The Mission of the Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail is to develop, maintain, and promote a water trail that highlights natural, cultural, and historical attributes to drive tourism, economic development, and
recreational opportunities in Huron County.
Water trails are routes on navigable waterways such as rivers, lakes, and canals for people using small non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, rafts, or rowboats. The trails are designed and implemented to foster an
interactive historical educational experience. A guide provides a more detailed presentation of the historic material in addition to acting as a more conventional water trail guide with maps, put-in points, take-out points, rest stop locations,
water and paddling conditions.
Huron County, located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in the thumb area, is made up of 27 townships and an area of about 480,000 acres. It's location is good, as it is surrounded on three sides by water, Lake Huron, one of the larger Great Lakes,
and the Saginaw Bay on each side, then meet at the north; to it's south are Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. The Cass, Pinnebog, Shebahyonk, and Pigeon Rivers all head toward the center of the county and empty into the Saginaw Bay. Willow Creek,
farther on the east-side of the county, empties into Lake Huron and Cass River empties into the Saginaw River.
Drift soil composed of a mixture of clay, sand, and gavel is adapt to the growth of plants and fruit. It's easily tilled, holds moisture well, and allows for proper drainage. This also made Huron County popular.
The Tip of The Thumb Heritage Water Trail is a nonprofit citizen's organization working with the Huron County Parks to establish and maintain a Water Trail along Michigan’s Lake Huron’s shoreline. It is dependent on public support for its
existence and growth. The Water Trail, which is best utilized via sea kayaks by people who have had proper sea kayaking instruction, consists of camp sites and rest areas spaced out along the shore. The trail is still being developed, so there
are several large sections with no public landing sites.
Maps of the area between Wagener County Park (near Harbor Beach) and Sebewaing County Park (Near Sebewaing) are currently available on our website (click the "Maps" Link).
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