StringGrrl sees the World

 Belle Isle is only a few miles from home and I pretty much my Home Water. Belle Isle is a State Park, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI-DNR). Annual recreation passports are only $10 per year when adding to ones motor vehicle registration.  About when I decided to Circumnavigate the Entirety of Belle Isle, Closest point to CanadianWaters The River Current and Breeze will make this paddle a bit of a challenge, Drift to far southeast and I need my passport. Eyes on the "Prize" the Detroit Skyline Money! Sunset Point, the Southwestern most part of Belle Isle, now get back to the launch site MacArthur Bridge, Current is not a joke and wind pushes me west to the Detroit Mainland Attained the Bridge after a few hours slow going Pausing for this picture cost me 1/4 mile of progress Belle Isle Boat House, in rough shape after years of neglect Looked cool, took the picture, no explanations

After living in Detroit area for 27 years and making the drive between Grand Rapids and the various communities I've stayed in, you'd think I would have noticed if there was a State Park with camping. However, Island Lake State Recreation Area is somehow easily overlooked. Maybe it's location across I-96 from Kensington Metro Park, which is visible from the Expressway.  The Huron River feeds into then out of Kent Lake, that big lake visible from 96 which is bounded by Kensington Metro Park to the north. Kent Lake narrows and passes under 6 lanes of interstate and widens out into the State Recreation Area. The State Park has a sandy beach on the southern most shore and a dam that spills into the Huron River.  One can launch a canoe fairly easy at a couple different points on the river which winds through the park for several miles. Only just this year while canoeing from "Riverbend" downstream toward "Placeway", I notic...

  Loud Dam Pond is one of many Hydroelectric Ponds along the Au Sable River Moonrise over Loud Dam Pond The view south from site 23 C Sunset Rustic camping along the river, only in designated spots with reservations Sunrise was glorious, pity it was time to pack out. Time for one or six espresso on the lake Site 21 C isn't bad either. 10/10 recommend