branching out
Whether you’re an avid outdoorsperson or a city dweller in need of fresh air, choose your own adventure in the Monroe County area.
Lake Erie is often called the walleye capital of the world, and Luna Pier and other Monroe County lakefront communities attract anglers from around the country and Canada. Luna Pier, a city of 1,400 located 6 miles from the Ohio border, boasts more than 4 miles of continuous shoreline with a public beach, as well as boat launching facilities and a pier that extends approximately 200 feet into Lake Erie.
For birdwatchers, many species of songbirds can be viewed at Sterling State Park, particularly during the spring migration. The park’s 1,300 acres encompass nearly 1 mile of beach, lakefront camping, 7 miles of trails, boating and shore fishing. The birding is also exceptional at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Located on a point of land that extends into Lake Erie near the mouth of the Huron River,
Sterling State Park
William C. Sterling State Park is the only Michigan park on Lake Erie. It is well known for its walleye fishing, three lagoons and sandy beachfront near the mouth of Sandy Creek. The park’s 1,300 acres include lakefront camping, wildlife viewing, 7 miles of trails, more than 1 mile of sandy beach, boating and shore fishing on Lake Erie. Sterling State Park is located just 45 minutes from Detroit, Michigan and 30 minutes from Toledo, OH in the city of Monroe. The park is home to a variety of recreational opportunities.
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge was established in 2001 as a result of bi-national efforts from politicians, conservation leaders, and local communities to build a sustainable future for the Detroit River and western Lake Erie ecosystems. Because of this collaboration, international status was given to the refuge — making it the first of its kind in North America. The refuge consists of nearly 6,000 acres of unique habitat, including islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands within an authorized boundary extending along 48 miles of shoreline.
In 2004, the Detroit River Refuge acquired Humbug Marsh, a 405–acre unit situated in Trenton and Gibraltar, Michigan. The parcel represents the last mile of undeveloped shoreline along the U.S. mainland of the Detroit River and contains critical habitat for many rare fish and wildlife species. The site was designated as Michigan’s only “Wetland of International Importance” by the 1971 Ramsar Convention. Located adjacent to the Humbug Marsh unit of the refuge is the Refuge Gateway property. This former industrial manufacturing site has been remediated and restored as an ecological buffer for the marsh. The Refuge Gateway is the location of the new John D. Dingell Jr. Visitor Center, which is scheduled to open in 2020.
Erie Marsh Preserve
Erie Marsh represents 11% of the remaining marshland in southeastern Michigan and is one of the largest marshes on Lake Erie. No matter the time of year, Erie Marsh Preserve is a birding hotspot. As you walk along the pathways dividing the different wetland areas, you are likely to see a number of ducks, shorebirds, songbirds, or a great egret, great blue heron or black-crowned night heron. . At more than 2,200 acres, the preserve also harbors some of Michigan’s few remaining colonies of American lotus and swamp rose-mallow, both listed as state-threatened, as well as the threatened eastern fox snake.