On Saturday, April 25th, I got a chance to check out the Lakeview Trail. This is the trail system overlooking Newburgh Lake that I’ve mentioned in previous Sunday Paddle posts. I’d actually been out here with a friend, many, MANY years ago (6th grade), and I don’t remember anything specific other just traipsing through the woods. It was winter, that time, and I remember looking out at the frozen lake as we explored the snowy trails.
My friend lived within walking distance, so we walked over from her house. Today, I parked in the parking lot of the Lakepointe Yacht Club, the bar I had mentioned before (wanting to padde up to shore and hopefully avoid the geese). 🙂
Behind me, in the above pic is the eastern trail head. I didn’t grab a pic of it, unfortunately. I met my friend Christy and we started our trek. This path, we would soon find, is shared by hikers and mountain bikers. There are one way and two way sections, and the entire system is marked pretty well. Below is the beginning of the trail heading west, to I-275, which then connects with the paved bike path that runs along the freeway.
You can see in the above pic, to the left is a gravel path and then a trail to the right. The gravel path used to be a road, years and years ago, much like many of the trails in the Hines Park system which this is a part of. You used to be able to drive back into the woods and there were picnic areas and even bathroom facilities in some areas. They were closed off to vehicles long ago and now only open to foot traffic.
We first started down the hike/bike trail, keeping our eyes and ears open for bicyclists zooming up on us. It’s very hilly and curvy in some sections, right on the water’s edge, and I can see how this is such a popular area with bikes! I however, would end up in the water, so I think I’ll stick to hiking.
Soon, we heard a bike approach and we jumped out of the way. As she passed, I thought she looked like my niece, as I know she rides here often. Turns out, it was! We didn’t connect that day but I texted her later.
The below pic may look familiar, if you’ve read my Sunday Paddle posts – it’s the sand hill! From the top this time.. 🙂 This is a popular spot to get out of your boat and walk around a bit. The shoreline is sandy and clear, so you’re not stepping out into mucky, dead vegetation.
We walked around a bit before continuing on.
I loved this particular stretch and thought how cool it would look as the sun set and darkness fell. Hehehe.. I think I need to return. Kind of enchanted forest feel.
Soon the trail split and become one way.
Which is nice because it would be interesting for two bikes to meet head on, on this bridge! I’d be off into the salad garden, for sure.
I don’t remember seeing this fallen tree from the water. Will have to check it out on another trip.
Selfie time!
Here is a shot of the bike trail as it runs along the road. On the other side of the guardrail is the gravel trail that was once the road. We decided to take this way on the return trip and stay out of the way of the bikers.
No horses, no ATVS, no fun, Wayne County.. No fun at all.. 😉
Lots of nice signage that luckily no one has messed with. I didn’t see much trash, either, which was nice.
A glimpse of the bike trail, many spots were much hillier and curvier than this, though.. Fun!
We came up on the remnants of what I believe to be an old cast iron bathtub.
We then got onto the trail (road) as it passed a subdivision with an entrance to the park. How nice to live so close to the woods, lake and a cool trail system. My guess is the garbage can was put there by a resident. (Thank you!) Maybe if there are trash cans available, people will use them.
I honestly don’t remember taking this pic, and it’s one of my faves. Ha! Aren’t those the best?
I think of all the now classic cars that cruised this stretch back in the day.
We reached the end of the trail, which is where the paved bike path runs along I-275, and there is also a parking area off Hines Drive. There is a really nice informational sign, which shows the area developed into zones in case of an emergency.
Then I noticed the black section to the right is a bulletin board of sorts! Someone had found a pair of glasses and hung them here.
So here we were along Hines Drive. I asked if Christy was interested in touring the section of the Rouge River that ultimately ended in a log jam. We found it, then walked along to see how the water level was, and if there were any other log jams.
We crossed Haggerty, hoping the comfort station would be open for the season. It was.. Thank you, Wayne County!
I LOVE this historic building, built in 1937. Beautiful terrazzo flooring inside.
Then we poked around as the river crosses Hines just west of Haggerty and wraps around behind this building. It was pretty wooded so we didn’t go far. But, far enough to find the remnants of this poor dude. I’m thinking possum based on the photos I just Googled.
We continued our walk back to the trailhead after scoping out as much river as we could. This time, from the road, we spotted a rocky course for the mountain bikes. Very cool to have features such as this back in the woods.
And then there was another, balance beam looking thing that maybe is mostly used for a bench. That’s what I used it for! I was LOVING my new hiking boots, they felt great, but it was also nice to sit for a bit and take in the day.
Walking back, we caught a glimpse of the sand hill, with kayakers that had just landed. I’d mentioned it was a popular stop!
We finished out the day back at the trailhead where the road/trail meets Ann Arbor Rd. All that’s left at the intersection is this mangled stop sign.
Very cool day hike! Really cool if you have a mountain bike! Come check it out!