6 Things You Didn’t Know About the Blue Water Area
The Blue Water Area is a getaway to be discovered along the eastern shores of Michigan. Below are a few things you might not know about the shoreline area, worth seeing the next time you’re in town.
1. Ten Lighthouses
The area is home to ten different lighthouses, including Fort Gratiot Light Station, Harbor Beach Lighthouse, Peche Island Rear Range Light, Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse & Keepers Museum, Port Austin Reef Light and Point Sanilac Lighthouse. Some locations offer a guided tour and tower climb while others simply pose for great photo opportunities. The nautical stories and current duties of each light station are different, but they have all stood their ground, placed for the purpose of guiding ships and their crew through rough waters.
2. A Nationally Recognized Water Trail
The Island Loop Route National Water Trail, is a 10 mile looping water trail and is well suited to recreational paddlers, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. The trail navigates through rivers, canals and lake and passes the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse amongst other favored locales.
3. Dark Sky Preserve
Port Crescent State Park, in Port Austin, has low light pollution deeming it a dark sky preserve. The dark sky preserve is located in the day-use area where there’s a charge for parking, but no overnight reservations are needed.
4. Waterfront Path
The Blue has a 54-mile paved pedestrian/bike path that runs along the water’s edge as well as a bit inland, winding around parks and neighborhoods. The Bridge to Bay Trail runs from Lakeport State Park to New Baltimore.
5. ADA Accessible Kayaking
The Blue has numerous ADA-accessible kayak launches, like the Downtown Port Huron Black River Access and the North River Road Park Access Site.
6. U.S. Bicycle Route 20
The Blue is the terminus of U.S. Bicycle Route 20, which is a cross-country bike trail that runs along M-29 into downtown Marine City.