Kayak-access campsite unveiled at Point Beach
TWO RIVERS, Wis. - Kayakers joined state and federal officials Wednesday to
celebrate the unveiling of two new water-access, kayak campsites at Point
Beach State Forest, highlighting the emerging popularity of Wisconsin's Lake
Michigan State Water Trail.
"I'm absolutely thrilled with this project," said Cathy Stepp, secretary of
the Department of Natural Resources. "When you're on the lake, and you see
the high bluffs and the beaches, it just takes your breath away. We're just
getting started. I want kayakers everywhere to know Wisconsin welcomes you."
At the unveiling, DNR parks director Dan Schuller said Wisconsin's portion
of the Lake Michigan Water trail is 523 miles long and extends along a
coastline that is rich in natural and cultural resources.
John Browning, Point Beach State Forest supervisor Guy Willman, Russell
Johnson and Ken Braband of the Lake Michigan Water Trail Association check
out one of the two new water-access kayak campsites on the Point Beach
shoreline.
"This is Wisconsin's first water trail," Schuller said. "The DNR is now
establishing a state water trails program and will be promoting it in 2015."
The combined trail parallels the shore of four states and provides 1,638
miles of scenic, recreational opportunities. The DNRs in Illinois and
Indiana have been working on their shoreline trails and Michigan has
recently committed its shoreline. But it started here.
"Wisconsin DNR was the first leader," said Angie Tornes of the National Park
Service, who has worked for years on the water trail, one of the two
federally approved Great American Outdoors Projects in Wisconsin, along with
the Ice Age Trail.
Tornes said there are tens of thousands of sea kayakers. The sport promotes
physical health and an appreciation for the natural beauty of the Great
Lakes. It also spurs economic activity.
"There is a great enthusiasm about water trails," she said.
The key is to have regularly spaced access points for paddlers to enter and
leave the lake or to stop and take advantage of local resources along the
shoreline. There are currently more than 125 suggested locations for
paddlers to access Lake Michigan spread across the 11 counties on the coast.
A series of maps are available on the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, by typing
"water trail" into the search box, which leads to this link:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/lakemichigan.
John Browning and Russell Johnson beach their sea kayaks at Point Beach
State Forest where two new water-access campsites were unveiled Wednesday.
Schuller said the DNR is developing a new interactive map for the Lake
Michigan Water Trail to be followed by a mobile version for smart phones and
other portable devices. Both are expected by spring 2015.
"It's vital for the users to have all data available before their trip in
order to plot, among other things, where they can put in, camp, use restroom
facilities or experience various natural and cultural resources," Schuller
said.
Ken Braband, a devoted kayaker and Wisconsin's representative on the Lake
Michigan Water Trail Association, noted that recreational kayaks are not
appropriate for Lake Michigan. A sea kayak is required along with adequate
training to take on the big water. Along with others, he credited his friend
John Browning of Milwaukee who first conceived of a Lake Michigan water
trail in the early 1990s.
He first entered the lake in 1990 in a borrowed sea kayak at Harrington
Beach.
"It was love at first dip," he said.
Browning began researching access points and other data important to sea
kayakers and posting the spreadsheet on his web site. When the DNR and the
National Park Service began developing the trail, his data became a valuable
starting point. Everyone acknowledged that much is still to be done.
"This is a work in progress," Braband said. "We want to see more access
points, more campsites. Sites like this one mean more access, longer trips
and more people coming into the area to kayak."
Also unveiled Wednesday was a three-dimensional, interpretive sign on the
lake shore with information on the water trail, featuring a small bronze
replica of the birch bark canoe famously used by Native Americans, explorers
and voyageurs. Tornes and DNR landscape architect Therese Gripentrog worked
for a year and a half on three interpretive signs at Point Beach. Another
honors the Depression-era crews of the Works Progress Administration who cut
the stones for the nature center lodge at Point Beach with hand tools - now
preserved in bronze. A third sign describes the near shore "ridge and swale"
topography at Point Beach State Forest. More information on this beautiful
property is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/pointbeach.