the bluff eroded back to the path.

A stream winds through the gorge to the lake.

The county acquired the 72 acres of wild land from its owner in 2002. The next five years was spent making improvements so county residents and visitors could enjoy the park and adjacent wetlands owned by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The main entry to the gorge is a gentle slope until the the stairs comes into view. There are six steps then a landing with room to enjoy the view or rest until you reach the bridge which spans the stream 50-feet away from Lake Michigan.

This was my destination. There were two couples walking the beach when I got there. I looked up at the bluff, at the lake, and watched the tiny stream met the rhythmic waves,

Wind, waves, and humans erode the bluff. dwm

I felt small against the wall of dirt, sand, and rocks as well as a lake that stretched to the horizon.

The waves provide the soundtrack to everything. They challenge photographers to capture its break.

Then it was time to climb the bluff.

At the top, I crossed a bridge over the gorge to the bluff-side trail curious to see how close it went. Sections of shoreline further south on the lake are eroding quickly, in some cases swallowing expensive private lake-view property.

The sand trail quickly ends. 5/26/24 dwm

The most dramatic views in the park are standing on the trail where a path toward the water fell away with little warning.

At this point I could hear voices, indicating I was close to the parking lot. Just before making the turn was an observation point with a fence to hold the crowds. The land a few feet behind it was gone, down the hill.

My final stop was a small lake and marsh managed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife. I heard more birds and saw tiny flowers poking their heads above water to bloom.

More photos from Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve, all pictures 5/26/2024 by dwm.