Bay City State Recreation Area, Tobico Marsh: Big Loop Trail (Blog Hike #653)

Trail: Big Loop Trail

Hike Location: Bay City State Recreation Area, Tobico Marsh

Geographic Location: north of Bay City, MI (43.67519, -83.92265)

Length: 2.8 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: August 2017

Overview: A loop hike through a large wetland along Lake Huron.

Area Information: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=437&type=SPRK

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=733356
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Just north of Bay City, take I-75 to Wilder Road/SR 13 (exit 164).  Exit and go north on SR 13.  Drive SR 13 north 3.5 miles to Beaver Road; there is a traffic light at this intersection.  Turn right on Beaver Rd.  Drive Beaver Rd. east 2 miles to SR 247 and turn left on SR 247.  Drive SR 247 north 0.2 miles to Killarney Beach Road and turn softly left on Killarney Beach Rd.  Drive Killarney Beach Rd. north 0.5 miles to the signed entrance for Tobico Marsh on the left.  Turn left to enter the marsh, and drive the bumpy gravel entrance road 0.3 miles to its end at the marsh’s only parking lot.

The hike: Located just north of its namesake city, Bay City State Recreation Area consists of 2100 acres along Saginaw Bay.  As you would expect for a state recreation area (as opposed to a state park), the area’s amenities take center stage.  The area features a 1000-foot beach on the bay, a 193-site campground, a water park playground, and a pair of picnic areas. 

            While many state recreation areas only provide recreation, Bay City State Recreation Area also preserves an ecologically valuable wetland.  The area’s Tobico Marsh comprises 1652 acres of wetlands including a wide expanse of open water, thus making it one of the largest freshwater coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes region.  The wetland came under state ownership in 1957 when Frank Anderson donated the land to the State of Michigan to form Tobico State Wildlife Refuge.  In 1976, the wetland was designated a National Natural Landmark, and in 1995 the wildlife refuge merged with adjacent Bay City State Park to form the recreation area we enjoy today.

            The area features 7 miles of trails open to hikers.  The area’s most popular trail is the paved 2.5 mile Anderson Nature Trail, which is also part of the 17.5 mile Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail.  For hikers wanting to get off the pavement and away from zooming bikes, the best option is the 2.8 mile Big Loop Trail described here.  This route takes you through the dryer part of the wetland and past two observation towers that provide nice views out into the wetland’s open waters.  As you would expect for a wetland, bugs are bad during the summer, so wear plenty of good bug spray.

Trailhead: Big Loop Trail

            Three trails depart from the information board at the rear of the parking area.  The trail going left will be our return route, and the wide trail going straight offers a shortcut that by-passes the first observation tower.  This hike starts with the trail on the right, which is marked with a brown sign that says “Start of Big Loop Trail, Observation Towers.”  A rain shelter, trash can, and dedication plaque also sit here.

            As usual in Michigan state recreation areas, trail intersections are numbered and have trail maps posted.  The trailhead is intersection #19, and this hike’s initial segment takes you to intersection #18.  The winding sandy dirt trail uses wooden bridges to cross some narrow wet depressions.  In extremely flat areas such as Tobico Marsh, a couple feet of elevation change means the difference between being wet most of the year and dry most of the year.

Bridge over wet area

            Just shy of 0.3 miles, you reach the first of two observation towers.  These towers stand 3 stories above the ground, but they are located a couple hundred feet from the water’s edge.  Thus, you will need to bring binoculars if you want to do some good bird viewing across the open water.  A stash of canoes also sat at this tower on my visit.

View from first tower

            The first observation tower is also trail intersection #18.  Taking the paved trail that heads east leads to some more platforms located closer to the open water, but the Big Loop Trail heads west to quickly reach trail intersection #20.  Turn right at trail intersection #20 to continue the Big Loop Trail.

Hiking the Big Loop Trail

            The wide sandy dirt trail heads northwest parallel to the open water, which remains out of sight to your right.  1 mile into the hike, you reach the second observation tower, which in terms of construction is a carbon copy of the first one.  Fewer trees surround this tower, but you will still need binoculars to see any birds in the open water.

View from second tower

            Past the second tower, the trail continues north through more of the same scenery.  At 1.4 miles, you reach the northern-most point on this hike as the trail makes a sweeping left turn to begin heading southeast.  Some of the trees back here have large burls growing in them.

            The balance of the hike is a dead flat southeast ramble with a slightly lower wet area on your left and a field across the recreation area’s boundary on your right.  Some nearby thunder hurried my steps, but the heavy part of the thunderstorm stayed north of me even as some raindrops pelted my hat.  A left curve and final wooden bridge return you to the parking lot to complete the hike.